[crazygringo]

It's conceptually interesting, but it also strikes me as a problem that doesn't need solving.

Having worked with and taught foreign language, nobody learns the first 1,000 words of a language from a same-language dictionary, nor should they.

Children learn from the world; adults learn from classes or a translating dictionary. (Only intermediate/advanced level learners start to use a native dictionary.)

The idea of "bootstrapping" language knowledge from a single dictionary just... isn't going to be necessary for anyone?

[abecedarius]

I didn't start from zero, but this children's dictionary of French in French was useful to me learning it: https://www.amazon.com/Mon-premier-dictionnaire-Roger-Pillet...

All the words it uses are defined within it -- of course with some circularity, but it's heavy on examples and pictures. It was intended for nonnative children taking classes in a style more like native immersion than is typical in schools. I wish more resources followed this philosophy.

[vidarh]

My first French class did dive into French long before we were at 1,000 words, and we were strictly not allowed to use anything but a same-language dictionary.

We of course did have the benefit of a teacher who would translate if absolutely necessary, but she also insisted on sticking to French in the lessons wherever possible from the very first day. It was far more immersive in my first year of French than e.g. my fourth year of German.

It seemed to work quite well.