These words are different for each person. The important things in our lives: favorite people, places, and thing. Everyone has certain subjects that they really love to talk about. more specific adjectives (“elegant”, “delicious”)Įach individual fringe word is not used as often as a core word, so AAC systems are usually arranged with the core words on the first, or “home” page, and fringe words are located in other folders.Īll fringe words are not equally important for every person.more specific verbs (“leap”, “dice”), and.They have a more narrow meaning than core words. Core words should be within an AAC system alongside “fringe” words.įringe words are very specific words. Don’t forget fringe words and the alphabet!Ĭore words are essential, it does not mean that we do not provide other important vocabulary. With core words, they can build their language skills by using flexible words to answer questions about any topic. Some AAC learners are given new curriculum words for each new lesson. With core words, they can learn to communicate for a wide variety of reasons. Some AAC learners only have the chance to make choices from photos of objects.
Then they can express ideas, and even work on grammar. With core words, they can choose from a small set of words to create their own sentences. Some AAC learners rely on preprogrammed sentences or phrases such as “I want” and “I see”. It gives them a powerful and flexible tool to communicate whatever they want to say. Only about 10% of the first 200 core words are nouns, and these nouns are very general (“girl”, “house”) rather than specific (“porcupine”, “celery”).ĪAC learners need quick access to these core words. While spoken language has at least 250,000 words, a list of only 200 words accounts for about 80% of the words you use every day! These words are called “core words”. What are these core words? Why should we use them? And most importantly, what are some practical tools and strategies that can help us implement a core word approach? What are core words? Core words are an essential part of any balanced Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system.