Someone told me the amount once but I wonder if anyone has ever heard of the estimated number also, and perhaps the original source?
2007-05-09 07:54:07 · 10 answers · asked by nemesyn 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
It is impossible to express fluency in a language by giving a number of words one knows.
I think someone is fluent in a language when he can express his thoughts in it. Even when his vocabulary is limited and he does not know a lot of words, he may be able to use the ones he does know to describe the meaning of the ones he doesn't. Someone who can do that is fluent.
2007-05-09 08:34:55 · answer #1 · answered by Hi y´all ! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There really isn't a number since different languages have differing amounts of words or "symbols". In order to be fluent one should be familiar with all the words in a language and be able to use them correctly. One must also know the variations of all the words and usage. I think it safe to say that there are few that are truly fluent in English, as it contains more symbols than any language I am familiar with, and of course it's a language made up of words that have various meanings. 'nuff said
2007-05-09 08:17:11 · answer #2 · answered by Ernie R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that the number of words is not important. You are fluent in a language if you can read well, speak, write and understand what the people say. That's all.
2007-05-09 13:40:50 · answer #3 · answered by Falco 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not think the number of words matters. (but it would be curious to find out an estimate of how many words it should be)
It's your ability to speak the language without much thought, and being able to understand others speaking fluently.
It's also important to be proficient with the culture's terminology. If you only know "book" words, that will hinder you from communicating fluently.
2007-05-09 08:05:41 · answer #4 · answered by mbeep 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it means that you can communicate with a "flow" and you don't get stuck for words... I think i`m fluent in English..My Native language is German
2007-05-09 09:42:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the purist will say that if you have the vocabulary of a 6 year old, you're considered fluent.
2007-05-10 11:30:30 · answer #6 · answered by blackroserequiem 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you can carry on a 30 minute conversation about at least one subject is fluent enough
2007-05-09 08:00:44 · answer #7 · answered by coolio 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
basically, it's not the number of words but that you can logically communicate in that language
2007-05-09 08:00:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i was under the impression that it was based on communication. the ability of communicating in another language.
2007-05-09 08:05:49 · answer #9 · answered by QueenMother 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
more than 10.000 words
2007-05-09 08:34:46 · answer #10 · answered by mc_sohib 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