Arkaismi

Arkaïsm is a term used in linguistics to describe words, phrases, or grammatical structures that are no longer in common use in a particular language, though they may still be understood. These elements have fallen out of everyday conversation or writing and are often associated with older forms of the language. The use of arkaïsms can lend a historical or formal tone to a text. They can also be employed for stylistic effect, to evoke a particular era or character.

Arkaïsms can be categorized in several ways. Lexical arkaïsms are words that have been replaced by synonyms or have simply fallen out of use, such as "thee" or "thou" in modern English. Grammatical arkaïsms refer to older sentence structures or verb conjugations that are no longer standard, like certain uses of the subjunctive mood. Morphological arkaïsms might involve older prefixes or suffixes that are no longer productive.

While arkaïsms are generally considered obsolete, their survival can sometimes be attributed to their presence in classical literature, religious texts, or specific dialects. Identifying and understanding arkaïsms is important for historical linguistics and for interpreting older texts. Their deliberate use in contemporary language is a stylistic choice, often for literary or poetic purposes.