Have you ever wanted to expand your lexicon?

 

Lexicon is your vocabulary, your dictionary, if you will.  The concept of a “lexicon” refers to the total set of words known and used by an individual.

Somehow, and I am not sure how, but, somehow and sometime ago I signed up for (www.worddaily.com.)  This website provides me one new word a day.

I have to admit that it has fascinated me, really intrigued me.  Almost all of the words that show up in my inbox from Word Daily are words that I have never seen or heard of before.  In fact, of the 18 words that have shown up over the first 18 days of August, only 2 have been words that I have been aware of.  90% of the words were new to me.

Needless to say, this has been a little bit of a humbling experience.  Given my educational background, my curiosity, my reading, my travels, etc., you would think that I have at least come across most words.  But no.  Not at all.

Let me give you a taste of what I am talking about.  Here are the words that have I have been exposed to over the first 18 days of August – at a rate of one per day.

• Humectant
• Maquillage
• Phosphena
• Napery
• Melliferous
• Gemeinschaft
• Echt
• Matutinal
• Omnifarious
• Reify
• Holophrasis
• Welkin
• Inglenook
• Pleach
• Betoken
• Aricular
• Skirr
• Nimbus

How many of these have you ever run across before?

How many of these do you know the definition for?  And the definitions are sometimes so interesting.  For example,

• Humectant — A substance, especially a skin lotion or a food additive, used to reduce the loss of moisture.
• Maquillage — Makeup; cosmetics
• Phosphena — A ring or spot of light produced by pressure on the eyeball or direct stimulation of the visual system other than by light.
• Napery — Household linen, especially tablecloths and napkins.
• Melliferous — Yielding or producing honey.
• Gemeinschaft — Social relations between individuals, based on close personal and family ties; community.
• Echt — Authentic and typical.
• Matutinal — Of or occurring in the morning.
• Omnifarious  — Comprising or relating to all sorts or varieties.
• Reify — Make (something abstract) more concrete or real.
• Holophrasis —  The expression of a whole phrase in a single word — for example “howdy” for “how do you do.”
• Welkin — The sky or heaven.
• Inglenook — A space on either side of a large fireplace.
• Pleach — Entwine or interlace (tree branches) to form a hedge or provide cover for an outdoor walkway.
• Betoken  — Be a sign of; indicate.
• Aricular — Relating to the ear or hearing.
• Skirr — Move rapidly, especially with a whirring sound.
• Nimbus — A luminous cloud or a halo surrounding a supernatural being or a saint.

To put this in perspective, estimates vary, but the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) lists over 600,000 words. However, including technical jargon, slang, and regional dialects, some estimates suggest that English could have more than a million words.

The average English-speaking adult is estimated to know between 20,000 and 35,000 words. This includes words they actively use (active vocabulary) and words they recognize but might not use regularly (passive vocabulary).

Despite the large vocabulary available, most people use a much smaller subset of words in day-to-day conversation. It’s estimated that the average person uses around 1,000 to 3,000 words in their daily life.

Expanding one’s lexicon, especially by learning less common or more sophisticated words, can enrich communication, allow for more precise expression, and enhance comprehension of complex texts or discussions.

Before I did the research for this blog, I did not realize where I stood in terms of vocabulary.  To significantly understate the obvious, there is plenty of room for me to expand my vocabulary.  If I learn one new word a day for the next ten years, I will have added 3,650 words to my lexicon.  A new word-a-day journey can expand my vocabulary and sharpen my language skills.

At a minimum, learning new words keeps the brain active and engaged. It can improve cognitive functions like memory, comprehension, and even problem-solving skills.

If you are game, please join me in signing up for learning one new word a day. www.worddaily.com