The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 15.1200  Monday, 7 June 2004

From:           Graham Hall <
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Date:           Monday, 07 Jun 2004 09:11:39 +0000
Subject:        LLL TLN 133

It is claimed, in a recent publication, that the average vocabulary of
today's normal person is double that of Shakespeare's (20K vs 30-50K)
but that the total vocabularies available to each differs by a
significant multiple - today's being much the larger. So Shakespeare had
a greater knowledge proportionately of his available vocabulary than has
the average person of today. Shakespeare used the language to better
effect though, it is opined. India, it appears, has more speakers of
English that of  the combined US/UK population totals. Spoken English is
diverging along cultural influence lines.

"Stories of English" by David Crystal. (Pub. Allen Lane)

Write to him not me.

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