Stylistic lexicology

Historic words vs Archaic words

• By-gone periods of any society are marked by historical events, institutions, customs, which are no longer in use: yeoman, goblet, baldric, mace. Such words never disappear from the language – they are historic terms.
• Archaic words are mainly used in creation of a realistic background of historical novels to convey what is called “local color”.
• Archaisms are frequently to be founding the style of official documents: in business letters, legal language, diplomatic documents – aforesaid, hereby, therewith, hereinafternamed.
• Archaic words are sometimes used for satirical purposes and to create an elevated effect

Lexical twins and triplets

Old English	French	Latin
Guts Clothes Climb Sweat Happiness House Wish Weariness Rise Ask Fast Kingly Holy Fire	Courage Attire Perspire Mansion Desire Mount Question Firm Royal Sacred flame	Ascend Felicity Lassitude Ascend Interrogate Secure Regal Consecrated Conflagratio

Borrowings

• Japan: bonsai, geisha, haiku, hara-kiri, karate, kamikaze, shogun
• Native Indians(US): chipmunk, skunk, totem, wigwam
• Polynesia: kava, tattoo, taboo, taro
• Australia: boomerang, kangaroo, koala, wombat, dingo
• South America: condor, inca, llama, puma, mate, poncho, jaguar, piranha
• Greenland: anorak, igloo, kayak, parka
• Norway: fjord, lemming, ski, slalom
• Arabia: assassin, azimuth, emir, harem, mohair, sherbert, zero, bazaar, caravan
• Turkey:coffee, jackal, kiosk, shish kebab