Vocabulary size in Greek as a foreign language and the common European framework of reference for languages

Part of : Εφαρμοσμένη γλωσσολογία ; No.24, 2008, pages 35-52

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35-52
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This paper reports on the construction and use of a vocabulary size test in Greek as a foreign language. The vocabulary sizes of groups of learners at various language levels have been calculated and from this it is clear that a vocabulary size measurement is a good indicator of learners’ level within the CEFR. Elementary learners are likely to know less than 3,000 of the most frequent 5,000 words, Intermediate learners between 3,000 and 4,000, and advanced learners over 4,000 words on this test. It appears that rather more words are required in Greek to achieve levels of coverage associated with gist and full comprehension of texts, than would be the case in English or in French implying that Greek is more lexically demanding of learners. However, better and parallel corpora from which to derive the frequency lists used as the basis of testing would make this interpretation much clearer.
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Περιέχει γραφήματα, πίνακες, παράρτημα και βιβλιογραφία