Ordebasis

Ordebasis is a term used in linguistics and language pedagogy to refer to the core set of words that constitute a language’s practical vocabulary. In this sense, an ordebasis functions like a core vocabulary list used for teaching, dictionary compilation, corpus indexing, and natural language processing. The exact composition of an ordebasis varies by language, purpose, and methodology, but it generally aims to cover everyday, high-frequency words that enable basic communication.

The word is a compound of the Swedish words ord (word) and basis (basis). In Swedish usage, the term is sometimes spelled ordbasis or ordebasis, and may appear in contexts dealing with lexicography, vocabulary teaching, or NLP resources. Some institutions distinguish between a passive or receptive ordebasis (words typically understood) and an active ordebasis (words regularly used in speech).

Conceptually, an ordebasis is typically defined by a frequency threshold or corpus-based selection. It often uses lemmas rather than inflected forms and may include notes on morphology and semantic domains to ensure coverage across registers.

Applications include the design of beginner language curricula, the construction of dictionary headword lists, and the development of lightweight language models or spell-checkers. In NLP, a compact ordebasis helps reduce data size while preserving communicative utility.

Limitations include regional variation, diachronic change, domain dependence, and potential neglect of specialist terms. Critics argue that any fixed core vocabulary cannot capture the full linguistic richness of a language.

See also: core vocabulary, frequency list, lexicon, word list, pedagogy. References: standard works on vocabulary acquisition and corpus-based lexicography.