I want to understand the difference in meaning and the usage between the words "little" and "barely. I assume that barely is almost nothing, while little refers to a small amounts but bigger than barely. For example

Little is known in the literature about something ... 
Barely is known in the literature about something ...

I think in the second sentence the meaning is almost nothing while in the first sentence it means few.

I want to understand the difference in meaning and the usage between the words "little" and "barely. I assume that barely is almost nothing, while little refers to a small amounts but bigger than barely. For example

Little is known in the literature about something ...

Barely is known in the literature about something ...

I think in the second sentence the meaning is almost nothing while in the first sentence it means few.