Stylistic classification of the english vocabulary

c) Archaic Words

The word stock of a language is in an increasing state of change. New words spring up and replace the old ones. Some words stay in the language a very long time, others live a short time: they disappear leaving no trace of their existence.

Thus, words, which are no longer recognizable in Modern English and which have either dropped out of the language or have changed in their appearance and they ha­ve become unrecognizable are called archaic words. So ar­chaic words are those which are not used now except for special purpose: thee (you), thy (you), thou (you), hath (nas), makest (make), thine (your), methinks (it seems to me).

In the development of a literary language words un­dergo changes in their meaning or usage. Sometimes this process causes the disappearance of the unit from the lan­guage.

We shall distinguish three stages of aging process of words. The beginning of the aging process when the word becomes rarely used. Such words are called obso­lescent. In the English language these are the pronouns thou and its forms thee, thy and thine etc.

Among the obsolescent elements of the English voca­bulary we find the following forms: aforesaid, hereby, therewith, hereinafternamed..

To the category of obsolescent words belong many French borrowings: a palfrey (a small horse), garniture (furniture).

The second group of archaic words are those that have already gone completely out of use but are still re­cognized by the English speaking community: methinks (it seems to me), nay (no). These words are called obso­lete.

The third group, which may be called archaic proper, are words which are no longer recognizable in Modern English, words that were in use in Old English which have either dropped out of the language or nave changed in their appearance so much that have become un­recognizable: troth (faith); a losel (a worthless, lazy fel­low).

We can find a number of archaic words in the style of official documents: aforesaid, hereby, therewith. These words are used here as terms and express the exact notion of certain phenomena.

Archaic words stand very close to historical words - names of ancient weapons, types of tools, carriages, and musical instruments, agricultural implements, which are no longer in use. E.g. blunderbuss (an old type of gun), brougham (a closed carriage having one seat). Words of this type never disappear from the language. They are his­torical terms and remain as terms referring to the definite stages in the development of society, though the things and the phenomena to which they refer have long passed into oblivion. Historical words have no synonyms, where­as archaic words have been replaced by modern synonyms.

Archaic words are mostly used in the creation of rea­listic background to historical novels. The heroes of histo­rical novels speak the language of the period the writer and the reader live in, and the skill of the writer is requi­red to colour the language with such archaic elements.

Walter Scott was a master in creation of a historical atmosphere. He used the stylistic means that create this atmosphere with such skill that the heroes of his novels speak his language.

In accordance with these principles Walter Scott ne­ver photographs the language of earlier periods; he intro­duces a few words and expressions more or less obsoles­cent in character and this is enough to convey the desired effect.

Besides, archaic words and phrases have other functi­ons. They are, first of all, frequently to be found in the style of official documents. In business letters, in legal language, in diplomatic documents and in all kinds of le­gal document one can find archaic words. They are emplo­yed in the poetic style as special terms.

The function of archaic words and constructions in official documents is terminological in character. They are used here because they help to maintain that exactness of expression so necessary in this style.

Archaic words are sometimes used for satirical purposes. The low predictability of an archaism, when it appears in ordinary speech produces the necessary satirical effect.

In many cases archaic words are used to create eleva­ted style in poetry.