Questions tagged [vocabulary]

The body of words used in a particular language, or that known by an individual speaker.

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How can I find the meaning of a sign language sign that I don't know the meaning of?

If I have a sign language (specifically, American Sign Language) sign which I don't remember the meaning of, how can I search online to find its meaning? I've tried describing the sign in Google, but ...
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4 votes
1 answer
105 views

Two common ways to increase vocabulary -- which is more efficient?

I just wondered how I can increase vocabulary to be able to communicate better and enjoy magazines, books and news programs in English.I have two vocabulary workbooks that contain around 2000 words ...
BehdadB's user avatar
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3 votes
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Is it possible to filter an RTK Kanji Anki deck to only include Kanji from a vocab deck?

Is this an appropriate place to ask about setting up Anki? I have used RTK (Remembering the Kanji) in the past, and it was helpful for kanji recall using the little mnemonics, but I wasn't really ...
Trevor Buckner's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
20 views

Japanese: Are there computer games that support learning the Genki I and II textbook vocabulary?

Are there computer games that use the Genki I and II textbook vocabulary? Sometimes playing a game allows for better memory formation of vocabulary compared to straight memorizing lists and viewing ...
seventyEight's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
95 views

How many words give 98% coverage in Mandarin?

For Chinese characters, Jun Da's dataset implies 1566 characters gives 95% coverage, 2285 characters gives 98% coverage, and 2838 characters gives 99% coverage. I'm wondering if there's a similar ...
Rebecca J. Stones's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
60 views

Is this a good way to learn English?

In the anime Bokutachi wa Benkyou ga Dekinai, there's such a scene of a notebook. As you can see in the picture, it's almost barely a list of vocabulary, I mean, there's no example sentence. Besides, ...
user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
87 views

What is the output-equivalent of the term "exposure"?

We often discuss how many "exposures" we need to learn a word (and depending on your style and definitions, it could be 8 to 12 or even 50+). My impression is that we typically envisage an &...
Rebecca J. Stones's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
63 views

How does Anki vocabulary relate to reading vocabulary?

Sometimes I see people online say they have an e.g. 15000-word vocabulary on Anki. It sounds impressive, but it's not clear to me that such a student can utilize that vocabulary for actual reading. ...
Rebecca J. Stones's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
73 views

Language activator or conceptual dictionary for French

Is there a language activator or conceptual dictionary for French? I haven't been able to find a printed or online one. More specifically, I am looking for a dictionary that gives related words to a ...
Chetan Crasta's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
23 views

Is it best practice for a L2 textbook passage to re-use vocabulary from previous passages?

Almost all L2 textbooks contain passages which use new vocabulary. There seems to be two ways to go about this (both with pros and cons): The vocabulary of every passage is independent of previous ...
Rebecca J. Stones's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
79 views

Learning German for everyday situations

I already have a C1 level in German (Goethe C1); however, it is still very difficult for me to express myself in everyday situations. I suppose it has more to do with my lack of vocabulary. What could ...
Junjiro's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
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Where to find good Dravidian language sources to translate words like இர்ரேண்டம்? [closed]

I am interested in studying ancient trade between Egypt and India. I found this word to describe the sea as "burn red"? The word is இர்ரேண்டம் Google translate will pronounce it but will ...
mshaffer's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
63 views

How to memorize Indonesian words easily?

I don't know whether it's just me, but I think that many Indonesian words look very similar. Are their any ways to memorize them (i.e tips and strategies) or tools to help me? Thanks!
New User's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
364 views

Which 'direction' to use for memorizing new words?

When trying to memorize new words, a person might have a list like: boy - ولد girl - بنت Here we can assume English is native and Arabic is foreign. My question is, which 'direction' should I memorize ...
ElCapistan's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
35 views

Is there any Multi-Language Word Translator app or tool to learn multiple langueage at the same time?

I am looking a source that I can learn or look a word in multiple language. For example: lets say, I want to learn English - Russian - Turkish at the same time. The app: a - один - bir ...
Sha'an's user avatar
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2 votes
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How can I systematically verify that I can hear correctly words belonging to a vocabulary list?

