Building a Better Vocabulary Today
The English language is a rich and powerful language. It is remarkable that despite there being over 4 million words in the English language, the average adult (who is a native English speaker) only knows around 50,000.
People tend to make snap judgments about one another based on shallow appearances and speech is one such factor which is constantly taken into consideration. Having access to a powerful and thorough vocabulary means that we are effective communicators and we are able to quickly get our ideas across.
Whether we are public speakers, or simply have to convey our feelings to someone close to us, building a better vocabulary is nothing short of essential for our quality of life.
One of the quickest, most effective, and arguably most enjoyable ways of developing and building a better vocabulary is to read more books. Now many people assume that in order to develop your vocabulary you need to read dusty, ancient tomes where the author has died in order for you to develop English proficiency. Nothing could be further from the truth, and this illogical argument is based on one thing and one thing only: academic snobbery. The bottom line is that the more you read, the better your vocabulary will get.
Get into the habit of keeping up to date with political affairs, the news and listen to the radio. Crosswords both on paper and in electronic form can be also excellent ways to develop and broaden your vocabulary. There are numerous games online which are also timed, in which you will be given a jumble of letters and you will be required to make as many words as possible from the collection of letters available.
Some of these games offer additional time for correct guesses, others will keep the clock ticking regardless of what you choose and some of the more helpful games offer a direct link to a lexicon site allowing you full access to the proper pronunciation and definition of the words. These online games are especially good for young children, who will be quite taken in with the flashy graphics, funky music and endless replay. It is also the ideal way to engage their attention in a positive and constructive manner.
