Chapter 1
Foundations of Reading Development
Course: Foundations Of Reading 890
Subject: Foundations Of Reading 890
Chapter: Reading Comprehension Development 5849 9750
Lesson 2: Vocabulary Development and Word Meaning in Context
What Is Vocabulary?
Vocabulary refers to the entire set of words a person knows and can use across the four language domains of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. It is not a single store but is commonly divided according to how the words are used.
Here are the two main types of vocabulary by usage:
- Receptive vocabulary consists of the words a person understands when they hear or read them. This is the "input" vocabulary—words recognized when received.
- Expressive vocabulary consists of the words a person actually uses when speaking or writing. This is the "output" vocabulary—words produced when expressing.
A reliable pattern holds across virtually all learners: receptive vocabulary is larger than expressive vocabulary. People understand many more words than they actively use. For example, a student may readily understand the word "predict" when reading it in a science text, yet never reach for it naturally in their own speech.