Unfortunately, the question "What is the average daily vocabulary?" is inherently vague. It can be interpreted in a couple of ways:
- What is the size of a person's overall vocabulary?
- How many new words does a person learn each day?
We can address each of these interpretations:
1. Size of Overall Vocabulary
This interpretation asks about the total number of words a person knows. According to lexicographer Susie Dent, the average adult English speaker has:
- Active Vocabulary: Around 20,000 words (words they regularly use).
- Passive Vocabulary: Around 40,000 words (words they recognize and understand but don't actively use).
Therefore, depending on whether we're looking at actively used words or recognizable words, the "average daily vocabulary" (referring to the size of a person's vocabulary) would be either around 20,000 or 40,000 words.
2. Number of New Words Learned Daily
This interpretation asks about the rate at which people acquire new words. This is much harder to quantify and varies greatly depending on age, education, reading habits, and individual learning styles.
It's difficult to give a specific, universally applicable number. However, some researchers estimate that adults may consciously learn somewhere between one to two new words per day through reading, conversations, and other learning activities. This is a very rough estimate, and it doesn't include subconscious word learning through context.
In summary, the answer to "What is the average daily vocabulary?" depends on whether you are asking about the total vocabulary size (20,000-40,000 words) or the number of new words learned per day (approximately 1-2 words).
