Difference between revisions of "Archaic"
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==Origin== | ==Origin== | ||
French or [[Greek]]; French archaïque, from Greek archaïkos, from archaios | French or [[Greek]]; French archaïque, from Greek archaïkos, from archaios | ||
| − | *[ | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1832] |
==Definitions== | ==Definitions== | ||
*1: having the characteristics of the [[language]] of the [[past]] and [[surviving]] chiefly in specialized uses <an archaic [[word]]> | *1: having the characteristics of the [[language]] of the [[past]] and [[surviving]] chiefly in specialized uses <an archaic [[word]]> | ||
*2: of, relating to, or characteristic of an earlier or more [[primitive]] time : antiquated <archaic [[legal]] [[traditions]]> | *2: of, relating to, or characteristic of an earlier or more [[primitive]] time : antiquated <archaic [[legal]] [[traditions]]> | ||
| − | *3 capitalized : of or belonging to the early or formative [[phases]] of a [[culture]] or a period of artistic [[development]]; especially : of or belonging to the period leading up to the [ | + | *3 capitalized : of or belonging to the early or formative [[phases]] of a [[culture]] or a period of artistic [[development]]; especially : of or belonging to the period leading up to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_Greece classical period of Greek culture] |
*4: [[surviving]] from an earlier period; specifically : typical of a previously [[dominant]] [[evolutionary]] [[stage]] | *4: [[surviving]] from an earlier period; specifically : typical of a previously [[dominant]] [[evolutionary]] [[stage]] | ||
| − | *5: capitalized : of or relating to the period from about [ | + | *5: capitalized : of or relating to the period from about [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8000_BC 8000 b.c.] to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1000_BC 1000 b.c.] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas North American] [[cultures]] of that [[time]] |
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
In [[language]], an '''archaism''' (from the [[Greek]]: ἀρχαϊκός, archaïkós, 'old-fashioned, antiquated', ultimately ἀρχαῖος, archaîos, 'from the beginning, [[ancient]]') is the use of a form of [[speech]] or [[writing]] that is no longer current. This can either be done deliberately (to [[achieve]] a specific [[effect]]) or as part of a specific jargon (for example in [[law]]) or [[formula]] (for example in [[religious]] [[contexts]]). Many nursery rhymes contain archaisms. Archaic elements that occur only in certain fixed [[expressions]] (for example 'be that as it may') are not considered to be archaisms. | In [[language]], an '''archaism''' (from the [[Greek]]: ἀρχαϊκός, archaïkós, 'old-fashioned, antiquated', ultimately ἀρχαῖος, archaîos, 'from the beginning, [[ancient]]') is the use of a form of [[speech]] or [[writing]] that is no longer current. This can either be done deliberately (to [[achieve]] a specific [[effect]]) or as part of a specific jargon (for example in [[law]]) or [[formula]] (for example in [[religious]] [[contexts]]). Many nursery rhymes contain archaisms. Archaic elements that occur only in certain fixed [[expressions]] (for example 'be that as it may') are not considered to be archaisms. | ||
==Usage== | ==Usage== | ||
| − | Archaisms are most frequently encountered in [[poetry]], [[law]], [[science]], [[technology]], [[geography]] and [[ritual]] [[writing]] and [[speech]]. Their deliberate use can be subdivided into [[literary]] archaisms, which seeks to evoke the style of older [[speech]] and [[writing]]; and lexical archaisms, the use of [[words]] no longer in common use. Archaisms are kept alive by these [[ritual]] and [[literary]] uses and by the [[study]] of [[Ancient|older]] literature. Should they remain recognised, they can be revived, as the word [ | + | Archaisms are most frequently encountered in [[poetry]], [[law]], [[science]], [[technology]], [[geography]] and [[ritual]] [[writing]] and [[speech]]. Their deliberate use can be subdivided into [[literary]] archaisms, which seeks to evoke the style of older [[speech]] and [[writing]]; and lexical archaisms, the use of [[words]] no longer in common use. Archaisms are kept alive by these [[ritual]] and [[literary]] uses and by the [[study]] of [[Ancient|older]] literature. Should they remain recognised, they can be revived, as the word [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/anent anent] was in this past century. |
| − | Because they are fields of [[continual]] [[discovery]] and re-[[invention]], [[science]] and [[technology]] have historically generated [ | + | Because they are fields of [[continual]] [[discovery]] and re-[[invention]], [[science]] and [[technology]] have historically generated [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forms_of_speech forms of speech] and [[writing]] which have dated and fallen into disuse [[relatively]] quickly. However the [[emotional]] [[associations]] of certain words (for example: 'Wireless' rather than 'Radio' for a [[generation]] of British citizens who lived through the [[World War II|second world war]]) have kept them alive even though the older word is clearly an archaism. |
| − | A similar [[desire]] to evoke a former age means that archaic place [[names]] are frequently used in circumstances where doing so conveys a [[political]] or [[emotional]] subtext, or when the official new name is not recognised by all (for example: 'Persia' rather than 'Iran', 'Bombay' rather than 'Mumbai', 'Madras' rather than 'Chennai'). So, a restaurant seeking to conjure up historic [[associations]] might prefer to call itself Old Bombay or refer to Persian cuisine in [[preference]] to using the newer place name. A notable contemporary example is the name of the airline [ | + | A similar [[desire]] to evoke a former age means that archaic place [[names]] are frequently used in circumstances where doing so conveys a [[political]] or [[emotional]] subtext, or when the official new name is not recognised by all (for example: 'Persia' rather than 'Iran', 'Bombay' rather than 'Mumbai', 'Madras' rather than 'Chennai'). So, a restaurant seeking to conjure up historic [[associations]] might prefer to call itself Old Bombay or refer to Persian cuisine in [[preference]] to using the newer place name. A notable contemporary example is the name of the airline [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathay_Pacific Cathay Pacific], which uses the archaic Cathay ("China"). |
