Current Vocabulary

the words and expressions in a language used at a given period within a particular language sphere. A distinction should be made between the current vocabulary of a language and the active vocabulary of individuals speaking that language. Individual speakers may not use certain strata of scientific or professional terminology, or of literary or expressive-ornamental vocabulary, which are nevertheless part of the common current vocabulary of the language. The current vocabulary is constantly changing. A part of it gradually moves out of circulation but still remains understandable and is retained in the passive vocabulary. On the other hand, new words and expressions do not always enter the active vocabulary at once—for instance, lunnik and prilunit’sia (“to land on the moon”). Words and expressions that have dropped out of the active vocabulary sometimes return to it—for instance, ukaz, ministr, and serzhant.