How to improve a person's vocabulary. Active and passive vocabulary

Great Russian language! Research by modern linguists shows that it contains about two hundred thousand words. However, the average Russian uses no more than three thousand lexical constructions in everyday life. There are many methods on how to improve your Russian language. You can get acquainted with the most effective techniques for improving speech culture in the article.

A book is an endless source of knowledge. Expanding vocabulary through reading, analyzing and memorizing information is one of the most effective methods of speech enrichment. How to expand your Russian vocabulary and what to read for this? You should study not only fiction, but also popular science, specialized literature by Russian and foreign authors, and poetry. It is important to adhere to the following rules:

slow, thoughtful reading followed by text analysis;

concentration on new terms, phrases, lexical constructions;

the practice of reading aloud, memorizing, or retelling a text.

Having come across an unfamiliar word, you need to write it down in a separate notebook/notebook, select synonyms, memorize the interpretation and try to apply it in everyday life.

A large vocabulary comes from hard work. Masters of eloquence recommend paying attention to developing your oratorical abilities. Every erudite person should have the ability to clearly formulate thoughts, vividly describe events, or retell recently read information in detail. Active use of the studied material (in this case, new words) is the key to the richness of speech: in conversation, in correspondence or during a speech, you should express thoughts, carefully selecting the best words.

Among the tips on how to expand your Russian vocabulary, exercises on writing your own text are particularly effective. For example, you can take a notebook and pen, or open a word processor on your computer and just start writing. It is important to try to transfer your own feelings onto paper, learn to characterize events in detail or tell a story. Alternatively, you can start keeping a journal or start a virtual diary - daily practice as a writer will stimulate your brain and force it to “dig” into your own lexical baggage.

“Well,” “kind of,” “sort of,” and long pauses “uh-uh” instantly reveal a person with a poor vocabulary. Such constructions pollute human speech, depriving it of information content and beauty.

Specialized textbooks that study the etymology of words can open up new horizons in the native language. You can use either classic volumes from Dahl or Ozhegov, or use online services to learn new words. It is noteworthy that explanatory dictionaries, in addition to interpretation, also contain examples of the use of the term in context, which allows it to be included in the active lexicon.

A mandatory point in working with a dictionary is to transfer unknown terms to a separate notebook. It is important to review your notes from time to time. A list of words located in a prominent place does an excellent job of replenishing the vocabulary of the Russian language. Placing sticky notes with terms on your desk, refrigerator, or mirror engages your visual memory in the process of learning new vocabulary. Do not neglect flashcards: a word is written on one side and its definition on the other.

For beginning linguists: tricks for learning your native language

Solving word puzzles.Crossword, scrabble, boggle or cranium - if you choose a game you like, you can not only have a lot of fun, but also expand your vocabulary and learn to think critically.

Regular training is the key to success. If the daily “load” is 3 words, then in a month your vocabulary will increase by 90, and in a year - by 1080 words!

Secret from the serieswhich many people neglect is plistening to audio books, podcasts, lectures and public speeches by cultural and scientific figures.INo while cleaning or commutingsuch activities contribute to enrichmentlexicallyWowbaggageA.

How to replenish the vocabulary of the Russian language for students and children?

Speech abilities in children are formed by the age of five: upon reaching this age, the child must be able to use various constructions of complex sentences, master the skills of word formation and inflection, and have a sufficient vocabulary. Lack of communication, neglect of reading, problems with pronunciation are factors that lead to the child having passive knowledge of speech.

Applying vocabulary expansion techniques for adults to children is ineffective. The following rules from teachers, speech therapists and neuropsychologists will come to the rescue: they shared secrets on how to expand the vocabulary of the Russian language in childhood.

No confusion! If a child calls mittens gloves and plates saucers, it makes sense to help the child see the differences between these objects through visual analysis. For example, after drawing things that cause confusion, conduct a detailed inspection of them and highlight the differences.