Archaisms are frequently misunderstood, leading to [[changes]] in usage. One example is found in the [[phrase]] "the odd man out", which [[originally]] came from the phrase "to find the odd man out", where the verb "to find out" has been split by its object "the odd man", [[meaning]] the item which does not fit. | Archaisms are frequently misunderstood, leading to [[changes]] in usage. One example is found in the [[phrase]] "the odd man out", which [[originally]] came from the phrase "to find the odd man out", where the verb "to find out" has been split by its object "the odd man", [[meaning]] the item which does not fit. | ||
| − | The compound adverbs and prepositions found in the [[writing]] of [ | + | The compound adverbs and prepositions found in the [[writing]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawyer lawyers] (e.g. heretofore, hereunto, thereof) are examples of archaisms as a form of jargon. Some phraseologies, especially in [[religious]] [[contexts]], retain archaic elements that are not used in ordinary [[speech]] in any other [[context]]: "With this ring I thee wed." Archaisms are also used in the [[dialogue]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_novel historical novels] in order to evoke the flavour of the period. Some may count as [[inherently]] funny words and are used for [[humorous]] [[effect]]. |
==Alternative meanings== | ==Alternative meanings== | ||
| − | In [[anthropological]] [[studies]] of [[culture]], archaism is defined as the [[absence]] of [[writing]] and [ | + | In [[anthropological]] [[studies]] of [[culture]], archaism is defined as the [[absence]] of [[writing]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsistence subsistence] [[economy]]. In [[history]], archaism is used to connote a superior, albeit [[mythical]], "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_age golden age]". |
[[Category: General Reference]] | [[Category: General Reference]] | ||
[[Category: Languages and Literature]] | [[Category: Languages and Literature]] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:42, 12 December 2020
Origin
French or Greek; French archaïque, from Greek archaïkos, from archaios
Definitions
- 1: having the characteristics of the language of the past and surviving chiefly in specialized uses <an archaic word>
- 2: of, relating to, or characteristic of an earlier or more primitive time : antiquated <archaic legal traditions>
- 3 capitalized : of or belonging to the early or formative phases of a culture or a period of artistic development; especially : of or belonging to the period leading up to the classical period of Greek culture
- 4: surviving from an earlier period; specifically : typical of a previously dominant evolutionary stage
- 5: capitalized : of or relating to the period from about 8000 b.c. to 1000 b.c. and the North American cultures of that time
Description
In language, an archaism (from the Greek: ἀρχαϊκός, archaïkós, 'old-fashioned, antiquated', ultimately ἀρχαῖος, archaîos, 'from the beginning, ancient') is the use of a form of speech or writing that is no longer current. This can either be done deliberately (to achieve a specific effect) or as part of a specific jargon (for example in law) or formula (for example in religious contexts). Many nursery rhymes contain archaisms. Archaic elements that occur only in certain fixed expressions (for example 'be that as it may') are not considered to be archaisms.
Usage
Archaisms are most frequently encountered in poetry, law, science, technology, geography and ritual writing and speech. Their deliberate use can be subdivided into literary archaisms, which seeks to evoke the style of older speech and writing; and lexical archaisms, the use of words no longer in common use. Archaisms are kept alive by these ritual and literary uses and by the study of older literature. Should they remain recognised, they can be revived, as the word anent was in this past century.
Because they are fields of continual discovery and re-invention, science and technology have historically generated forms of speech and writing which have dated and fallen into disuse relatively quickly. However the emotional associations of certain words (for example: 'Wireless' rather than 'Radio' for a generation of British citizens who lived through the second world war) have kept them alive even though the older word is clearly an archaism.
A similar desire to evoke a former age means that archaic place names are frequently used in circumstances where doing so conveys a political or emotional subtext, or when the official new name is not recognised by all (for example: 'Persia' rather than 'Iran', 'Bombay' rather than 'Mumbai', 'Madras' rather than 'Chennai'). So, a restaurant seeking to conjure up historic associations might prefer to call itself Old Bombay or refer to Persian cuisine in preference to using the newer place name. A notable contemporary example is the name of the airline Cathay Pacific, which uses the archaic Cathay ("China").
Archaisms are frequently misunderstood, leading to changes in usage. One example is found in the phrase "the odd man out", which originally came from the phrase "to find the odd man out", where the verb "to find out" has been split by its object "the odd man", meaning the item which does not fit.
The compound adverbs and prepositions found in the writing of lawyers (e.g. heretofore, hereunto, thereof) are examples of archaisms as a form of jargon. Some phraseologies, especially in religious contexts, retain archaic elements that are not used in ordinary speech in any other context: "With this ring I thee wed." Archaisms are also used in the dialogue of historical novels in order to evoke the flavour of the period. Some may count as inherently funny words and are used for humorous effect.
Alternative meanings
In anthropological studies of culture, archaism is defined as the absence of writing and subsistence economy. In history, archaism is used to connote a superior, albeit mythical, "golden age".
