What does obsolescence describe in linguistics?

Obsolescence in linguistics refers to the decline of words from the lexicon, meaning that certain words fall out of use and are no longer part of the language spoken by a community. This process can be gradual, with words becoming less and less common until they are often only found in historical texts or literature. Such decline can occur for various reasons, including cultural shifts, technological advancements, or changes in social mores, which render certain terms outdated or irrelevant.

Understanding this concept is crucial in the study of language as it highlights the dynamic nature of vocabulary and how language evolves over time. It illustrates how certain words can become obsolete while others are created or adopted. The essence of obsolescence captures a specific linguistic phenomenon that does not pertain to the adoption of new words from other languages, the evolution of grammar rules, or the creation of informal language variations like slang, but instead focuses solely on the diminishing use and eventual disappearance of specific words from active usage in a language.