How Many Words Are There In The Language And How Many Of Them Must Be Learnt?
How many words?
Speaking about quantity of words in language, we mean, as a rule, that dictionary which really provides communication of the majority of native speakers – certainly, without excluding absolutely of some easily understood technical and scientific terms. Such « general dictionary» (General vocabulary)of the languages of the modern industrially developed countries makes approximately 200.000 words.
In the German languages – such, as German or Swedish, – the total number of words are more than in Roman: first of all because in the German the composition is much more widely applied and, accordingly, so many so-called compound words get to the dictionary. For example, the typewriter in the Swedish language is called in a word ‘skrivmaskin’, in Russian – as two words, and in French – as three words (machine à écrire). Therefore it is considered that the dictionary of German language covers approximately 400.000 words, Swedish – nearby 300.000.
As to English language it represents the German language containing thus very many of Latin words, borrowed as directly, and through Roman languages — descendants of Latin, first of all by means of the French language. At the same time in colloquial English speech of three quarters are the most ordinary, often met words –these are words of German origin. Owing to such position the total number of words in English language reaches to half-million.
Further there are terms of a science and the technicians known to many people and used by them frequently enough, though and not every day. Generally these are international words. The quantity of such words can reach to 500.000. Supplementing «the general dictionary» with these terms, we come to so-called to “the combined national dictionary» (combined national vocabulary) which volume is estimated in 700-800 thousand lexemes.
And, at last, “unabridged dictionary” (complete vocabulary) of the languages of the leading nations of the modern world is very big. By the most approached estimations, it can include to 30 million scientific and technical terms, thus that their structure replenishes almost each day. It is possible to name also «the general international dictionary» (common international vocabulary).
Ancient Languages
The total number of words in the remained literary monuments of classic languages makes:
— In Latin — about 100.000 words;
— In Ancient Greek — more than 100.000;
— In ancient Icelandic language — not less than 100.000 words from which about half is kept by the monuments of writing which have reached up to now;
— In a Sanskrit (a literary language of ancient India) — more than 200.000 words. We will notice that the Sanskrit is extraordinary rich in compound words.
How many words one must be learn?
That fact that the language dictionary contains approximately 300.000 words, has only theoretical interest for a beginner to study this language. Almost the major principle for the reasonable organization of the learning process, especially at the initial stage is an economy of words. It is necessary to remember as less as possible words, but to do it as it is possible is better.
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