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My new vocabulary book idea - will it sell?

Viraja

Jaya Jagannatha!
Hello,

About an year ago I longed to be an author in the States. And that's when, realizing my English is nothing exemplary, I went in for a crash-tutoring of myself in advanced English vocab. I learnt from reading from popular magazines, blogs, essays and such. Now I think I have accumulated a decent set of about 1500 words, that is above the standard English vocabulary expected of a non-English speaker.

Do you think it will sell if I publish just these 1500 advanced yet commonly used words in to a book, preferably titled 'Advanced English Vocabulary for the non-English commoner'??

Any thoughts on this welcome.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
I think there's a need for it.

A friend of mine(is from Mali, native language French) used to bring a notebook to work and fill it up with phrases that were used, so she could memorize and use them later on.

I think one of her complaints was the English she was taught did not adequately prepare her for the English that is used.

One of my favorite memories of working with her was her walking down the hallway, looking at her notebook, and repeating "when **** hits the fan" in different inflections, trying to find the best way to use it...
 

Viraja

Jaya Jagannatha!
I think there's a need for it.

A friend of mine(is from Mali, native language French) used to bring a notebook to work and fill it up with phrases that were used, so she could memorize and use them later on.

I think one of her complaints was the English she was taught did not adequately prepare her for the English that is used.

One of my favorite memories of working with her was her walking down the hallway, looking at her notebook, and repeating "when **** hits the fan" in different inflections, trying to find the best way to use it...

Absolutely true! Written English that is used here in America is quite the high standard.

I was taught English as a 2nd language in India, that too, way back in the 80's when I was a school-goer and though the standard was pretty decent, it is nothing like the words and phrases used here.

I had a steep learning curve the past 1 yr, tutoring myself advanced English vocab. and phrases and all.

Thanks, I think I will try and get it published at some point. My doubt is if 1500 is an adequately decent number to round it all.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
I think there's a need for it too. Once upon a time, I applied for an adult ESL job here, and found out that it's tough, at least in the formal route. I was warned that Japanese students, among a few others, were absolutely demanding, regarding proper English, and that I'd have my work cut out for me. I opted for sticking with my elementary school teaching job.

But that's not what you're talking about. What you're talking about is the average Jane or Joe that just needs help in getting through grocery stores, doctor's appointments, and the like. So it'd be a more practical approach in order to become functional.

As with any book idea, it's the marketing that will be the toughest. Sounds like you've already done some leg work on the book itself.

Best wishes.
 

Bear Wild

Well-Known Member
Hello,

About an year ago I longed to be an author in the States. And that's when, realizing my English is nothing exemplary, I went in for a crash-tutoring of myself in advanced English vocab. I learnt from reading from popular magazines, blogs, essays and such. Now I think I have accumulated a decent set of about 1500 words, that is above the standard English vocabulary expected of a non-English speaker.

Do you think it will sell if I publish just these 1500 advanced yet commonly used words in to a book, preferably titled 'Advanced English Vocabulary for the non-English commoner'??

Any thoughts on this welcome.

Nice Idea but unfortunately in the English language it will become outdated in a year or two. All attempts to control the English language have over time failed and there have been many attempts. Thus the English language will absorb almost any other word from any other language, and change the meaning of each word to mean new things with every new fad not to mention all of the constantly changing phrases but it would be interesting to read.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
Hello,

About an year ago I longed to be an author in the States. And that's when, realizing my English is nothing exemplary, I went in for a crash-tutoring of myself in advanced English vocab. I learnt from reading from popular magazines, blogs, essays and such. Now I think I have accumulated a decent set of about 1500 words, that is above the standard English vocabulary expected of a non-English speaker.

Do you think it will sell if I publish just these 1500 advanced yet commonly used words in to a book, preferably titled 'Advanced English Vocabulary for the non-English commoner'??

Any thoughts on this welcome.

When i learned french one of the methods I used was precisely what you describe.

There are several sources of xxx most common words in english. Several newspapers publish the 300 or 500 or 1000 most used words in their paper. I downloaded a couple, fed them through a translator and wound up with a list of the most common words with the french language version of the word alongside.

They are free to download so i am not sure if something similar will sell but if it gets on amazon there is a chance.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
I think there's a need for it.

A friend of mine(is from Mali, native language French) used to bring a notebook to work and fill it up with phrases that were used, so she could memorize and use them later on.

I think one of her complaints was the English she was taught did not adequately prepare her for the English that is used.

One of my favorite memories of working with her was her walking down the hallway, looking at her notebook, and repeating "when **** hits the fan" in different inflections, trying to find the best way to use it...

I use a sort of spoonerism, when the fat hits the shin, originally because i didn't want to swear in front of the kids. It translates to better to french than most mashups.

