Editing Defining vocabulary

A '''defining vocabulary''' is a list of words used to define other words.  It is a very disciplined [[glossary]] where words are defined only in terms of simpler words, and where they are typically only defined in their most common usage.  In projects that have a defining vocabulary, it is an error to use any words that is not in that vocabulary, to explain any other word, in it, or not.

An [[w:idiom dictionary]] or [[w:translation dictionary]] must, necessarily, rely on a defining vocabulary, to ensure that words are not used in confusing or idiomatic senses that a native speaker of that language won't understand.

An example of a good professional project that ''has'' such a defining vocabulary is the Longman's American Idioms dictionary which defines the 4000 most common idioms in American English, and effectively explains a great deal of American culture in one small book, all using [[2000 words]] only in their simplest senses with the simplest prefixes and suffixes.  This is a good basis for explaining any [[glossary]] item that might be [[factionally defined]] or [[culturally defined]].  With less than 2000 words, it is impossible to deal with these differences or explain these cross-cultural concepts to another culture, or at least, there are no examples of it being done successfully.

Very unwisely, the [[Simple English Wikipedia]] has refused to accept the 2000 word threshold, and also refused any strategy of staging entries so that their first paragraphs are easily readable (in say [[1000 words]]) but their second and subsequent paragraphs can actually explain complex concepts with reasonable certainty of being understood.  This one failure has removed it from our list of [[essential projects]], and it shows the importance of a proper defining vocabulary, and not going through a futile attempt to do with amateurs using 1000 words, what Longman's barely manages to do in 2000 words with professionals.  The failure of the SEW to actually serve as a neutral basis for translation will probably be the first obvious failure among [[enemy projects]].  By no means should their policies be emulated or adopted here!