A person’s vobabulary is the set of words they are familiar with in a language. A vocabulary grows and evolves with age, and seves as a useful and fundamental tool for communication and acquiring knowledge.

[edit] Types of Vocabulary

Listed in order of most ample to most limited: ^[1]

[edit] Reading Vocabulary

A person’s reading vocabulary is comprised of all the words he or she can recognize when reading. This is the largest type of vocabulary simply because is includes the other three.

[edit] Listening Vocabulary

A person’s listening vocabulary is comprised of all the words he or she can recognize when listening to speech. This vobalulary is aided in size by context and tone of voice.

[edit] Writing Vocabulary

A person’s writing vocabulary is comprised of all the words he or she can employ in writing. Contrary to the previous two vocabulary types, the writing vocabulary is stimulated by its user.

[edit] Speaking Vocabulary

A person’s speaking vocabulary is comprised of all the words he or she can use in speech. Due to the spontaneous nature of the speaking vocabulary, words are often misused. This misuse – though slight and unintentional – may be compensated by facial expressions, tone of voice, or hand gestures.

[edit] Vocabulary Growth

Initially, in the infancy phase, vocabulary growth requires no effort. Infants hear words and mimic them, eventually associating them with objects and actions. This is the listening vocabulary. The speaking vocabulary follows, as a childs thoughts become more reliant on its ability to express itself without gestures and mere sounds. Once the reading and writing vocabularies are attained - through questions and education - the anomalies and irregularities of language can be discovered. From then on, vocabulary growth plateaus. A person must then expand their vocabulary with education, word games, vocabuary programs, etc.

[edit] The Importance of Vocabulary

• An extensive vocabulary aids expressions and communication
• Vocabulary size has been directly linked to reading comprehension. ^[2]
• A person may be judged by others based on their vocabulary ^[3]
• Lingusitic vocabulary is synonymous with thinking vocabulary ^[4]
• The greater a person’s vocabulary, the greater their understanding of themselves, society, the economy, history, etc. ^[5]

[edit] See also

• Focal vocabulary
• Vocabulary size

[edit] References

1. ^ The World Book Dictionary. Clarence L. Bernhart. 1968 Edition. Published by Thorndike-Bernhart, Chicago, Illinois.
2. ^ Stahl, Steven A. Vocabulary Development. Cambridge: Brookline Books, 1999. p. 3. “The Cognitive Foundations of Learning to Read: A Framework,” Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, [1], p. 14.
3. ^ The Importance Of A Good Vocabulary - Why Your Vocabulary Can Be the Make Or Break Factor In Your Career And Life Success [2]
4. ^ Ibid
5. ^ The Importance of a Large Vocabulary. [3]