Paul J.J. Payak of the Global Language Monitor states:
This all being said, I now unequivocally state that as of 1:16 pm (Pacific) on the 22nd day of September (the autumnanal equinox) in the year 2007 AD (or CE, whatever your preference), there were approximately 995,112 words in the English Language, plus or minus a handful.
While brevity and simplicity might be an attribute of elegance in physical sciences, I’d say a 800 word written language would be severely limited in its ability to express complex thoughts and the richness of human experience.
It would be something on the order of: Me Tarzan, You Jane.
This doesn’t denigrate the achievements of the Maya in mathematics and astronomy.
Just because they had 800 glyphs, it does not mean that they only had 800 words. There were probably complex ways of combining them to mean other things. Just for example, something like “Eight Rabbit” did not have to be part of a shopping list for dinner, but rather the name of a specific ruler. Perhaps someone can give additional information on this subject.