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How many words do you know, and what counts as knowing one?

Do “walk,” “walked,” and “walking” count as three words or one? Even before testing anyone, that choice changes the answer. Recognizing a word on a page and readily using it in conversation raise another distinction. Vocabulary size becomes more interesting when the question shifts from a huge personal total to what a particular test actually counts.

3–7 min

Questions you could explore

  • Which version of “knowing a word” would your proposed test measure?

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How much can six braille dots say?

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Language

ASL has its own grammar

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ASL has its own grammar

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Why is a newly spotted word not automatically a dictionary entry?

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How many words do you know, and what counts as knowing one? | Speech Topic | speaking.app