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Counting words depends on what counts as knowing one

Counting walk, walked, and walking as three words or one changes a vocabulary estimate before anyone takes a test. Recognizing a word on a page and readily using it in conversation are also different kinds of knowledge.

3–7 min

Questions you could explore

  • Which version of “knowing a word” would your proposed test measure?
  • How would counting word families instead of individual forms change a vocabulary estimate?

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Counting words depends on what counts as knowing one | Speech Topic | speaking.app