Vocabulary

Vocabulary refers to the set of words within a language that are familiar to that person. A person's vocabulary can be developed through exposure to language, reading, and direct instruction of words. The size of a person's vocabulary can be a measure of their language skills.

Definition

A vocabulary is a set of familiar words within a person's language. A vocabulary, usually developed with age, serves as a useful and fundamental tool for communication and acquiring knowledge. Acquiring an extensive vocabulary is one of the largest challenges in learning a second language.

Types of Vocabulary

Vocabulary can be divided into two types: Active vocabulary and Passive vocabulary. Active vocabulary, also known as productive vocabulary, refers to words that are used in speaking or writing. Passive vocabulary, also known as receptive vocabulary, involves words that a person can recognize and understand but not use.

Development

Vocabulary development is a process by which people acquire words. Babbling shifts towards meaningful speech as infants grow and produce their first words around the age of one year. In early word learning, infants build their vocabulary slowly. By the age of 18 months, infants can typically produce about 50 words and understand 200.

Vocabulary Size

The size of a person's vocabulary can indicate their language skills. A person's vocabulary size can vary greatly. It can depend on the language, how often the person uses the language, and how the person learned the language.

See Also

• Language acquisition
• Second language acquisition
• List of languages by number of native speakers

Vocabulary Resources
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