The limits of my language are the limits of my world: The Scientific Lexicon from 1350 to 1640

Abstract

[Abstract] A diachronic compilation of different types of texts such as the Helsinki Corpus provides adequate material for a preliminary approach to the degree of diffusion of scientific/technical vocabulary (mainly nouns). The presence of this specific lexicon in writings other than scientific may be taken as an indicator of this diffusion. In addition, the lexical features of certain texts may originate a variety of language for specific purposes as a linguistic response to external demands. Socio-economic specialisation in a speech community is paralleled by the creation of specific registers.