Verbal communication. Association games allow children to develop abstract thinking. For example, a child should select several nouns, adjectives and verbs (preferably synonymous) for the word “guitar”: “music” and “sound”, “ringing” and “loud”, “playing” and “strumming”.

Hidden meaning. Concrete thinking is inherent in children up to 7 years old; later they begin to grasp the “messages” of the author and learn to read “between the lines.” Discussing proverbs and sayings helps develop the ability to understand figurative meaning.

Reading and communication. Important aspects in the question of how to replenish a child’s Russian vocabulary are communication and reading skills. You should always listen to your child, and also remember to instill in him a love of literature.

How to quickly expand your Russian vocabulary? Use all of the above methods in a comprehensive manner. It is important to remember that success is achieved only through hard work, and those who are ready to constantly work on themselves become erudite and developed individuals.

Learning is a continuous process. You can become an erudite person both in adolescence and in retirement when you are already over eighty, simply by expanding your vocabulary. Develop habits that will help you remember and use the most accurate words in your language. And it will become easier for you to communicate, write and think. After you read more specific tips for expanding your vocabulary, read to the end of this article.

Steps

Part 1

Learn new words

Read avidly. When you graduate from school, you will no longer be given word exercises, and there will be no homework at all, which at one time forced you to learn new words. You can just stop reading. But if you want to expand your vocabulary, make yourself a reading plan and stick to it.

You can try reading one book a week or just reading the newspaper every morning. Choose a reading pace that suits you, and create a reading program that fits into your schedule.
Try to read at least one book and a couple of magazines every week. Be consistent. You will not only increase your vocabulary, but you will also be up to date and know what happened. You will expand your stock of general knowledge and become an educated, comprehensively developed person.

Read serious literature. Set yourself the task of reading as many books as you have the time and desire to do. Read the classics. Read old and new works of fiction. Read poetry. Read Herman Melville, William Faulkner and Virginia Woolf.

Read also online sources and “low-quality tabloid” literature. Read online magazines, essays and blogs on various topics. Read music reviews and fashion blogs. True, this vocabulary does not apply to high style. But to have an extensive vocabulary, you need to know both the meaning of the word "inner monologue" and the meaning of the word "twerking." To be well-read means to be familiar with both the work of Geoffrey Chaucer and the work of Lee Child.

Look up every word you don't know in the dictionary. When you see an unfamiliar word, don't pass it over with irritation. Try to understand its meaning from the context of the sentence, and then look it up in a dictionary to clarify its meaning.
- Get yourself a small notebook and immediately write down all the unfamiliar words that you come across so you can check their meaning later. If you hear or see a word you don't know, be sure to look it up in the dictionary.
Read the dictionary. Immerse yourself in it headfirst. Read dictionary entries about words that are still unfamiliar to you. To make this process more fun, a very good dictionary is necessary. Therefore, look for a dictionary that gives detailed explanations about the origin and use of words, as this will help you not only remember the word, but also enjoy working with the dictionary.

Read the dictionary of synonyms. Look for synonyms for words that you often use and try to use them.

