Core Vocabulary in Symboloud

Within the downloads page there are ready-made Core 50, Core 100, and Core 300 packs within the SLT/SLP – Professional folder.

These are grounded in decades of AAC research showing that a relatively small set of words makes up the majority of what we say every day. Words like I, you, go, want, more, stop, help, yes, no are used across all settings and topics, making them the foundation of functional communication. Unlike “fringe” vocabulary (e.g. pizza, dog, football), core words are flexible and can be combined to express almost anything.

Why Core Vocabulary Matters

Research has consistently shown that core words dominate everyday language use. Banajee, DiCarlo & Stricklin (2003) identified 26 words that accounted for 96% of toddlers’ spoken communication in natural settings (ResearchGate PDF).

Building on this, the Universal Core Vocabulary developed at UNC Chapel Hill provides a cross-age, cross-context list of 36 highly frequent words (UNC CLDS).

More recent work has reinforced the importance of core vocabulary for AAC, showing its role in both early symbolic communication and later language growth (Tandfonline, 2023).

Evidence Built In

Symboloud’s Core packs are built on well-established research into high-frequency vocabulary:

  • Banajee, DiCarlo & Stricklin (2003) analysed the speech of toddlers aged 24–36 months and found that 26 words accounted for 96% of their spoken communication.
  • The Universal Core Vocabulary from the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies at UNC Chapel Hill identifies 36 cross-age, cross-context words used consistently across settings
  • Broader studies highlight how access to a larger core (200–400 words) supports the transition from early symbolic communication to more complex sentence structures.

Building on these principles, Symboloud provides three cumulative packs:

  • Core 50 draws on the overlap between Banajee’s 26, the Universal Core 36, and other published frequency analyses to give a compact, evidence-anchored starter grid.
  • Core 100 extends this with additional pronouns, describing words, and join words, following frequency rankings from expanded core lists such as the DLM Core Vocabulary.
  • Core 300 incorporates the full range of helper words (auxiliary verbs, modals), where words (prepositions), join words (conjunctions), and chooser words (determiners/quantifiers), creating a functional set consistent with research showing ~300 words can account for 80% or more of everyday communication.

Each pack is designed to build on the previous level while keeping word positions stable, supporting motor planning and long-term AAC learning.

By layering these packs, Symboloud gives therapists and users a clear growth pathway: start small, expand gradually, and build towards full, natural communication without losing consistency or motor planning.