HERESY AND LEXICON: HOW THE LOLLARD MOVEMENT GENERATED NEW THEOLOGICAL VOCABULARY IN ENGLISH

Abstrak

This article examines the emergence of new theological vocabulary in English during the late medieval Lollard movement, focusing on how heretical discourse reshaped vernacular religious expression. It argues that the Lollards, followers of John Wycliffe, were not only religious reformers but also linguistic innovators who contributed to the development of English theological lexicon. Through vernacular preaching, translation of Scripture, and polemical writings, they introduced and stabilized terms that challenged Latin ecclesiastical dominance. As noted by Hornbeck, “Lollardy represents both a theological and linguistic disruption of orthodox medieval Christianity” (Hornbeck, 2012, p. 84). The study demonstrates that concepts such as “true church,” “dominion,” and “scriptural sufficiency” gained new semantic depth in English due to Lollard usage. Methodologically, the article synthesizes historical-linguistic analysis with textual interpretation of primary Lollard sources. The findings suggest that heresy functioned as a productive force in the evolution of English religious vocabulary, embedding dissent within linguistic structure itself.