ABSTRACT
Vocabulary can be defined as single words, easily translatable from one language to another. Cognates (words which can transfer between languages, e.g. radio) present little challenge for learners. Some words contain clues to meaning, such as compound nouns and separable verbs in German, or have common stems (e.g. verdier). Structures, e.g. ich möchte, carry meaning or purpose, providing utterances with a force (requests, negatives, questions, imperatives, etc.). Concepts, consisting of combinations of words, are not directly translatable, often requiring an appreciation of cultural contexts for a full understanding.
