Talk, Talk: How Many Words Do We Use in a Day?
Speaking and listening are very important for anyone learning a language. You have to do a bit of both.
If we speak too much, we don't listen and learn. If we only spend our time listening, others may not get a chance to hear our ideas.
But have you ever thought about how much speaking you really do? How many words do you use in a day? Hundreds, thousands, none? More than your boss? Less than your best friend?
Of course, the amount we speak depends so much on what we do for a job, who we live with and what sort of personality we have.
In 2007, researchers in America looked at data from almost 400 university students who had been wearing sound recorders for between two and 10 days.
They found that on average the participants used about 16,000 words per day. For people who are awake for 16 hours in a 24-hour day, that's about 17 words per minute.
However, there was a big difference between the participant that spoke the least, at just 500 words a day, and the one who spoke the most — 47,000 words a day!
In the past, it has been suggested that women speak much more than men, but this study found that actually the numbers were about the same — the idea of women speaking more may be a stereotype.
However, what men and women talk about was found to be different. The researchers found that women talk more about people and relationships, while men talk more about sports, numbers and gadgets.
Speaking and listening are very important for anyone learning a language. You have to do a bit of both.
If we speak too much, we don't listen and learn. If we only spend our time listening, others may not get a chance to hear our ideas.
But have you ever thought about how much speaking you really do? How many words do you use in a day? Hundreds, thousands, none? More than your boss? Less than your best friend?
Of course, the amount we speak depends so much on what we do for a job, who we live with and what sort of personality we have.
In 2007, researchers in America looked at data from almost 400 university students who had been wearing sound recorders for between two and 10 days.
They found that on average the participants used about 16,000 words per day. For people who are awake for 16 hours in a 24-hour day, that's about 17 words per minute.
However, there was a big difference between the participant that spoke the least, at just 500 words a day, and the one who spoke the most — 47,000 words a day!
In the past, it has been suggested that women speak much more than men, but this study found that actually the numbers were about the same — the idea of women speaking more may be a stereotype.
However, what men and women talk about was found to be different. The researchers found that women talk more about people and relationships, while men talk more about sports, numbers and gadgets.
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Summary
Title: Daily Word Usage Among University Students
A study from 2007 analyzed word usage among nearly 400 university students, finding an average of 16,000 words per day. This equates to approximately 17 words per minute for those awake for 16 hours a day. The study also revealed significant
A study from 2007 analyzed word usage among nearly 400 university students, finding an average of 16,000 words per day. This equates to approximately 17 words per minute for those awake for 16 hours a day. The study also revealed significant