Use-starter

Question

Hello,Could you please help me find a word or a phrase that will fit in my sentence below? I thought of use-starter, but I don't know if that makes sense in English.Here's the context.Suppose you go to a small town, you interact with people, and you collect a number of playful, original words that they use. Then you want to share the words you have found with the population of the town so that they might start using them.To this end, you set up an installation in a public space, with a list of the words, their "definition", and possibly a drawing representing the meaning.Would it make sense to say- My installation is designed to function as use-starter for the words I gather?If not, can you think of something that might work instead of "use-starter"?If the context is insufficient, I can elaborate.Thank you for your help.H.

Enoon · Accepted Answer

"Use-starter" does not express the meaning at a glance. Maybe "word seeder" or "usage planter".

CalifJim · Answer

Henry74Would it make sense

Aside from the question, I don't think it makes sense to find out what words people use and then try to encourage them to use them. They already use them, don't they?

OK. It's not exactly that, but it's close.
________

Now, to the question. Sorry, but use-starter won't work. This is a new concept you've invented, so we'll have to invent a way to describe it because there is no single word that will do the job.

My installation is designed to function as [a stimulus / an encouragement / an inducement] to use the words I gather.

CJ

Henry74 · Answer

CalifJimI don't think it makes sense to find out what words people use and then try to encourage them to use them. They already use them, don't they?

Yes, they do. It would make sense if I explained to you how it actually works. If you don't mind, I'd rather wait untill the project is submitted and, hopefully, approved before divulging any further details. I'm sure you'll understand.

Thank you for the alternatives you suggested.

H.

Clive · Answer

How about 'a primer'?

Henry74 · Answer

CliveHow about 'a primer'?

I'm not familiar with the word, but, if etymology is any indication, it should have to do with being a starting point of something.
Merriam-Webster tells me that a primer is an introductory textbook, or a preparatory coating for paint, or something that you use to ignate a gun with–it's not clear exactly what, though.

I also have found this on wikipedia:
Primer (molecular biology): A primer is a strand of nucleic acid that serves as a starting point for DNA synthesis

Priming (Psychology): Priming is an implicit memory effect in which exposure to a stimulus influences a response to a later stimulus. It can occur following perceptual, semantic, or conceptual stimulus repetition.

Would you say a primer for the words I gather or a usage primer for the words I gather?

H.

Clive · Answer

The term 'primer' is commonly used to refer to introductory information in a written form. You could add the word ''usage' but that doesn't seem necessary to me.

Clive

Enoon · Answer

Note that this primer is pronounced to rhyme with "dimmer", not "climber".

Blue Jay · Answer

enoonNote that this primer is pronounced to rhyme with "dimmer", not "climber".

British speakers usually pronounce both to rhyme with climber.

Clive · Answer

I say 'primer' to rhyme with 'climber'.
[ But i say 'dimmer' to rhyme with 'slimmer'. ]

Clive

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