I've been studying the Chinese HSK6 vocabulary, and the majority of words I can read correctly. What worries me is that sometimes (often?) when I'm listening, I don't recognize certain words. If ...
Rebecca J. Stones's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
101 views

Vocabulary memorization techniques

For someone trying to learn a language that is not related to their native language (let's say for example, an English speaker trying to achieve a roughly native level in Arabic), how would you go ...
Z98HefcKk9bS's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
43 views

Are there any resource to get feedback from English sentences?

I want to improve my vocabulary. So I make sentences using new vocabulary. But I want to check sentences are correct or not. Are there any resources to check it?
user2680731's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
246 views

How to improve my usage of vocabulary

I have been having trouble recently, related to my vocabulary. While writing essays or whatever writings in English, I recognized that my sentences were mostly consisting of 'simple' words. Such as '...
user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
153 views

Most effective ways of learning Russian?

I have been studying Russian for almost two years as a full-time student and feel disappointed that I’m not more fluent. It seems like no matter how much Vocab I learn, I still don’t understand ...
user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
117 views

Vocabulary app for Dutch

I am looking for a mobile app or website that I can create personal vocabulary list for a Dutch. Among my searches in Google Play, I see several apps for language learning, but didn't find a good app ...
mahmood's user avatar
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How can I improve the vocabulary I use? [duplicate]

I've realized that when I write or speak English, the vocabulary that I use is a lot more limited than the vocabulary that I know. For example, when writing, some words which I know the meaning to and ...
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1 vote
0 answers
37 views

How to improve someone's “sprachliche Genauigkeit”?

How can I improve someone's "sprachliche Genauigkeit" (these nuances). For example, in a speaking lesson, someone always makes "the same" grammar mistakes when speaking. Or ...
user232066's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
859 views

How to evaluate CEFR level of text for L2 learners?

For a language-learning platorm I'm building I need to analyze the difficulty of a foreign-language text for L2 learners in terms of CEFR. However, as CEFR is made up of only Can do? questions, and ...
Destaq's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
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For Mandarin, are there estimates on how many repetitions it takes to remember a word through reading?

Nation (2014) (pdf) discusses English vocabulary acquisition through extensive reading alone. While reading at a 98% comprehensible input level, the learner will (probably) remember a word ...
Rebecca J. Stones's user avatar
0 votes
5 answers
408 views

Is there a customizable Memrise-like spaced-repetition software that lets the user choose an answer from a list?

I use both Anki and Memrise to learn vocabulary but these days I'm getting to think that Anki is not that effective to learn a word, as it is just flipping a card. On the other hand, Memrise lets you ...
Blaszard's user avatar
  • 1,253
4 votes
2 answers
466 views

Automatically create a list of new vocabulary from an eBook

I thought of an idea for a software that I would find useful as a foreign language learner, and I am wondering if something similar already exists. The software would (more-or-less) automatically ...
Tom's user avatar
  • 141
1 vote
0 answers
25 views

Can we define a Process describing the way we discover and learn new words in our mother tongue?

Can we define a Process describing the way we discover and learn new words in our mother tongue? This could apply to a child who is learning to speak as well to an adult. Consider that you discover a ...
Mathilde Veron's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
165 views

Low frequency words: native language vs second language

It is easy to explain why one has better proficiency in common vocabulary in one's native language than in one's second language. But when it comes to low frequency words, why does the native language ...
Pedant's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
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Is there any evidence based on research that reading certain types of texts can be harmful to your language learning?

I've been learning Italian for some years (at present my level is C1): during that time I've been essentially a self-learner, with the exception of a few months, and I've been a quite active user of ...
Charo's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
754 views

English words by CEFR level - open source

Are there any open source data that categorizes English words based on CEFR levl and is available to download? As an example I found https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/wordlists/oxford3000-...
Saber's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
157 views

Improving vocabulary reading foreign language literature on ebook readers, how to export selected vocabulary into a spaced repetition app?

For improving my vocabulary I read favourite novels and short stories, preferredly in the original (target) language. When my level isn't quite up to it, I read a translation (be that English or ...
raddaqii's user avatar
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1 vote
5 answers
129 views

After stumbling upon a word in Chinese, how can I determine if it's worth studying?

