Archaic words

The word stock of a language is in constant change. We change the meaning of words, and sometimes words drop out of the language altogether. New words spring up and replace the old ones. Some words stay in the language a very long time and acquire new meanings. Others live but a short time. In every period in the development of a language, there are newly born words (neologisms), and those coming out of use. Words, which are coming out of use, are referred to as archaic words.

We shall distinguish three stages in the aging process of words:

1. The beginning of the aging process when the word becomes rarely used. Such words are called obsolescent. Obsolescent words are the words, which are in the stage of gradually passing out of general use. Here belong: morphological forms (morphological archaisms), i.e., archaic forms of otherwise non-archaic words, morphological forms of the earlier stages in the development of the language, such as; the pronoun "thou' and its forms, etc.

2. Obsolete words have already gone completely out of use, but they are still recognized by the English speaking community: nay (no), methinks (it seems to me).

3. Archaic proper - words which are no longer recognizable in Modern English. They were in use in OE and have either dropped out of the language entirely, or have changed in their appearance so much, that they have become unrecognizable.

The borderlines between these groups are not distinct, particularly between obsolescent and obsolete words. By-gone periods in the life of any society are marked by historic events, and by institutions, customs, material objects, etc. which are no longer in use. For example: yeoman ( a small fanner). Words of this type never disappear from the language. They are historical terms and remain as terms referring to definite things and phenomena which have long past into history. Historical words, i.e. words denoting such concepts and phenomena that have gone out of use in modern times (i.e. knight, etc.) are not archaisms. They have no synonyms. Archaic words have been replaced by modern synonyms.

Archaic words are used:

1. In the belles-lettres style as expressive means:

a) in poetry to create an elevated atmosphere;

b) in historical novels they perform the function of creating the atmosphere of the past.

2. Archaisms, namely obsolescent words, are also used in the style of official documents. But the use of them here is terminological in character, they help maintain the exactness of expression that is so necessary in this style. Obsolescent words are to be found in business letters, in all kinds of legal and diplomatic documents and the like, e.g. hereby, hereto, therewith, etc. The main stylistic function of archaisms, besides poetic function, is to re-create the atmosphere of antiquity. Archaisms are often used by the writer to cause humorous effect.

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