https://develop.consumerium.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Defining_vocabulary 2026-04-30T10:04:15Z Revision history for this page on the wiki MediaWiki 1.43.6 https://develop.consumerium.org/w/index.php?title=Defining_vocabulary&diff=14378&oldid=prev 2004-01-07T22:30:49Z

<p>what makes SEW no longer one of the <a href="/wiki/Essential_projects" class="mw-redirect" title="Essential projects">essential projects</a> - different issue than what put it on the list of <a href="/w/index.php?title=Enemy_projects&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="Enemy projects (page does not exist)">enemy projects</a></p> <p><b>New page</b></p><div>A &#039;&#039;&#039;defining vocabulary&#039;&#039;&#039; 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.<br /> <br /> 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&#039;t understand.<br /> <br /> An example of a good professional project that &#039;&#039;has&#039;&#039; such a defining vocabulary is the Longman&#039;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.<br /> <br /> 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&#039;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!</div>

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