A linguistic study conducted by the Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language reveals that the average Slovenian speaker's vocabulary increases significantly with age, reaching approximately 61,000 words by age 75. This research positions Slovenian among a rare group of six global languages with detailed data on word prevalence. The study used Besedomat, an online word game, with nearly 40,000 participants identifying real Slovenian words from a mix of authentic and fabricated terms. Key findings include education level being the strongest factor influencing vocabulary size, with minimal differences based on gender or geography. Researchers noted generational and gender-based variations in word recognition, with older individuals recognizing historical terms and younger participants identifying modern loanwords. The study highlights the evolution of Slovenian since becoming an official language of an independent Slovenia and the EU, emphasizing the need for proactive adaptation to technological changes while maintaining its dominance in education and public life.
The project Besodomat, a linguistic survey designed to assess the vocabulary range of Slovenian speakers, has revealed key insights into how language proficiency evolves with age and education. Nearly 40,000 participants completed over 48,600 questionnaires between November 2024 and September 2025, providing data on their ability to recognize real versus invented words, known as pseudowords. Of the 120 words tested, 84 were actual Slovenian words and 36 were pseudowords. Participants were asked to determine whether each word was genuine or fabricated, with results showing varying levels of recognition based on age and educational background. Age had the most significant impact on vocabulary size, with younger respondents demonstrating lower familiarity compared to older ones. Eighteen-year-olds recognized approximately 42,000 words, while individuals aged 40 could identify around 54,000, and those over 75 recognized nearly 61,000. Educational attainment also played a role, though its influence was less pronounced than that of age. Geographic origin or place of residence did not significantly affect vocabulary breadth. Men performed slightly better than women in recognizing certain words, though the difference was minimal and not fully explained. Raziskovalec Dejan Gabrovšek from the Institute for Slovenian Language Fran Ramovša ZRC SAZU highlighted differences in word recognition among age groups. Older participants more readily identified words such as uzanca, bisaga, bravura, soldateska, and kolek, whereas younger participants recognized terms like japanka, prokrastinacija, shekati, proliferirati, and manga. Similarly, men demonstrated stronger recognition of words such as eksabajt, histerezen, polvelter, and baraža, while women showed greater familiarity with plisirati, tipen, oniksov, amniocenteza, and sukulenta. Slovenian has undergone substantial changes in the past 35 years, evolving from being influenced primarily by German, Serbian, or Croatian to now being heavily shaped by English. This shift, according to project leader Andrej Perdih, is not detrimental but rather a natural phenomenon observed throughout linguistic history. He emphasized that the vitality of the Slovenian language depends on its active participation in the digital world, artificial intelligence, and continued prominence in education and public life. The study underscores the importance of maintaining linguistic diversity and functionality within Slovenian society. With the increasing integration of foreign words, particularly from English, into everyday speech, the challenge lies in preserving the richness and distinctiveness of the Slovenian language. The findings suggest that while exposure to new vocabulary is beneficial, the depth of understanding varies widely depending on individual factors such as age and education. Collaboration on the Besodomat project involved researchers from the Institute for Slovenian Language Fran Ramovša ZRC SAZU, the Faculty of Education at the University of Ljubljana, UKC Ljubljana, and the University of Nova Gorica. Similar projects exist for Dutch, English, Spanish, Catalan, and Italian, highlighting a broader trend in linguistic research aimed at quantifying vocabulary acquisition and usage across different languages and demographics. The presentation of findings took place at the ZRC SAZU’s Gosposki Dvorani, followed by an international conference attended by linguists who contributed to shaping psycholinguistic norms related to the spread of large vocabularies. These norms provide insight into the proportion of speakers familiar with specific words, offering a clearer picture of linguistic variation and comprehension across different populations.
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The article discusses the 'Besedomat' online survey, which tests participants' ability to recognize whether a given word is real or invented (a pseudoword). The study, led by linguist Andrej Perdih from the Institute of Slovenian Language at the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU), analyzed over 48,600 questionnaires completed by nearly 40,000 participants between November 2024 and September 2026. It highlights that vocabulary size increases with age, reaching around 61,000 words by age 75. Education level also plays a role, while factors like place of birth or gender have minimal impact. The research notes that Slovenian has undergone significant changes in recent decades, becoming the official language of Slovenia and the EU, and now faces strong influence from English rather than previously dominant languages like German or Serbian. The study emphasizes the importance of active participation in digital spaces and education to maintain the vitality of the Slovenian language.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a linguistic study without overt ideological framing. While it mentions the increasing influence of English on Slovenian, this is presented as a historical and linguistic trend rather than a politically charged issue. The focus remains on academic findings and demographic data,
Why factuality (95): The article accurately reports the Besedomat project as an online survey where participants identify real vs. fake words. It cites specific numbers from the primary source document (40,000 participants, 48,600 questionnaires), mentions the 120-word list with 84 real and 36 fake words, and provides a
Why objectivity (90): The tone remains largely neutral and informative, presenting facts without overt bias. It quotes Andrej Perdih directly and avoids strong language or opinionated statements. However, it slightly emphasizes the fun aspect of the project ('jezikovna igra') more than the academic nature.