Part 2
Use new words
1. Set yourself a goal. If you are determined to expand your vocabulary, set a goal for yourself. Try to learn three new words a week and use them in speech and writing. Through conscious effort, you can learn several thousand new words that you will remember and use. If you can't use a word correctly in a sentence, it means it's not part of your vocabulary.
  - If you can easily memorize three words a week, then raise the bar. Next week try to learn 10 words.
  - If you look up 20 new words a day in the dictionary, you will find it difficult to use them correctly. Be realistic and develop a practical vocabulary that you can actually use.
2. Use flash cards or post-its throughout the house. If you're going to make a habit of learning new words, try some simple memorization techniques as if you were studying for a test. Place a sticky note over the coffee maker that explains the word you hope to remember, so you can learn it while you make your morning cup of coffee. Attach a new word to each houseplant so you can learn while you water them.
  - Even when you're watching TV or doing other things, keep a few flashcards handy and learn new words. Expand your vocabulary under any circumstances.
3. Write more. Start journaling if you haven't already, or start a virtual journal. Flexing your muscles intensely while writing will help you remember words better.
  - Write letters to old friends and describe everything down to the smallest detail. If your letters tend to be short and simple, change that up: start writing longer letters or emails than you've previously written. Spend more time composing letters as if you were writing a school essay. Make smart choices.
  - Do more written work assignments. If you usually avoid writing orders, writing group emails, or participating in group discussions, change your habits and write more. Plus, you might get paid for expanding your vocabulary.
4. Use adjectives and nouns correctly and accurately. The best writers strive for brevity and precision. Get a dictionary and use the most accurate words in your sentences. Don't use three words where you can easily get by with just one. That word that reduces the total number of words in a sentence will be a very valuable addition to your vocabulary.
  - For example, the phrase “dolphins and whales” can be replaced with the single word “cetaceans.” So "cetaceans" is a useful word.
  - A word is also useful if it is more expressive than the phrase or word it replaces. For example, many people's voices can be described as "pleasant." But if someone Very pleasant voice, then it is better to say that he has a voice that “caresses the ear.”
5. Don't show it off. Inexperienced writers think they will improve their writing by using the thesaurus feature in Microsoft Word twice in each sentence. But actually it is not. Using pretentious language and spelling words correctly will make your writing sound pompous. But what's worse is that it will make your writing less precise than more common words. The correct use of words is a characteristic feature of a true writer and a sure sign of a large vocabulary.
  - You could say that "Iron Mike" is Mike Tyson's nickname, but the word "nickname" would be more accurate and appropriate in this sentence. Therefore, the word "nickname" is less useful in your vocabulary.
Part 3
Improve your vocabulary
1. Subscribe to the “Word of the Day” newsletter in one of the online dictionaries. You can also get yourself a “Word of the Day” calendar. Remember to read the words on that page every day, try to memorize the words of each day and also use them in your speech throughout the day.
  - Visit word-building sites (like freerice.com) and expand your vocabulary while you satisfy your hunger or do something else useful.
  - There are many online sites dedicated to compiling alphabetical lists of unusual, strange, outdated and difficult words. Use a search engine to find these sites and learn from them. This is a great way to pass the time while waiting for a bus or standing in line at the bank.
2. Solve word puzzles and play word games. Word puzzles are a great source of new words because word puzzlers often have to use a huge number of less commonly used words to ensure that all the words fit into their puzzles and make them interesting for those who solve them. There are many varieties of word puzzles, including crosswords, find the word, and hidden word puzzles. Along with expanding your vocabulary, puzzles will also help improve your critical thinking skills. For word games, try games like Scrabble, Boggle, and Cranium to expand your vocabulary.
  
  Learn some Latin. Although it may seem like a dead language, knowing a little Latin is a great way to learn about the origins of many English words, and it will also help you understand the meaning of words you don't already know without looking them up in a dictionary. There are educational resources for Latin on the Internet, as well as a wealth of texts (check out your favorite old bookstore).
Warnings
- Keep in mind that you may use words that other people may not know. This can create barriers to communication and understanding. So be prepared to use simpler synonyms in different contexts to mitigate this problem. In other words, don't be boring.

The richest and most beautiful Russian language allows people who speak it to express themselves in a variety of ways. Accuracy of formulation and beautiful speech depend on the vocabulary a person owns. The more words he uses, the more intellectually developed he is considered. Therefore, it becomes important to increase the number of words used.

Scientific vocabulary is called a lexicon, meaning words familiar to an individual, a group, or included in a language. It is conventionally divided into;

Active. The first group includes words used every day. They are included in both written and spoken language. A sign of an active vocabulary is free use that does not require additional effort.
Passive. Passive words include understandable words that appear in various sources, but are not used in speech, or are used but extremely rarely. They are used when necessary, but it takes effort to remember.
External. The external lexicon denotes unknown words related to specific areas of knowledge. These are professional terms, neologisms, etc. It is hardly possible to make clear boundaries between these groups. They are rather shaky and fluctuate in one direction or the other. With growing up and mental development, the vocabulary grows.

