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How Many Words Do You Need to Speak a Language?

How many words do you need to speak a language and how many words do native speakers actually use?

Ein Bier bitte? Loyal listener David made a new year's resolution to learn German. Three years later, that's about as far as he's got.

Keen to have something to aim for, he asked More or Less how many words you really need to know in order to speak a language.

Reporter Beth Sagar-Fenton finds out with help from Professor Stuart Webb, and puts Tim through his paces to find out how big his own English vocabulary is.

Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer: Charlotte McDonald and Lizzy McNeill

(Photo: The World surrounded by Flags. Credit: Shutterstock)

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9 minutes

Last on

Tue 26 Jun 201801:50GMT
BBC World Service except News Internet

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Broadcasts

  • Sun 24 Jun 201818:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
  • Mon 25 Jun 201812:50GMT
    BBC World Service except News Internet
  • Tue 26 Jun 201801:50GMT
    BBC World Service except News Internet

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