Skip to main content

How Many English Words Are There

...words, words, words...we got words...
I
started reading Words, Words, Words by David Crystal (Oxford University Press, 2006) and I was surprised by his statement that there is no definitive word count for the English language.
On a number of occasions I've read and heard that the English language has so many million words and the French language this many or Swedish a much smaller number. I took it that someone went to the trouble of counting the words and came up with a total, but it's not that easy.
Compare a British dictionary to an American dictionary and there are numerous differences—differences that extend beyond simple spelling variations. Words are included in one dictionary but not the other and vice-versa.
Then there is the issue of scientific words. Do you include all those Latin-derived mouthfuls used to name plants and animals?
Lawyers may use stare decisis and economists, ceterus paribus, but should they be counted as words, included in a dictionary, or should they be kept in textbooks?
What about words from four hundred years ago that are either archaic or have evolved in their spelling or meaning. When was the last time you read or heard Sirrah outside of Shakespeare?
Is it, as he questions, flower-pot or flower pot or flowerpot? Does it count as one word or two? What about three words? Flower, pot and flowerpot.
Plus the English language is seemingly everywhere in the world--both proper English, or near to it, and comical misuses such as seen with commercial signs in Japan. Do unintentional misuses count?
Should I mention slang?
It seems to me that a consensus could be reached to define word for the purposes of creating the set of words that make up the English language. With the definition in hand, the word count could begin.
A year from now, the English Lexicon Association of the Galaxy could announce the results to thousands of journalists as if at Canne: and the winner is three million, four hundred and sixty-five thousand, seven hundred and nineteen words. That's a lot of words.
But to what end?
A week later, the total increases by one because in South Africa a judge rules that the word wiggletax means tax evasion and sentences someone to six months in jail.
Now I hear it increased by another word and another.

At least it's not going to start a war.

Religion—freedom—vengeance—what you will,
A word's enough to raise mankind to kill.

From Lara by Lord Byron.

Posted 2007/03/08 at 01h09ET in Writing.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

If Only We Could Agree

Monday, June 11, 2012 ... have you been accused of misspelling a word you know is correct ... S usanne O’Leary wrote an interesting article on her experience with the variations of the English language in different countries. You know the obvious ones like colour with or without a “u” but less obvious ones like travelled versus traveled. Growing up in Sweden she learnt English in school—the UK variation. In publishing her books, she read reviews where she was criticized for improper spelling. False accusations as it turns out. While I write tire and cozy, it’s not incorrect to write tyre or cosy. Same language. Both accepted. Just different. You can read her write-up here along with the numerous comments posted by readers. I found it interesting, but that’s me. As a Canadian I deal with this issue everyday. I feel her pain when she’s criticized for something based on ignorance. No fun. I was told by a boss that “data are” isn’t correct. It should be “data is.” Read...

Things I’ve Never Done

Friday, November 11, 2011 ... you would think, assume, I had did these things ... I I’ve done a few things most people never get a chance to do. Lived in Africa for one. Have written a few novels and screenplays. Wrote some songs you wouldn’t want me to perform. But for the most part, my life isn’t terribly distinguished. Life like most people except there’s a few things I’ve never experienced. Never been married. Close? Not really. I’ve never even been on a date or had a date on Valentines Day. I think most people, where the day is recognized, have done that. I often wonder what it would be like. Never had a birthday party with cake and friends. I remember the odd the birthday card from this aunt or that uncle. It doesn’t help when your birthday is the same day as a holiday. I don’t know who my father is. That one-half of my genes, my DNA that is me. Don’t know and probably never will. I think most people know who there father is even if the relationship isn’t what ...

A Piece of the Action (1977)

Saturday, March 7, 2009 A Piece of the Action. Feature film. (1977, 135 mins) IMDB ... Who would you have over for dinner? Sidney Poitier or Bill Cosby. ... A PIECE OF THE ACTION is the third film starring Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier. Poitier also directed the films. (And yes, I would be fascinating to have both them sitting around a table for dinner.) We're in Chicago and I love the setup for this film. It's clever, fun and interesting. It starts during the dark of night. Crosby is a cat burglar robbing a vault in a bank. He's by himself, all the tools he needs, and doesn't speak a word of dialogue for at least the first twenty minutes of the film. It must have been killing him. His robbery goes off successfully. (It includes a jump from a six or seven story window. There was a similar scene in their earlier films.) When the cops arrive during the daylight, they haven't a clue and we catch a glimpse of James Earl Jones as a detect...