The article discusses the results of the 'Besedomat' project, a word recognition survey conducted by researchers at the Institute of Slovenian Language, Faculty of Education at University of Ljubljana, UKC Ljubljana, and University of Nova Gorica. The survey involved nearly 40,000 participants who completed over 48,600 questionnaires between November 2024 and September 2026. It highlights that vocabulary size increases with age and education level, with adults aged 18 knowing around 42,000 words, rising to 54,000 at 40 and 61,000 by 75. The study also notes differences in word recognition between genders and generations, with older individuals recognizing more traditional terms like 'uzanca' and 'bisaga', while younger people recognize modern terms like 'prokrastinacija' and 'manga'. The article emphasizes that Slovenian has undergone significant changes in the past 35 years, becoming the official language of Slovenia and the EU, and now faces strong influence from English, which is seen as a natural linguistic evolution rather than a threat.
Bias read (Center): The article presents findings from a linguistic research project without overt ideological framing. While it mentions the influence of English on Slovenian, it frames this as a natural historical trend rather than a criticism of current policies or political direction. The focus remains on academic,
Why factuality (94): The article accurately presents the Besedomat project as both a linguistic research tool and a game for the public. It correctly reports the number of participants, the structure of the questionnaire, and the age-based vocabulary statistics. It also provides gender-specific word recognition examples
Why objectivity (92): The article maintains a balanced and neutral tone throughout, presenting facts without editorializing. It quotes Andrej Perdih directly and avoids taking sides or expressing personal opinions. The only minor issue is the inclusion of a partial sentence at the end, which might suggest incomplete repo
The article discusses findings from the Besedomat project, which analyzed the vocabulary knowledge of Slovenians. It highlights that age and education level significantly influence the size of one’s vocabulary, with individuals aged up to 75 knowing around 61,000 words. Younger participants recognized modern terms like 'prokrastinacija' and 'manga,' while older participants identified more traditional words such as 'uzanca' and 'bisaga.' The study also noted slight differences between men and women in word recognition, though the difference was minimal. Linguist Andrej Perdih emphasized that the increasing influence of English on Slovenian is a natural historical trend, not necessarily negative.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual research findings without overt ideological slant. While it mentions the influence of English on Slovenian, it frames this as a natural linguistic evolution rather than a criticism. The focus remains on academic results and linguistic trends, avoiding partisan commentary
Why factuality (92): This article accurately conveys the core findings of the Besedomat study, including participant numbers, word list composition, and age-related vocabulary growth. It also includes some specific examples of recognized words by different age groups. However, it adds a quote about English influence tha
Why objectivity (88): The article maintains a mostly objective tone but includes a subjective statement about English influence being 'not fateful,' which could be seen as a value judgment. It also uses promotional language like 'Spremljajte RTVSLO.si kot prednostni vir na Google,' which slightly undermines neutrality.
The Slovenia TimesIndependentCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 859/8/2026
A linguistic study conducted by the Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language reveals that the average Slovenian speaker's vocabulary increases significantly with age, reaching approximately 61,000 words by age 75. This research positions Slovenian among a rare group of six global languages with detailed data on word prevalence. The study used Besedomat, an online word game, with nearly 40,000 participants identifying real Slovenian words from a mix of authentic and fabricated terms. Key findings include education level being the strongest factor influencing vocabulary size, with minimal differences based on gender or geography. Researchers noted generational and gender-based variations in word recognition, with older individuals recognizing historical terms and younger participants identifying modern loanwords. The study highlights the evolution of Slovenian since becoming an official language of an independent Slovenia and the EU, emphasizing the need for proactive adaptation to technological changes while maintaining its dominance in education and public life.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual findings from a linguistic study without overt ideological framing. It discusses the growth of the Slovenian language's vocabulary, its status as an official language, and the importance of adapting to modern contexts. There is no clear bias toward any political ideology
Why factuality: no official source document/info detected
Why objectivity (85): The article presents the findings in a balanced manner, discussing both generational and gender differences without overt bias. However, it uses emotionally charged language such as 'stark generational and gender divides' which could be seen as slightly subjective, affecting the objectivity score.
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