[Steve]

When do you know a word?

When can you say that you know a word in a new language? Some people think that you need to be able to use the word, to make it part of your active vocabulary, before you can claim you know it. I do not agree. I don't use Russian that much anyway.

To me I know a word when I hear it or read it and it is instant meaning. I need not translate it in my head, I just know the meaning. It is a comfortable feeling, the feeling of meeting old familiar friends. You do not have to ask how they are, or what they are thinking, or what they mean. You are just comfortable in their presence.

How do words achieve this status? It is done through a lot of exposure, and in particular the combined effect of repetitive listening, reading and vocabulary review. I have heard "Fathers and Children" by Turgenev many times, I have read it on LingQ, saving words. I have reviewed the words using Flash Cards. I have clicked on the yellow previously saved words to refresh my memory. I have reviewed my Examples.

Now, I am reading a hard copy of the book in Russian, and many, many of the words, are just meaning to me,no need to translate. Those are words that I know, and am unlikely to forget, especially as I continue reading and listening and meeting them.

[本那比经略]

语言和文化是不可分割的，所以学语言也是在学文化。

[Piglet]

I agree. There are so many words which I only know when I meet them. How I want to increase my spoken vocabulary! But it is so much harder than just trying to know them.

[Steve]

I would not worry about it. In speaking a second or third language our active vocabulary is always smaller than our passive vocabulary. That is fine. It is most important to understand what we hear and read.

To work on converting your passive vocabulary into active vocabulary you just have to continue exposing yourself to the language, and occasionally get outside your comfort zone and use new words. Writing is also a good way to get a better grasp on a wider range of vocabulary.

[snugedate]

二楼同学说的对