Re: How Much for Conversation?

Jim Grossman sekalge:
>[...]about how many words do you
>have to know before you feel comfortable using a target language for
>everyday conversation?
I've heard between 2,000 and 3,000 when carefully chosen. Of course, it's
probably less for cultures with less technology, because we'd still
remember jousting and castles and such if we were flitting between stars
and galaxies.

Actually, for _normal_ conversation, a thousand or even less could work.
However, conversations often leave what can be called _normal_. Thus, if
people spoke Basic English, we'd all have to know a good portion of the
specialized vocabulary.

Laimes,
Wright.

"A full staff will provide for your every need."
"Really? Every need?"
"Not for you. Some of your needs stray too far from human norms."