Core Vocabulary 





All vocabulary can be either core or  context (or fringe) vocabulary.  

Core vocabulary is a small set of simple words, that are the most frequently used words and used across all contexts. They constitute more than 80% of the words used in our normal day-to-day communication while the balance 20% is called Fringe words.  Click here to read about What are fringe words?
 
With just around 100 core words, a person can communicate more than 80% of what is needed. They can be taught and reinforced through a variety of activities. 


E.g. In the sentence "I want to eat an ice-cream" - all the words except "ice-cream" are core words. The word ice-cream is a Context word, that is used in a specific contexts only. The remaining words can be used across multiple contexts.

Core words - I, want, to, eat, an

Context word - ice-cream


Another example: They are playing in the park. 

Core words - they, are, playing, in, the                 

Context words - park


Core words can be used across all contexts and are the building blocks of communication and at the heart of language development. It includes all parts of speech except nouns. Nouns are included in Context vocabulary or Fringe vocabulary. Fringe words are used only in specific contexts and are used less frequently. Most Core words are usually short words and consist of verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, conjunctions, interjections and are less likely to be nouns. 

Core can be used across all contexts whereas Fringe vocabulary is context-specific. Core words also give scope for quick and easy 2-word combinations and 3-word simple sentences. Even a beginning communicator can use these few words to make simple phrases using just core words, like "get that," "go up," "stop that," "turn that up," "turn off", "that mine," "get that down” etc.

Use Core words across all contexts during the day

Use Avaz at home, school, park, while going shopping, at the restaurant etc. in all settings.                 Repeated use of the core word with different objects and activities and using it across different settings and environments will help the child learn to generalize the concept.

Example: Core word OPEN

The word OPEN can be used in combination with a variety of objects (fringe words) to teach the concept through daily life activities. 

E.g. Open the book, open the door, open the bottle, open the book, open the window, open your mouth, open the gift ..



Why are core words important?


Core vocabulary is powerful because it allows communicators to express a wide variety of concepts and thoughts with a very small number of words. This is because the same core words can be used across multiple contexts and have multiple meanings. E.g. turn around, turn the tap, turn the page, my turn / your turn (turn taking) etc. 


Research has shown that about 50 words make up around 40-50% of our daily communication; 100 words make up 60%, and 200-400 words make up 80% of the words we use everyday. Hence easy access to Core words is extremely important in an AAC system.



Using core words for building language


Core words also give scope for quick and easy 2-word combinations and 3-word simple sentences. Core vocabulary is powerful because it allows communicators to express a wide variety of concepts with a very small number of words. 


2 Word phrases: Some examples:

  1. finished + food

  2. like + painting

  3. More + chips

  4. Turn + page

  5. Want + water


Moving to 3 Word sentences: Some examples: 

  1. I + finished + food

  2. You + like + painting

  3. Want + more + chips

  4. I + turn + page

  5. You + want + water


Suggested Core Vocabulary 


There are several suggested lists of Core words. Here is a list of Universal Core - containing a set of 36 important core words to begin with, as recommended by Project Core.


Universal Core vocabulary 

List of 36 core words 


VERBS
ADJECTIVES
PRONOUNS
PREPOSITIONS
Q. WORDS
like
good
I
in
what
want
more
he
on
where
get
not
you
up
why
make
different
she

who
go
same
it

when
look
here
that


turn
some
all


help




open




do




put




can




finished




stop





Related articles:

FAQ: What core words to teach?

FAQ: How to teach core words during daily activities?

FAQ: Core word posters (how to use core words in various activities of daily life)

FAQ: How to start using Avaz - Part 2 ?

FAQ: What is the research behind Avaz Core words and vocabulary design in Avaz ?
Blog: Why is Core vocabulary important for an AAC user?


Source : Internet

Core words dominate everyday speech for toddlers (Banajee, 2003), preschoolers (Marvin, Beukelman & Bilyeu, 1994), adults (Balandin & Iacono, 1999), and seniors (Stuart & Beukelman, 1997). 

Core Vocabulary and AAC performance report