So, if a child going to first grade speaks two thousand words, then in the last grade this number already grows to five thousand. For those who study and develop further, the vocabulary reaches 10,000 words or more. Then most of them are classified as passive stock.

Erudite people sometimes speak even 50,000 words. But only a small part is used daily when communicating. The rest of the vocabulary is used only with intellectuals like him.

Exercises to expand your vocabulary

The following exercises are performed in written or oral form.

Nouns. They tell a short story using only nouns. "Day. Work. End. Exit. Door. Key. Entrance. Car. Key. Ignition" and so on.
Verbs. The same thing that was told using nouns is repeated, only with verbs.
Adjectives and adverbs. Then comes the turn of other parts of speech.
Alphabet. Come up with related words that sequentially begin with the letters of the alphabet in order. “Alena talks in the evening, walking to the treasured spruce tree, gesticulating and eloquently cherishing the cute tender dandelions. Pasha follows nearby, dragging a convenient chrome flashlight, often catching the nimble chirping with an extravagant humorous language.”
Monophone. They come up with their own speech, the words of which begin with the same letter. Each of them is connected to each other, even if the meaning suffers.

It is not easy to do each of the exercises. But words gradually move from a passive vocabulary to an active one and it is replenished.

Techniques for expanding your vocabulary without extra time

Developing vocabulary is essentially necessary for voicing your thoughts, intentions, analysis and conclusions. This skill is strengthened by practice and weakened by its absence. Therefore, in order to develop your speech, you should constantly communicate. The growth of vocabulary is ensured: by learning new words that we hear from our interlocutors; precise definitions when words are translated from a passive vocabulary to an active one.

Therefore, it is advisable to communicate with unlike people. These are friends, neighbors, fellow students, comrades in the gym. People meeting on the Internet on forums and social networking pages, fellow travelers and sellers also serve as an opportunity for communication and as a way to expand your speech.
Another effective way to replenish your vocabulary, which does not require special time, is listening to audio books. This is relevant when you have to spend a lot of time on the road, driving your car, ideal for auditory learners (for people who better perceive information by ear). A variety of books are sold in this format: novels, aphorisms, and philosophical teachings. By recording it on a flash drive, you can now not get bored in a traffic jam, but listen to a fascinating story. It is convenient to listen to audio books before bed.

Replenishing vocabulary with time allocation

The following activities will help increase your vocabulary.

Reading. Reading is a rich source of information. Books, newspapers, online publications, magazines - everywhere there are inexhaustible reserves of replenishing the vocabulary. It is advisable to devote an hour a day to this exciting activity. Sometimes it's good to say the words out loud.
Studying of foreign language. Do not limit your vocabulary to knowledge of one Russian language. Others are also useful to study. The more a person enriches his speech, the better connections are made, and it is easier to recall words from memory.
Games. There are interesting and exciting linguistic games: charades, puzzles and the like. When they guess them, they inevitably become interested in the words and meaning.
Diary. Another useful activity is keeping a diary. When it is impossible to take foreign language courses, they write for themselves. This is a good way to improve your vocabulary, since taking notes, you formulate thoughts that are in the emotional and motivating spheres.
Memorization. Memorization makes it possible to introduce new words into the active stock. This is done by retelling what is heard, memorizing verses and definitions. It is one of the most effective methods of acquiring new knowledge.

For this it is important:

include new words in speech every day;
use a notebook, entering intricate statements, words, phrases with clever expressions;
study the essence of new words by adding visualization techniques;
memorize poems, quotes, sayings, etc.