"quand la graisse frappe le tibia"

It's was not used in french until i started but it's spreading,. A few weeks ago I heard it spoken in a supermarket 25km from home by some guy ive never seen before.

Don't ask why we had a cat named "Cooking fat"
 

Audie

Veteran Member
Hello,

About an year ago I longed to be an author in the States. And that's when, realizing my English is nothing exemplary, I went in for a crash-tutoring of myself in advanced English vocab. I learnt from reading from popular magazines, blogs, essays and such. Now I think I have accumulated a decent set of about 1500 words, that is above the standard English vocabulary expected of a non-English speaker.

Do you think it will sell if I publish just these 1500 advanced yet commonly used words in to a book, preferably titled 'Advanced English Vocabulary for the non-English commoner'??

Any thoughts on this welcome.
Did you google "1500 common English words"?
 

Audie

Veteran Member
I use a sort of spoonerism, when the fat hits the shin, originally because i didn't want to swear in front of the kids. It translates to better to french than most mashups.

"quand la graisse frappe le tibia"

It's was not used in french until i started but it's spreading,. A few weeks ago I heard it spoken in a supermarket 25km from home by some guy ive never seen before.

Don't ask why we had a cat named "Cooking fat"

The ( gasp) grim spectre of cultural imperialism!
 

Valjean

Veteran Member
Premium Member
What sort of book do you have in mind? A textbook? A study manual? A self teaching manual? A vocabulary reference?

Do a market survey. I don't want to discourage you, but there are plenty of all these books already on the market.
Surveying a bookshelf not three meters from me -- and I'm in my bedroom -- I have:

There Is No Zoo in Zoology, and other beastly pronunciations.
Word Power, the entertaining way to enrich your language skills.
All About Words, ab adult approach to vocabulary building.
Six Weeks to Words of Power.
Basic Word List
[Divided into levels of difficulty using word frequency lists].
Better English.
Advanced English Exercises.
2300 Steps to Word Power.
It Pays to Increase Your Word Power.
Word power, a connoisseur's collection of old and new, weird and wonderful, useful and outlandish.
Usage and Abusage.
An Almanac of Words at play.
Strictly Speaking.
The Superior Person's Book of Words.
Vocabulary for the College Bound.

And anyone can download or order frequency lists:

About the Oxford 3000 and 5000 word lists at Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
Advanced English Based On Frequency Lis…
1500 Advanced English Words
 

Viraja

Jaya Jagannatha!
What sort of book do you have in mind? A textbook? A study manual? A self teaching manual? A vocabulary reference?

Do a market survey. I don't want to discourage you, but there are plenty of all these books already on the market.
Surveying a bookshelf not three meters from me -- and I'm in my bedroom -- I have:

There Is No Zoo in Zoology, and other beastly pronunciations.
Word Power, the entertaining way to enrich your language skills.
All About Words, ab adult approach to vocabulary building.
Six Weeks to Words of Power.
Basic Word List
[Divided into levels of difficulty using word frequency lists].
Better English.
Advanced English Exercises.
2300 Steps to Word Power.
It Pays to Increase Your Word Power.
Word power, a connoisseur's collection of old and new, weird and wonderful, useful and outlandish.
Usage and Abusage.
An Almanac of Words at play.
Strictly Speaking.
The Superior Person's Book of Words.
Vocabulary for the College Bound.

And anyone can download or order frequency lists:

About the Oxford 3000 and 5000 word lists at Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
Advanced English Based On Frequency Lis…
1500 Advanced English Words

Oops! There goes away my dream to be a millionaire! :)

Thanks for the informative post, Valjean.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
What sort of book do you have in mind? A textbook? A study manual? A self teaching manual? A vocabulary reference?

Do a market survey. I don't want to discourage you, but there are plenty of all these books already on the market.
Surveying a bookshelf not three meters from me -- and I'm in my bedroom -- I have:

There Is No Zoo in Zoology, and other beastly pronunciations.
Word Power, the entertaining way to enrich your language skills.
All About Words, ab adult approach to vocabulary building.
Six Weeks to Words of Power.
Basic Word List
[Divided into levels of difficulty using word frequency lists].
Better English.
Advanced English Exercises.
2300 Steps to Word Power.
It Pays to Increase Your Word Power.
Word power, a connoisseur's collection of old and new, weird and wonderful, useful and outlandish.
Usage and Abusage.
An Almanac of Words at play.
Strictly Speaking.
The Superior Person's Book of Words.
Vocabulary for the College Bound.

And anyone can download or order frequency lists:

About the Oxford 3000 and 5000 word lists at Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
Advanced English Based On Frequency Lis…
1500 Advanced English Words

I think what my friend wanted was more of a "how to talk to your average coworker once you get your average job" kinda thing. She had the verbal skills to land the job, but not navigate it on a social/personal level.
 
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