The miracle of language is easy to take for granted. It is so interwoven into the fabric of the human experience that the magnitude of what it does for humans as a species can be overlooked.
Consider the world before language and the world after it. That was a line that Kevin Kelly called “the first singularity”, which once crossed, forever changed the human species. He also said “language is a tool that allows the mind to know what it is thinking” and “…turned the feral mind into a tool that could think with purpose and deliberation.”
It is the bedrock of any culture and is a representation and record of the past. Language is what gives us the ability to connect with others in a meaningful and deliberate way. It is no wonder that people all over the world strive to learn new languages and become fluent in them, giving them access to entirely new and fresh perspectives, while at the same time opening doors for connections and opportunities.
The question becomes, how many words do you need to know to be fluent in a language? If you are in the midst of your quest to conquer a new language, it is important to know when you have accomplished your goal. To answer this question, a few more questions must first be answered.
Why Are You Learning A New Language?
This is critical to understand. Why is it important to know the reasons you are choosing to learn a new language? The answer to this particular question creates the context for the term “fluent”.
As an example, if you are going to be travelling to a country or region and want to know the local language enough to be able to have a conversation and get around, you will need a certain grasp or level of fluency in that language. However, if you are learning a language because it is your soon-to-be spouse’s native tongue and you are planning on living in their home country for 6 months a year, being “fluent” may mean something else.
What Is “Functionally Fluent”?
The term “functional fluency” is now often used in the realm of leadership and management to express how to use words to help navigate certain situations to come to satisfying and successful ends. This definition is also relevant for those learning a new language.
Being functionally fluent means that you have mastered enough of a particular language to be able to functionally go about your day. You can have discussions, run errands and live life in a relatively normal way even if your language skills aren’t perfect.
How many words does it take to reach this level of fluency? Language experts and multi-linguists can’t provide exact numbers because the other factors play a significant role in how these languages are spoken, but they can give estimates and ranges that may help a beginner know what to strive for.
Functional fluency starts to take place anywhere between 1500-4000 words. Why the large discrepancy? The type of language you are learning, coupled with the words you are learning and types of conversations you are having all play a major role in how “fluent” you are in a language.
In contrast, native speakers typically know about 70,000 words but only use a small percentage of them regularly, closer to 10,000 to 15,000 words. This makes the goal post for those learning a new language much closer and more attainable.
Do Some Words Hold More Value Than Others?
Absolutely! This is one of the most important aspects of learning a new language. While it may seem like common sense to some, the term “choose your words carefully” is especially apt when learning a new language. Why?
When you learn “high value” words in a new language, they allow your natural learning processes to take over when speaking or reading. By learning these types of words, you can accelerate your learning curve. What are these types of words?
Word families that are most commonly used are a good place to start. These word families, or lemmas, once learnt open the door for other similar words. As an example, drive, driving and drove are part of a word family that once mentally assimilated lead to all sorts of new words and sentences. By learning the commonly used words and their word families, you can become functionally fluent far earlier than someone who is learning words that, while interesting, may not have many practical applications.
What Is The Benefit Of Learning High Value Words?
High value words or word families, in combination with an understanding of the basic pronouns (I, you, he, she, they, them) will allow your brain’s natural desire to understand to fast track your learning. Learning all the colours in a new language or the different types of variations of apples won’t help you as much because you will be using them less in natural conversation.
Ideally, you will be putting yourself in the best possible position to use the words you are learning on a regular basis. In natural conversation, these high value words and their connected word families create a strong return on your mental investment.
Where Can You Go For Advice?
When it comes to learning a new language, the best place to seek advice (most often) is from a person who speaks your native tongue and has learnt your target language as a secondary language. This can guarantee that they will have tips and tricks that are relevant to the learning process and the challenges or benefits on your journey to mastery.
Words To Live By…
Remember to choose the right words, practice them often and keep your reasons in front of you. Even though the road to fluency is difficult, the process is fulfilling and as you progress you will be able to enjoy and revel in one of the most beautiful and human parts of who you are: your understanding of language.
