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What is a Lexicon?

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Summary

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Lexicon is a person’s word collection. It’s like their vocabulary, and it’s important for everyone, including kids with special needs.

Table of Contents

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Frequently Asked Question

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How does lexicon differ from vocabulary?

Lexicon is a broader term that includes a person’s entire mental dictionary, whereas vocabulary refers specifically to the words that a person knows.

Can a person have a limited lexicon?

Yes, some individuals may have a limited lexicon due to developmental or neurological conditions, but speech therapy and other interventions can help expand their vocabulary and improve their language skills.

How do children acquire new words for their lexicon?

Children acquire new words through a variety of methods, including hearing them in conversation, reading them in books, and seeing them in pictures or videos.

How can parents help enhance their child's lexicon?

Parents can encourage word exploration by introducing new words, reading together, and discussing daily experiences, fostering a richer lexicon.

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Scientific Definition

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Lexicon refers to an individual’s mental dictionary of words and their ability to understand and use language. For children with special needs, such as those on the autism spectrum, their lexicon can vary, impacting their language skills and communication abilities. Understanding their unique lexicons can help provide better support and improve their communication skills.

Video Explanation

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Real World Example of Lexicon

Meet Susie, an imaginative child exploring the world with her parents. During a nature walk, her lexicon evolved:

  1. Discovery: Spotting a vibrant flower, Susie asked, “What’s this?” Her parents replied, “It’s a tulip,” adding a new word to her lexicon.
  2. Word Associations: Later, she saw a bee, linking it to pollination and flowers, expanding her lexicon with related concepts.
  3. Contextual Usage: Her parents explained how bees help flowers by spreading pollen, and Susie used “pollination” to describe the bee’s role.
  4. Specialized Knowledge: Susie’s flower interest led to learning about terms like “stamen,” “petals,” and “photosynthesis.”

Susie’s lexicon grew through exploration, enhancing her communication, connections, and understanding of the world.

How Does Lexicon Work?

Understanding how lexicon works and seeing it in action can help you support your child’s language development effectively.

  • Word Collection: Lexicon is like a mental word collection, helping your child express ideas and understand language better.
  • Word Associations: When your child links “bee” to pollination and flowers, they’re expanding their lexicon by connecting related words.
  • Contextual Usage: Explaining how words fit into specific situations, like “pollination” in the bee example, helps your child apply their lexicon effectively.
  • Specialized Knowledge: As your child explores specific interests, their lexicon grows with terms related to those topics, like “stamen” and “photosynthesis.”

By recognizing lexicon’s role and encouraging word exploration, you can support your child’s communication skills and cognitive development.

 

This post was originally published on April 11, 2023. It was updated on Nov. 6, 2023.

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