It’s been 46 years since the crew of the Starship Enterprise flew onto television screens in the United States, but Star Trek fans are found all over the world these days. We’ve got a few lessons we could learn from the mythical space explorers to help us navigate the vastness of English vocabulary. For example, we can stay methodical and logical like Spock, applying precision to our study of each word so that we know as much as possible about it before moving on to the next one. We can take a hint from engineers Scotty and Geordie, and learn to be resourceful and flexible, determined to keep our study program moving forward in spite of temporary difficulties. Most importantly, we can look to Commander Worf, who learned English to communicate with other members of the Federation, while still staying fluent in his native Klingon.

Even in the fictional world of the future three centuries from now, it’s necessary to learn new words to communicate. In the universe of Star Trek, the computers and the “universal translators” provide a bridge between languages, but in our universe, things are a bit more difficult. With improvements in technology, we have tools like Google Translate or iPod apps that let us quickly get word definitions and explanations of phrases in other languages, but there’s no substitute for true knowledge of words and the way they’re used and pronounced – and that holds true for English, too. If you don’t have an adequate English vocabulary, you might think you’re hearing a different language if you’re in a group of people with more experience, education, and training. Only by keeping your vocabulary skills sharp will you be able to join any conversation and not need a translator.

Some Star Trek words and phrases have become a standard part of English vocabulary by now, and even the Oxford English Dictionary has added the terms mind meld and warp speed to its lexicon. You’ve probably also heard of a cloaking device or had someone tell you to set phasers to stun. Like many other cultural phenomena, the rich world of the Star Trek universe has added to the richness of the English vocabulary.

If you’re a real Trekkie, you can go beyond the new English words and learn how to speak Klingon (though your conversational partners may be limited in the real world). Remember, although English vocabulary improvement is important, not yap wa’ Hol!.