💬 Language & Communication · IELTS Vocabulary by Topic · 20 words

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fluent /ˈfluːənt/ adj	able to speak or write a language easily and well She became fluent in Japanese after living in Tokyo for three years.
bilingual /ˌbaɪˈlɪŋɡwəl/ adj	able to speak two languages equally well Children raised in bilingual families often find it easier to learn a third language.
dialect /ˈdaɪəlekt/ n	a form of a language spoken in one area with its own words and grammar People from the north and south of my country speak quite different dialects.
accent /ˈæksent/ n	a way of pronouncing words that shows where someone comes from It is not necessary to have a native accent to communicate effectively.
mother tongue /ˌmʌðə ˈtʌŋ/ n	the first language you learn as a child Children should be taught in their mother tongue during the early years of school.
vocabulary /vəˈkæbjələri/ n	all the words that a person knows or uses Reading widely is the best way to expand your vocabulary.
pronunciation /prəˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃn/ n	the way in which a word or language is spoken Clear pronunciation matters more than a perfect native accent.
grammar /ˈɡræmə(r)/ n	the rules for forming words and sentences in a language Traditional lessons focused too much on grammar and too little on speaking.
articulate /ɑːˈtɪkjələt/ adj	good at expressing ideas clearly in words Debating clubs help students become more articulate and confident.
eloquent /ˈeləkwənt/ adj	able to use language in a powerful and persuasive way The president gave an eloquent speech about national unity.
gesture /ˈdʒestʃə(r)/ n	a movement of the hands or head to express an idea or feeling The same gesture can have very different meanings in different cultures.
idiom /ˈɪdiəm/ n	a group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words Idioms are difficult for learners because they cannot be translated word for word.
proficiency /prəˈfɪʃnsi/ n	a high level of skill or ability in something Universities require international students to show proficiency in English.
interpret /ɪnˈtɜːprɪt/ v	to translate spoken words into another language; to explain the meaning of something A guide was hired to interpret for the visiting delegation.
translation /trænsˈleɪʃn/ n	the process of changing words into another language, or the text produced Machine translation has improved dramatically, but it still makes mistakes.
linguistic /lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪk/ adj	connected with language or the study of language The country has remarkable linguistic diversity, with over fifty languages spoken.
multilingual /ˌmʌltiˈlɪŋɡwəl/ adj	able to use several languages; using several languages Multilingual employees are highly valued by international companies.
body language /ˈbɒdi læŋɡwɪdʒ/ n	the way people communicate feelings through posture and movement Positive body language can make a strong impression in a job interview.
convey /kənˈveɪ/ v	to make ideas or feelings known to someone Emojis help people convey emotions in short text messages.
jargon /ˈdʒɑːɡən/ n	special words used by a profession that are hard for others to understand Doctors should avoid medical jargon when explaining a diagnosis to patients.