You can have small languages, sure, but then you run into awkward extended clarifying clauses. The thing that makes languages difficult is that almost all vocabulary is sparse. The "Top N" words in a language are always pronouns, prepositions, articles, and the conjugations of the top 12 or so verbs: to be, to have, to do, to go, to come, to say, to give, etc. This is the reason that "Top N Words of Language X" and "Learn the Top 50% of Words in Language X" listicles/videos are always disappointing.