More than I expected. I suspect that this count is off somewhat because I also know words like phosphokinase and polyadenylated and there didn't seem to be a large proportion of those in the test.
Knowing less words does not make you dumb. I feel really stupid compared to most of the forumites around these parts and despite knowing the meaning of words, my grammar and spelling is atrocious.
I know most of the words I knew were because I read a lot of pretentious books. And a lot of non pretentious books that use big words. Series of Unfortunate Events played an enormous role in expanding my vocabulary, even to the point where my parents wouldn't believe me that xenial was a word when I put it down in a game of Scrabble. Had to go through about three dictionaries before I got to one that was big enough to have it in there. Even the spellcheck on this forum doesn't think that's a real word.
28,600, which makes me certifiably dumber than Alcore, Puzzlebox, and Tope.
The thing about words is that their primary function is communication. If the people you're trying to communicate with don't understand the words you choose, it doesn't matter how apt or impressive they might be.
I'd argue that it's far more useful to have a basic ability in a second language (or more) rather than knowing a lot of obscure words in your primary language. If you and I were to compare Spanish vocab, I'm sure we'd see how much "certifiably dumber" I am.
Agreed with Puzzlebox. Half the obscure words I know are entirely unusable in reality are really confined to the world of GRE test taking and academic writings. And academic writers really just flaunt those words to be pompous.
The thing about words is that their primary function is communication. If the people you're trying to communicate with don't understand the words you choose, it doesn't matter how apt or impressive they might be.
This test your vocabulary thing however deals with passive as opposed to active vocabulary.
Agreed with Puzzlebox. Half the obscure words I know are entirely unusable in reality are really confined to the world of GRE test taking and academic writings. And academic writers really just flaunt those words to be pompous.
I've noticed that with academic writing and find it horribly annoying. Perhaps it's encouraged/validated by the peer review system, but I don't see that there's much to be achieved in deliberately making your work more inaccessible.
But do you know the etymology of the word "trivia"?
Maybe above 25,000 words, we can assume that every even remotely essential word is already in the passive vocabulary. Everything above IS trivia (in its modern sense). So testing if those non-essential words are known might be the way to determine how large one's vocabulary is.
29,900. There are some words I do understand what they mean but I'm not able to articulate a definition. Then there are some words which just mean nothing! So feel that's about accurate, and that reading a lot does help.
25,300. There were some words I recognized as real words, and I may have known the definition at some point, but it's been so long since I've seen them that I've forgotten, so under the rules, I didn't check their boxes.
There isn't really much of a purpose to knowing really obscure words unless you're making inside jokes with other word-trivia buffs.
25,300. There were some words I recognized as real words, and I may have known the definition at some point, but it's been so long since I've seen them that I've forgotten, so under the rules, I didn't check their boxes.
There isn't really much of a purpose to knowing really obscure words unless you're making inside jokes with other word-trivia buffs.
Unfortunately in academia it's a self sustaining circle jerk of having to learn those obscure words.
21,000. I'm not a native speaker, but knew several of the more archaic words from having read a lot of classic English literature. I'd say I have a fairly good understanding of English, but I'm not too good at writing or speaking it.
21,500 apparently. It doesn't really matter, since I look up words that I'm not sure about, and if I'm looking for a word I don't know, I use a thesaurus.
And if I may recommend an online vocabulary tester that's actually useful: Word Dynamo. That one helps you learn new words.
And if I may recommend an online vocabulary tester that's actually useful: Word Dynamo. That one helps you learn new words.
Hmm. Tried this, and...
unaffected
- Blowing in sudden, strong blasts of wind.
- Sincere; genuine.
- In a wary manner.
- To get the better of in a struggle or conflict; conquer; defeat.
Is it just me, or do none of those potential descriptions match?
It was 'Sincere / Genuine', BTW.
