Z0 — Word Ownership Mechanics (core units)

Z0 Skill Unit (What must work)	Common Failure Modes	Sensors (fast checks)	Repairs (minimal effective loop)
Meaning Core (1-line meaning)	vague definition, “vibes comprehension”	can’t explain simply; guesses in reading	Core+Boundary card: 1-line meaning + 1 “not-this” + 1 example
Boundary Clarity (not-this)	confusable pairs (affect/effect etc.)	fails confusable pair test	PAIR drill: 1 sentence each + boundary statement
Sense Selection (polysemy)	chooses wrong sense in context	misreads despite “knowing” word	Sense split: 2 meanings + 2 example sentences
Form (spelling/pronunciation)	avoids word; misspells; mispronounces	spelling hesitation; production avoidance	Form lock: chunk spelling + say aloud + write 3× correctly
Pattern/Frame (grammar frame)	wrong preposition/frame	“depend of”, “responsible on”	Frame card: “depend on __” + 3 substitutions
Collocation (natural pairing)	unnatural pairing	“do a mistake” style errors	Collocation lock: 2 collocations + 2 sentences
Register (tone control)	too casual/formal	mismatch in comp tone	Register rewrite: casual sentence → formal sentence
Retrieval Speed	slow recall → simplification	filler speech; long pauses in writing	Active recall (meaning→word) + timed 20-word sprint
Deployment Accuracy (sentence correctness)	correct word, wrong grammar/fit	sentence sounds “off”	Sentence Gate: write 2 correct sentences (2 contexts)
Transfer (topic/mode/pressure)	works only in one context	collapses timed	Transfer pack: same word in 3 topics + timed use

Z0 Ownership Gate (VOT): MeaningGate + SentenceGate + PatternGate + SpeedGate all pass → word becomes T3 load-stable.

Z1 — Composition Execution (paragraph-level vocabulary)

Z1 Skill Unit	Common Failure Modes	Sensors	Repairs
Precision nouns/verbs	vague words (“thing”, “do”, “nice”)	repetition index; low specificity	Upgrade pass: replace 5 vague words with precise choices
Idea compression (chunks)	long clumsy sentences	wordy paragraphs; low clarity	Chunk insert: add 3 discourse chunks (“as a result…”)
Tone / voice control	inconsistent register	childish tone in formal comp	Tone template: 3 “formal sentence frames” reused
Imagery + specificity	flat description	low sensory detail	Detail ladder: noun → adjective → action verb → simile
Cohesion (connectors)	jumpy flow	weak paragraph links	Connector set: 6 connectors practiced in 6 sentences
Error immunity (avoid fossil errors)	repeated wrong collocations	same wrong phrases recur	Error log: error → correction → 2 new correct uses

Z2 — Exam Reliability (variance under time pressure)

Z2 Skill Unit	Common Failure Modes	Sensors	Repairs
Timed retrieval stability	vocabulary “shrinks” timed	Pressure Shrink Test	Timed paragraph loop: 8–10 min paragraph + 1 rewrite
Risk control (don’t use unstable words)	forced big words → errors	spikes in wrong usage	Safe-band list: only T3 words allowed in exam draft
Speed + quality balance	slow writer uses simple words	too many basic words	Minimum viable sentence frames + plug-in vocab
Consistency across prompts	good only on familiar topics	prompt sensitivity	Prompt rotation: 6 prompts/week, same vocab targets
Error containment	one error cascades	multiple linked mistakes	Stop-loss rule: if unsure, swap to known T3 synonym

Z3 — System Reliability (class/school regeneration pipeline)

Z3 System Unit	Failure Modes	Sensors	Repairs
Shared meaning standards	same word taught differently	inconsistent marking & feedback	Definition locks: school-wide “core+boundary” format
Common error library	repeated fossil errors across cohort	recurring collocation mistakes	Cohort error atlas: top 30 errors + fixes
Threshold-based progression	word count targets (wrong metric)	students “know many” but can’t use	Threshold targets: % words at T2/T3, not number of words
Teacher/parent coordination	mixed signals	practice not aligned	Single repair protocol: meaning→recall→deploy→retest
Pipeline continuity	no spaced retest → decay	words vanish after 2 weeks	Retest schedule: +48h, +7d, +30d

Vocabulary OS Router (single block)

Use this to decide what to do next without guessing:

Meaning confusion → Core+Boundary card + Confusable Pair drill
Wrong collocation/frame → Pattern cards + 3 substitution sentences
Slow retrieval → Active recall + timed sprint
Register mismatch → Formal/informal rewrite pairs
Timed collapse → Timed paragraph loop + Safe-band list
Recurring same error → Error log + spaced retest schedule

Snap-in Connectors

Vocabulary OS → English OS (triad hook)

Vocabulary OS supplies meaning units (words/chunks/patterns)
Grammar OS supplies structure
Discourse OS supplies paragraph coherence and intent
If vocabulary is weak, grammar produces correct-but-vague English.

Vocabulary OS → Civilisation OS (Z0–Z6 hook)

Vocabulary is a coordination primitive: shared meanings reduce drift, lower coordination cost, and regenerate capability across generations (Education pipeline). Weak vocab increases ambiguity → errors → load → pipeline thinning.

Vocabulary OS — Z0–Z3 Directory Table (Almost-Code, WordPress paste-ready)

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