The reason for the distinction between "vocalise" and "scat" might be cultural as much as musical.
Fiddle vs. Violin?
Exactly!
My "fiddle vs. violin" example is of identical things with different names due to context, use, etc. Your "exactly" response supports my position that we are wasting our time with immaterial (if not fictional) differences.
Minimal Lyrics
We'd probably be gearing up for a major fight with the techno & crunk fans on where to draw the line on "minimal". 4 words?
As explained before (though perhaps in related threads), "minimal lyrics" is a grey area filler. There doesn't need to be a definition, just good judgment.
Scat/Vocalise/Vocal Effects
Works for me.
Yeah! Since B appears to often skip or otherwise ignore my posts and since it's my understanding that you are the driving force behind this tag, I suggest that you clearly offer the revision to him directly.
Your artificial language examples seem to be a special case. How would we treat Klingon
That's a language, to me.
That language could be used for any song, but what of a work specific artificial language?
I believe Sigur Ros has created album specific artificial languages. But this would probably still be a language to me.
What of the previously referenced "ooga chaka"s?
That seems a vocal effect to me. Same with the meow mix jingle.
Another one which is skirting the line between language and vocal effect. I would come down on the side of "language" ....
I've put some additional thought into this artificial language business and eventually remembered the "independent significance" concept found in law. Klingon has independent significance from its use in any song sung in that language, as it was created for something unrelated. It exists outside of some musical work.
On the other hand, some otherwise vocal gibberish should remain gibberish whether or not the songwriter claims its a new language. Such a claimed artificial language would have no independent significance. At best, the artist is using his/her voice as an instrument and would receive a credit for the arrangement.