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activate or revive?

English translation: (almost) all of the above

14:24 Feb 14, 2005
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
English term or phrase: activate or revive?
I am sorry for asking questions like this, but do you think the word 'activate' or 'revive' work in this sentence?

To activate (revive) one member of BOD to become a spokesperson to deliver key message of every program
Trias (X)
Selected answer:(almost) all of the above
Explanation:
... but not "activate" or "revive"!!
invite: "please, Fred, be our spokesperson";
encourage, inspire : you say nice words so that they say "yes, I will do it";
nominate: you choose this member for this task, this is not the final decision;
instate, appoint, delegate: more than nominate - now it is official;
assign, induce, incite, stimulate: these are not really the best choices for this context.
Selected response from:

Craig Meulen
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:21
Grading comment
thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +4(almost) all of the above
Craig Meulen
4 +4encourage
CMJ_Trans (X)
4 +4invite
NancyLynn
4 +1nominate
Clare C
3 +1assign
Clauwolf
3 +1induce, incite, inspire, stimulate
Mikhail Kropotov


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
assign


Explanation:
:)

Clauwolf
Local time: 03:21
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  George Thomson: we could also simply 'ask' him or her.. :)
1 hr
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6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
encourage


Explanation:
....

deliver the key messages of the different programs (?)

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 08:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 32

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  paolamonaco: that's it!
6 mins
agree  NancyLynn
13 mins
agree  Balaban Cerit
6 hrs
agree  Craft.Content: since the person has to be goaded into speaking for _every_ program, "encourage" would be the correct, diplomatic word! :)
13 hrs
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19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
invite


Explanation:
- perhaps. However you can see from the suggestions offered that neither activate nor revive would do in this context.

NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 02:21
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 48

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  rangepost
1 hr
agree  mportal
3 hrs
agree  Balaban Cerit
6 hrs
agree  Johanne Bouthillier
7 hrs
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
induce, incite, inspire, stimulate


Explanation:
These would fit better.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2005-02-14 14:29:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

How about instate??? I think that one would work.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 mins (2005-02-14 14:30:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

To answer your question: revive definitely does not work, activate is almost possible but the style is wrong. Instate or re-instate would be ok.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 mins (2005-02-14 14:48:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

in·state (n-stt)
tr.v. in·stat·ed, in·stat·ing, in·states
To establish in office; install.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/instate

Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Local time: 08:21
Works in field
Native speaker of: Russian
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  James Calder: "instate" isn't a verb - perhaps you mean "instigate" (not that it would be correct here either).
13 mins
  -> No, I do not mean instigate. Thanks. Also please see my added note.
neutral  Craig Meulen: instate IS a verb see www.m-w.com
1 hr
  -> Thank you. Would you mind commenting on the merits of the proposed translation?
agree  NancyLynn: I stand corrected, SirReal, instate does exist as a verb. As I just commented to someone else, you learn something new everyday!
7 hrs
  -> Thank you Nancy. This peculiarity of the language is one of my favorites -- it affords wonderful word plays and affects the way we think in English!
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32 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
nominate


Explanation:
assuming BOD is board of directors, a director could be nominated for a particular task (although if requesting volunteers for the task, agree with encourage/ invite )

Clare C
Local time: 07:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Balaban Cerit
6 hrs
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55 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
(almost) all of the above


Explanation:
... but not "activate" or "revive"!!
invite: "please, Fred, be our spokesperson";
encourage, inspire : you say nice words so that they say "yes, I will do it";
nominate: you choose this member for this task, this is not the final decision;
instate, appoint, delegate: more than nominate - now it is official;
assign, induce, incite, stimulate: these are not really the best choices for this context.

Craig Meulen
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  humbird: Your summary is pretty good!
17 mins
agree  Mikhail Kropotov: Yes, I like your answer. Would you please tell those other folks that "instate" is indeed a verb (and nothing but)? Also, the meaning was (is?) not clear when the quesion was posted.
32 mins
agree  conejo: Exactly. Any of these words could work, but which one you choose should depend on the actual source nuance.
35 mins
agree  juvera
23 hrs
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