Inaugurated by IN-SPACe
ISRO Registered Space Tutor
S2-SA4-0308
What is Communicative Vocabulary?
Grade Level:
Class 2
NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication
Definition
What is it?
Communicative vocabulary means the words you know and can use easily to talk, write, or understand others in everyday situations. It's about using words effectively to share your thoughts and feelings, not just knowing their meanings.
Simple Example
Quick Example
Imagine you want to buy a packet of 'chips' from a shop. You need to know the word 'chips' and use it correctly so the shopkeeper understands what you want. This is using communicative vocabulary.
Worked Example
Step-by-Step
Let's say you want to tell your friend about your favourite cricket player, Virat Kohli.
1. First, think about what you want to say: "Virat Kohli is a great batsman."
---
2. Identify the key words you need: 'Virat Kohli' (name), 'great' (adjective), 'batsman' (noun).
---
3. Put these words together in a sentence that makes sense and your friend can understand.
---
4. You say: "Virat Kohli is a great batsman!" Your friend understands perfectly because you used the right words to communicate your idea.
---
Answer: Using words like 'great' and 'batsman' correctly to share your opinion about Virat Kohli is an example of communicative vocabulary.
Why It Matters
Having good communicative vocabulary helps you express yourself clearly, whether you're writing an essay, giving a speech, or just talking to friends. It's vital for journalists to report news, for lawyers to argue cases, and for anyone in communication roles to connect with people. It makes you a confident speaker and writer.
Common Mistakes
MISTAKE: Knowing many difficult words but not being able to use them in a conversation. | CORRECTION: Focus on learning how to use words in sentences and real-life chats, not just memorizing definitions.
MISTAKE: Using the same few simple words repeatedly, even when more specific words would be better. | CORRECTION: Try to expand your vocabulary with synonyms and more precise words for different situations.
MISTAKE: Translating word-for-word from your mother tongue, which can make sentences sound unnatural in English. | CORRECTION: Learn common English phrases and sentence structures, and practice thinking directly in English.
Practice Questions
Try It Yourself
QUESTION: Your friend asks, "How was your exam?" Which word would you use to describe a very good exam? | ANSWER: Excellent (or fantastic, superb)
QUESTION: You want to ask the auto-rickshaw driver to stop at the 'red light'. What specific word helps him understand where to stop? | ANSWER: Signal (or traffic light)
QUESTION: Your teacher asked you to describe your favourite festival. You want to say it's 'very colourful' and 'people are very happy'. Combine these ideas using strong communicative vocabulary. | ANSWER: My favourite festival is vibrant and joyful, with people celebrating enthusiastically.
MCQ
Quick Quiz
Which of these is the best example of using communicative vocabulary?
Memorizing 10 new words from a dictionary.
Using the word 'delicious' to describe your grandmother's biryani.
Writing down the spelling of a difficult word 10 times.
Knowing the meaning of 'photosynthesis' but not using it.
The Correct Answer Is:
B
Option B shows you using a word ('delicious') to express an idea in a real-life situation, which is the core of communicative vocabulary. The other options are about memorization or passive knowledge, not active communication.
Real World Connection
In the Real World
When you use a food delivery app like Swiggy or Zomato, you need to use communicative vocabulary to search for specific dishes like 'paneer tikka' or 'masala dosa' and understand the menu descriptions. Similarly, customer service representatives on phone calls use specific words to understand your problem and offer solutions.
Key Vocabulary
Key Terms
COMMUNICATIVE: relating to communication | VOCABULARY: the words known by a person | EXPRESS: to show or tell | EFFECTIVELY: in a way that achieves a desired result | CONVERSATION: a talk between two or more people
What's Next
What to Learn Next
Next, you can explore 'Active vs. Passive Vocabulary'. Understanding this will help you identify which words you can use in daily talk and which ones you just recognize, making you an even better communicator.