Nowadays I'm reading opinion pieces and news articles in Chinese. I'm at a late-HSK5 level. I stumble upon many new words, too many to study them all, so I need prioritize some words and postpone ...
Rebecca J. Stones's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
700 views

Good strategies to improve vocabulary when at C2 level?

My level of English is at the C2-level (I have passed the Cambridge Proficiency in English exam, CPE, and according to https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/cefr/ that equals C2). Even ...
d-b's user avatar
  • 201
2 votes
0 answers
26 views

How can I efficiently find lists of cognates and false friends?

I'm referring to cognates and false friends of two languages. Books list some of them, but usually not exhaustively.
user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
120 views

How can someone already well read in English improve upon the language?

I am an Indian who has studied in English medium schools all my life. I have a strong grasp of basic English but still face difficulty sometimes. Be it phrasing some ideas into words or pronouncing ...
LRker 's user avatar
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5 votes
0 answers
51 views

Is the number of exposures required for retaining new words related to the teaching method?

Recently, Rebecca J. Stones asked, Does it take “about 50 exposures for most words to be retained in long term memory”? The question was about a claim by Terry Waltz that classroom learners need a few ...
Tsundoku's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
75 views

Looking for Personal Lexicon / Dictionary software

I'm trying to find a personal lexicon/dictionary/language study/flash card program - preferably one that makes allowances (ie has a place to enter) all of the forms of a word (noun declensions, verb ...
Jos's user avatar
  • 111
-1 votes
1 answer
424 views

CEFR Frequently Used Words

I want to compile a list of most frequently used 100 words for every CEFR level in English language. Comprehensive word lists for each CEFR level are available online, but how do I select the most ...
user7357's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
79 views

Is there a Russian language equivalent of dict.cc?

I am starting to learn Russian and I am looking for a good dictionary to use. When I learned German, dict.cc was my bible. Along with long lists of every possible meaning for given a given word in ...
user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
144 views

How can the natural approach to language acquisition work for L2?

So, I was seeing a video today where the narrator brought this approach as the best for L2 acquisition. I believe it can be useful, that's how we all learned our L1 after all, but I wonder how it can ...
Duarte Alfonso Martin's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
194 views

Anki question: multiple words on cards or separate cards for each word?

I'm studying German and I feel the need to learn vocab and sentences as well on the same cards. Basically my technique is to find a sentence not so long, break the vocab down and put it all on the ...
Wohme's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
94 views

Learning kanji and vocabulary

Learning vocabulary in Japanese (and I assume Chinese) is a strange feeling since one must also learn how to write that word using Chinese characters. When I started learning Japanese, I learnt words ...
Mathieu Bouville's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Seeking Egyptian Arabic dictionary with sort of most common single words top down style

I am looking for a website which has an app for the most common single Egyptian Arabic words, with the ability to sort words from most common to least common, preferably with romanization included in ...
User's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
56 views

How can I come up with words while writing?

I'm now learning Mandarin Chinese and since it reached enough level (should be HSK 6 level on reading), I started to practice writing. However, in so many cases I could not come up with words, ...
Blaszard's user avatar
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9 votes
1 answer
177 views

According to research, should related words be taught together?

On this site, we already have a question about learning related words together (or not) as an autonomous learner using a spaced repetition system. At the time of writing, that question does not have ...
Tsundoku's user avatar
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10 votes
0 answers
91 views

How to practice honorifics?

Japanese has honorifics (敬語 - "keigo"), a feature of which my native language English is devoid. For example, there is different vocabulary and grammar to use when speaking to a social superior, about ...
Hatchet's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
801 views

What is the popularity of using colored (e.g. red) transparencies to obscure words in a language book?

When I was in Japan twenty years ago, I noticed that high school students would sometimes study English from special books with black and red printing inside. The book would come with a red-colored ...
Metamorphic's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
60 views

How to combat the predisposition to forget certain types of words?

When memorizing vocabulary lists, I found that I'm rather good at remembering nouns and adjectives, but verbs tend to slip my mind quite easily.* It's led me to wonder if others experience the same ...
Hatchet's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
571 views

Should one memorize vocabulary in or without context?

Many people ask you when you say that you are learning a new language "how much vocabulary do you have?" And actually the more vocabulary one has, the more he can master the language. Some people ...
Hussien Chahin's user avatar