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| ==Origin== | | ==Origin== |
| Middle French vocabulaire, probably from Medieval Latin vocabularium, from neuter of vocabularius verbal, from [[Latin]] vocabulum | | Middle French vocabulaire, probably from Medieval Latin vocabularium, from neuter of vocabularius verbal, from [[Latin]] vocabulum |
− | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1532] | + | [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1532] |
| ==Definitions== | | ==Definitions== |
| *1: a list or collection of [[words]] or of words and phrases usually alphabetically arranged and explained or defined : lexicon | | *1: a list or collection of [[words]] or of words and phrases usually alphabetically arranged and explained or defined : lexicon |
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| A person's speaking vocabulary is 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]]. | | A person's speaking vocabulary is 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]]. |
| ==Focal vocabulary== | | ==Focal vocabulary== |
− | "Focal vocabulary" is a specialized set of terms and distinctions that is particularly important to a certain [[group]]; those with a particular [[focus]] of [[experience]] or [[activity]]. A lexicon, or vocabulary, is a language's dictionary, its set of [[names]] for [[things]], [[events]], and [[ideas]]. Some linguists believe that lexicon [[influences]] people's [[perception]] on [[things]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapir%E2%80%93Whorf_hypothesis Sapir–Whorf hypothesis]. For example, the Nuer of Sudan have an elaborate vocabulary to describe cattle. The Nuer have dozens of names for cattle because of the cattle's particular [[histories]], [[economies]], and [[environments]]. This kind of comparison has elicited some linguistic [[controversy]], as with the number of "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimo_words_for_snow Eskimo words for snow]". English speakers can also elaborate their snow and cattle vocabularies when the need arises. | + | "Focal vocabulary" is a specialized set of terms and distinctions that is particularly important to a certain [[group]]; those with a particular [[focus]] of [[experience]] or [[activity]]. A lexicon, or vocabulary, is a language's dictionary, its set of [[names]] for [[things]], [[events]], and [[ideas]]. Some linguists believe that lexicon [[influences]] people's [[perception]] on [[things]], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapir%E2%80%93Whorf_hypothesis Sapir–Whorf hypothesis]. For example, the Nuer of Sudan have an elaborate vocabulary to describe cattle. The Nuer have dozens of names for cattle because of the cattle's particular [[histories]], [[economies]], and [[environments]]. This kind of comparison has elicited some linguistic [[controversy]], as with the number of "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimo_words_for_snow Eskimo words for snow]". English speakers can also elaborate their snow and cattle vocabularies when the need arises. |
| ==Vocabulary growth== | | ==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 [[child]]'s [[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. | | 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 [[child]]'s [[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. |