Improving your vocabulary requires conscious action. To achieve beautiful speech, constant training is required. Ignoring new words will not give them a chance to enter the active or passive vocabulary. It turns out that those who want to expand their vocabulary and enrich their language should make regular volitional efforts for this.

The objective of the study was to determine the volume of passive vocabulary of native Russian speakers. The measurement was carried out using , in which respondents were asked to mark familiar words from a specially compiled sample. According to the rules of the test, a word was considered “familiar” if the respondent could define at least one of its meanings. The test procedure is described in detail. To improve the accuracy of the test and identify respondents who take it sloppily, non-existent words were added to the test. If the respondent marked at least one such word as familiar, his results were not taken into account. More than 150 thousand people took part in the study (of which 123 thousand passed the test accurately).

First, let's analyze the effect of age on vocabulary.

The graph shows the percentiles of the resulting distribution. For example, the lowest curve (10th percentile) for 20 years gives 40 thousand words. This means that 10% of respondents of this age have a vocabulary below this value, and 90% - above. The central curve (median) highlighted in blue corresponds to a vocabulary such that half of the respondents of the corresponding age performed worse, and half - better. The topmost curve—the 90th percentile—cuts off the result above which only 10% of respondents with the maximum vocabulary showed.

The graph shows the following:

Vocabulary growth grows at a nearly constant rate until about age 20, after which the rate of vocabulary acquisition decreases, tapering off by age 45. After this age, vocabulary practically does not change.
During school, a teenager learns 10 words a day. This value seems unnaturally large, but is explained by the fact that in the test derived words were taken into account separately, as independent words.
By the time a teenager leaves school, the average person knows 51 thousand words.
During schooling, vocabulary increases approximately 2.5 times.
After leaving school until middle age, the average person learns 3 new words a day.
After reaching 55 years of age, vocabulary begins to decline slightly. This may be due to forgetting words that are not used for a long time. Interestingly, this age approximately coincides with retirement.

Now let's divide all respondents into groups according to education level. The following graph shows the median vocabulary scores of these groups. The curves start and end in different places because the statistics for each group are different - for example, there were not enough respondents with incomplete secondary education over 45 for the results to be statistically significant, so the corresponding curve had to be cut off so early.

From the graph you can find out that

It is possible that vocabulary saturation occurs at different ages depending on education. Thus, for respondents with secondary specialized education, saturation can be determined at around 43 years old, with higher education - at 51 years old, for candidates and doctors - at 54 years old. This could be explained by the specifics of the respondents’ work—most likely, holders of an academic degree continue to study various literature even in adulthood. Or constant life in a university environment, with its abundance of communication with educated people of different specializations, constantly throws up new words. However, from a technical point of view, such conclusions should not be drawn yet - the resulting curves are quite noisy, and it is very difficult to determine exactly where saturation begins. Perhaps a further set of statistics will make it possible to see the dependence of the age of saturation on the level of education (if any) more clearly.
There is practically no difference in vocabulary between those who entered the university, but did not finish their studies, and those who completed this path to the end (for students: this does not mean that you can not go to lectures).

Now let’s exclude the influence of age, leaving only respondents over 30 years old in the sample. This will allow you to concentrate on education.

From the graph we see the following:

Respondents who have just completed school know, on average, 2-3 thousand words more than those who did not finish school at the time.
The vocabulary of those who have received secondary or specialized secondary education is practically the same and averages 75 thousand words.
Those who studied at universities and institutes (and not necessarily those who graduated from them) know an average of 81 thousand words.
Candidates and doctors of science know an average of 86 thousand words. Thus, an academic degree adds about 5 thousand units of vocabulary compared to higher education.
Education, of course, influences vocabulary size. However, the variation within each group with the same education is significantly greater than the difference between the group means. In other words, a person who has not completed school may well know more words than a candidate of science. Here are specific numbers: 20% of respondents with incomplete secondary education, who showed the best results for their group, have a vocabulary that exceeds the vocabulary of half of the respondents with an academic degree. They likely read more about different topics and are interested and knowledgeable in more areas.

