How many words you need sabi to read book for English?

This table na calculation about words wey show for text; e no be test of understanding. A token na one time wey word show for passage: if one word wey you no sabi show many times, dem count am many times. Word families na another unit dem dey use to describe how many words person sabi. If you mix the units, one requirement fit look precise but mislead person. Nation, 2006 Brysbaert et al., 2016

Where the 8,000–9,000 estimate come from?

Nation use word-family lists wey base on how often words dey show to study how much written and spoken English dem cover. The conclusion depend on condition: if person need about 98% coverage to understand without help, the written materials wey dem study need roughly that range of vocabulary. How the analysis handle proper names and related word forms na part of the work; dem no be details wey you fit leave out from one learning target wey claim say e fit work for everybody. Nation, 2006

Other research on how dem count vocabulary show say lemmas, word families and written forms fit give very different totals. Result of 8,000 word families no be direct comparison with test wey report 8,000 lemmas, and e no be count of every word for English. Brysbaert et al., 2016 Nagy et al., 1984

98% na special level wey guarantee understanding?

Schmitt, Jiang and Grabe test 661 people from eight countries with two texts. Dem find say vocabulary coverage and understanding get a fairly steady relationship, with no sharp point where understanding suddenly complete. Their results support 98% as useful target for how much academic text vocabulary person know, not as one gate wey you either pass or fail. SCHMITT et al., 2011

Why books dey different

Story wey you sabi, textbook about one special subject, and historical novel get different vocabulary and expect different background knowledge. The coverage estimate no remove grammar, inference or knowledge of the subject from understanding. Research on reading speed still show why moving through words and understanding them na two different results. Nation, 2006 Brysbaert, 2019

The kind of knowledge wey help you recognize words na good place to start, but learner fit sabi word small-small. Studies wey separate recognition, recall and ability to use words show why marking word as familiar no guarantee say you understand all the meanings wey e get for passage. Laufer et al., 2004 Webb, 2008

You fit start to read with fewer words?

Yes: the estimate talk about how much of the materials dem study you fit understand without help, no be permission to read. Easier materials, support and different reading goals fit change the situation. Learner wey dey use dictionary dey do different task from person wey no get help. Make the number help you choose material; e no suppose make you stop to read until test reach one particular total. Nation, 2006

Meeting a word many times fit build different parts of word knowledge, but research on repetition no give one number of times wey go make every word don enter person head. Pay attention to how well you understand and the kind of help you need; no assume say one fixed number of new words wey you recognize go guarantee smooth reading. Webb, 2007

How age, sex and other languages nko?

This na analysis of how much English text words people know, no be standard of ability based on age or sex. Other languages dey count word forms and families in different ways, and different types of writing need different vocabulary. If you use the number for other languages without checking the units, you go make the evidence look stronger pass wetin e be. Nation, 2006 Brysbaert et al., 2016

The useful question na how much of the book you understand with the kind of help wey you choose. Score for recognizing words fit give you some idea, but small test of understanding on the book wey you dey read dey closer to that goal pass one general vocabulary cutoff. SCHMITT et al., 2011 Laufer et al., 2004