informant
in-FOR-munt
/ɪnˈfɔːrmənt/
A person from whom a linguist or anthropologist obtains information about language, dialect, or culture.
In research, this is a neutral, collaborative term, unlike its negative 'snitch' connotation in crime.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'informare', meaning 'to give form to' or 'to describe'. In the Middle Ages, it meant to train or instruct. By the 19th century, it became a technical term for someone who 'forms' a researcher's understanding of a new culture.
Word relationships
- source: A source can be a document or a person; an informant is always a person.
- participant: A more modern, egalitarian term that suggests the person is an active part of the study.
- adversary: An adversary would hide information or work against the researcher.
Commonly confused with
- informer: An 'informer' usually provides secret information to the police (often for a reward), while an 'informant' assists in research.
Word family
- inform (verb): To give someone facts or information.
- information (noun): Facts provided or learned about something.
Collocations
- key informant
- reliable informant
- local informant
- informant interview
Example sentences
- "The informant is a person who possesses specific knowledge and is willing to share it with the ethnographer." Field research
- "Our primary informant for the dialect study was a ninety-year-old woman who had never left the village." Linguistics
Memory hook
An informant 'informs' the researcher about the 'form' of their culture. Informant: Your inside source of information.
When not to use
In modern ethics, many researchers prefer the terms 'participant' or 'consultant' to avoid the 'police informant' stigma.
Fun facts
- Anthropologists often form lifelong friendships with their key informants, as they spend hundreds of hours talking.
Related words
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