B) English Vocabulary in the Aspect of Time
Besides the vocabulary that is in current (present-day) use, we also find archaic or obsolete (устарелые) words, which belong to some previous stage of language development but can still be found in works of fiction (especially in the works of Shakespeare, Chaucer, Swift or other classical authors). Cf. the archaic words Behold! (= Look!), Hark! (= Listen!), methinks ( = I think), Nay(=no), Wither are you going?(= Where are you going to ?), hither and thither (= here and there), thou/to thee (= you/to you), whilst (= while), awhile (=for some time), yon ( = this, that), yonder ( = there), etc.
Archaic words are frequently used in poetry and thus belong also to poetic vocabulary (poetic diction): cf. quoth ( = said), woe (= sorrow), swain (= shepherd), foe ( = enemy), steed/charger ( = horse), realm ( = kingdom), nought/naught (= nothing), ere (= before), albeit (= although)', here also belong certain shortened variants of the currently used words, e.g. oft (= often), eve (= evening), morn (= morning), etc.
The vocabulary that has gone out of use also includes the so called 'historisms' (историзмы) — words which reflect some phenomena belonging to the past times, e.g. knight (рыцарь), yeomen (йомен, independent peasants in old England), archer (лучник), sling (праща), ram (таран); cf. also Russian historisms like городничий, городовой, бояре.
On the other hand, we can also find in English vocabulary the so-called 'neologisms', i.e. words that have recently come into the language and are still felt as rather new: allergy, computer, astronaut, isotope, quasar, laser, aliens, supermarket, chain-stores, bikini, mini/maxi/midi (of clothes), paperbacks, etc.
Comparatively new borrowings from other languages, which are not yet completely assimilated in the language (phonetically or grammatically), are stylistically marked as 'foreign' words (sometimes, as barbarisms); they usually belong to a lofty (bookish) style: e.g. protégé, bonjour, idée fixe, chic (= of very good taste, fashionable), alter ego (= one's second self), de facto (= in point of fact), status quo (= the existing state of things), ibid/ibidem (= by the same author), etc., viz. (= videlicet) (namely).
Practical Assignments for Stylistic Analysis
I. Stylistic Connotations in Vocabulary
Point out stylistic differences within the groups of synonyms:
face — visage — mug — deadpan
nose — snout — beak — nasal cavity
I think — I gather — I presume — I take it —I guess - methinks
Boy — youth — lad — young male person — youngster - teenager
lass — girl — maiden — wench — young female person
nonsense — absurdity — rot — trash
legs — pins — lower extremities
Silence, please! — Stop talking! — Shut your trap!
Wait! — Hold on! — Stand by!
You are — thou art
breathe in — inhale — gasp
friend — comrade — pal — buddy — acquaintance
Hurry up! — Move on! — Hasten your step!
II. Colloquial Vocabulary
Paraphrase so as to show the different uses of the verb 'to do':
Have you done your homework? 2) I have to do a sum. 3) Will you please do the room? 4) Who does the cooking in your family? 5) Go and do your teeth! 6) I like the way you do your hair. 7) They do fish very well in this restaurant. 8) What subjects do you do at your University? 9) I did some music in my childhood. 10) This car can do 80 miles an hour. 11) What do you do for a living? 12) You did right to tell me about it. 13) That won't do. 14) Will this sum do for you? 15) It did me good. 16) He is doing well at school. 17) How are you doing? 18) He was up and doing at five in the morning. 19) What is doing here? 20) If you say it again, I'll do you! 21) Can we do Oxford in three days? 22) He does Ronald Reagan very well.