EDIT: According to this one, I know 50,010 words. That sounds a little better, although there was a bit of guesswork involved, so it may not be as accurate. I'd still pick this one over Test Your Vocab though.
That does fit, actually. Just google "define unaffected", and it's the second definition. (By the way, I use Google a lot as a dictionary, using the define command, it's very useful.)
EDIT: According to this one, I know 50,010 words. That sounds a little better, although there was a bit of guesswork involved, so it may not be as accurate. I'd still pick this one over Test Your Vocab though.
Yes, I tend to get higher scores on Word Dynamo as well. Even if you're guessing, there's a lot of educated guesswork going on - you might recognize word stems or affixes, and base your guess on that.
I'd argue that it's far more useful to have a basic ability in a second language (or more) rather than knowing a lot of obscure words in your primary language. If you and I were to compare Spanish vocab, I'm sure we'd see how much "certifiably dumber" I am.
So basically what you're telling me is that I shouldn't feel inferior to you, but instead should feel inferior to divisionten, who has Japanese and Chinese and I think some of at least one other foreign language in there.
My boss speaks Slovakian and Czech as a Native, German on an almost Native level (grammatical gender correct 99% of the time, she just can't get rid of her rhotic r), great Russian, understands Polish and, how couldn't she, English to boot. That's some language proficiency...
Comments
There, I've partaken in your tremendously uninteresting questionnaire. Can I do something more interesting now?
The word-of-the-days I had in fourth grade means I can barely recall a time where I wasn't sure what abscond means.
It would be nice to know how much words you know in english
specially if you're not a native
I thought I was going to get lower when I didn't know almost the entire last column of words.
More than I expected. I suspect that this count is off somewhat because I also know words like phosphokinase and polyadenylated and there didn't seem to be a large proportion of those in the test.
What is your mean by Can you not tell ?
'Can you not tell' is a slightly sarcastic way of saying 'It should be obvious", or something similar.
As you know I just know 4000 words in English:( so yes English is my second language
thanks a lot for what you taught me
I had the same score.
The thing about words is that their primary function is communication. If the people you're trying to communicate with don't understand the words you choose, it doesn't matter how apt or impressive they might be.
I'd argue that it's far more useful to have a basic ability in a second language (or more) rather than knowing a lot of obscure words in your primary language. If you and I were to compare Spanish vocab, I'm sure we'd see how much "certifiably dumber" I am.
This test your vocabulary thing however deals with passive as opposed to active vocabulary.
I've noticed that with academic writing and find it horribly annoying. Perhaps it's encouraged/validated by the peer review system, but I don't see that there's much to be achieved in deliberately making your work more inaccessible.
I guess my point is that I consider it trivia.
But do you know the etymology of the word "trivia"?
Maybe above 25,000 words, we can assume that every even remotely essential word is already in the passive vocabulary. Everything above IS trivia (in its modern sense). So testing if those non-essential words are known might be the way to determine how large one's vocabulary is.
Unsurprising to be fair.
There isn't really much of a purpose to knowing really obscure words unless you're making inside jokes with other word-trivia buffs.
Unfortunately in academia it's a self sustaining circle jerk of having to learn those obscure words.
I did not check boxes of words for which I had only heard in a certain context yet would still be guessing at the correct usage/definition.
And if I may recommend an online vocabulary tester that's actually useful: Word Dynamo. That one helps you learn new words.
Not bad for a guy that never really reads! XD
(Wait.. Do Videogames count? If so then I guess I do read alot. Not so much the big words though)
EDIT: According to this one, I know 50,010 words. That sounds a little better, although there was a bit of guesswork involved, so it may not be as accurate. I'd still pick this one over Test Your Vocab though.
Yes, I tend to get higher scores on Word Dynamo as well. Even if you're guessing, there's a lot of educated guesswork going on - you might recognize word stems or affixes, and base your guess on that.
http://www.dispositio.net/archives/501
Being dumb is well underrated.
I didn't even have the patience to finish it. Hah!