Research consistently shows that 80% of the words we use in everyday communication come from a pool of roughly 200 to 300 high-frequency words. These are called core vocabulary. They are not nouns like ‘apple’ or ‘dog’ — they are words like ‘want,’ ‘go,’ ‘more,’ ‘help,’ ‘stop,’ ‘again,’ ‘different,’ ‘I,’ ‘you,’ ‘like,’ ‘no.’ Mastering core vocabulary is how AAC users gain the flexibility to say almost anything, to anyone, in any situation.

Why Core Over Fringe?

Fringe vocabulary refers to the specific, context-dependent words unique to a person’s life — names, favorite foods, places, activities. Fringe is important and meaningful, but it is limited. A page of fringe words only works in the situations it was programmed for. Core vocabulary, by contrast, is generative. With a solid core, a user can combine words in novel ways: ‘more later,’ ‘go stop,’ ‘I want different,’ ‘you help me go.’ The combinations are nearly infinite.

The Most Important Core Words to Start With

While every AAC system organizes vocabulary differently, the following are among the most commonly prioritized core words for early learners:

• Want / not want
• More / stop / all done
• Go / come / help
• I / you / my
• Like / no like
• Good / bad / different
• In / out / on / off

These words appear in nearly every communication context — mealtime, play, school, medical settings. Wherever the user is, these words work.

How to Teach Core Vocabulary

The most effective method is called aided language input (ALI), sometimes called modeling. The communication partner — parent, teacher, SLP — uses the AAC device to comment on what is happening, without requiring the user to respond. ‘More juice. Do you want more?’ The adult hits the ‘more’ button. ‘Okay, all done.’ The adult hits ‘all done.’ Over hundreds of these natural exposures, the learner begins to understand that the buttons mean something real.

Consistency matters more than perfection. Ten minutes of genuine, relaxed modeling every day outperforms a formal one-hour session once a week.

Tracking Progress

It is normal for core vocabulary development to feel slow at first. Celebrate any intentional use of a core word, even in the wrong context. A child who hits ‘go’ while eating breakfast may be testing the button, not asking to leave. That is a success — it means they are exploring the system. Redirect gently and keep modeling.

On the EyeOn Platform

EyeOn devices come with professionally designed vocabulary systems that organize core and fringe words for easy access. If you would like help configuring your vocabulary layout, our onboarding team is here to help.