Which statement distinguishes archaism from obsolescence?

• A. An archaism is an old form still used in limited contexts (liturgy, poetry); obsolescence is the form no longer used in contemporary speech.
• B. An archaism is a modern form; obsolescence is used in religious texts.
• C. Archaisms and obsolescence are the same.
• D. Archaisms only appear in fiction.

Answer: (A)

Distinguishing archaism from obsolescence hinges on whether the old form still survives in specific parts of the language. An archaism is an older word or form that continues to be used in limited, formal contexts such as liturgy or poetry. It stays alive in those registers even though it’s not part of everyday speech. Obsolescence, on the other hand, describes a form that has fallen out of use in contemporary speech and writing altogether. So you’ll encounter archaisms like thou or thee in religious or poetic language, while a form that has become obsolete would rarely, if ever, appear in modern conversation. The statement captures this distinction because it correctly notes that archaisms persist in certain contexts and obsolescence means the form is no longer used in contemporary language. The other ideas misstate the difference—archaism isn’t a modern form, they’re not the same, and archaisms aren’t limited to fiction.