The resulting vocabulary sizes - tens of thousands of words - seem quite large. There are two reasons for this. First, it measured passive vocabulary (words a person recognizes in text or hearing) rather than active vocabulary (words a person uses in speech or writing). These reserves differ significantly - the passive one is always much larger. The calculated vocabularies of writers, for example, are precisely active. Secondly, in the test all derived words were taken into account separately (for example, “work” and “work”, or “city” and “urban”).

Separately, I would like to note that the results obtained do not give an idea of the vocabulary of the “average” (if such a thing exists) native Russian speaker. For example, the level of education of respondents who passed the test is significantly higher than the national level - 65% of respondents have higher education, while in Russia there are only 23% of such people (according to the 2010 All-Russian Population Census). Then, it is obvious that the respondents who took the Internet test are mostly active Internet users, and this also makes the sample specific (mainly for older people). In the end, not everyone is interested in determining their vocabulary, but among our respondents there are 100% of them. It is logical to assume that the vocabulary results obtained from such a special sample should be slightly higher than the “statistical average”.

So, the data obtained revealed a strong dependence of vocabulary on age, and a weaker dependence on the level of education. Obviously, there are other factors that influence vocabulary - reading, communication, work, hobbies, lifestyle. All these are topics for further research.

The larger a person's vocabulary, the higher the likelihood that he will succeed in life.

Rich vocabulary: methods, methods and techniques for increasing it

In the modern world, beautiful and rich speech speaks of culture and good education. Society perceives a person with a rich vocabulary as an intelligent and creative person. The larger a person's vocabulary, the higher the likelihood that he will succeed in life.

Methods, methods and techniques for increasing vocabulary:

1. Think about which of the banal, hackneyed, hackneyed words and expressions you are used to using every day in standard communication situations. Write them down on a piece of paper. Have you recorded it?

Now take an explanatory dictionary or a dictionary of synonyms from the shelf. Find these words that already hurt your ears and that you are tired of hearing every day.

Study the long list of alternatives and say each of these words out loud. Which one reflects your personality? Which one is right for you personally?

Try each of them as you try on a suit and see which ones you find comfortable and cozy.

Choose a few of these words and practice by saying them out loud until they become a natural part of your vocabulary;

2. Communication is the main source of replenishing a person’s vocabulary. During a conversation, each participant replenishes his vocabulary from the arsenal of his interlocutor, and word exchange occurs between them.

Talk to friends, acquaintances, and family as much as possible. Use new words in your vocabulary; knowledge of a word is nothing without its use;

3. Read, reading books is useful. Start with those authors who are more understandable and close to your interests.

Gradually add literature that is more complex. The text where there are interesting words and expressions that you want to remember and use in the future, re-read it out loud (by reading to ourselves, we also expand our vocabulary, but not so quickly, because in this way we only see the words; when reading out loud, we In addition to this, we also hear them and, most importantly, we pronounce them, so we remember them better);

4. When you notice a new word, don't just look at its definition in the dictionary. Pay attention to the turn of speech in which this word is used, try to replace it with the appropriate synonym for yourself.

Try to rhyme, come up with as many suitable phrases as possible. The more you know about a word, the faster you will learn to use it without complicating your memory. E this will immediately affect the beauty and individuality of your speech;

5. Write. Rewrite other people's articles and your favorite literary works, following the example of Demosthenes, who rewrote Thucydides' History eight times in a row.

Crosswords are not just entertainment, but also a way to develop vocabulary. Use this opportunity on the road, on vacation. Choose crosswords from well-known publications or those that have a good reputation;

6. For those who spend a lot of time on the road, driving or have absolutely no free time there is a unique opportunity to use books and dictionaries develop your speech and increase your vocabulary with audiobooks.

This method will also be acceptable for an audience that perceives better by ear. In any case, while away the time in traffic jams reading good literature is much more useful and effective for your development. published