PrimerPrep is a specialized software program designed to help linguists and literacy specialists create effective reading primers. Its main function is to analyze texts in various languages, determine the frequency of words and letters, and suggest an optimal teaching order for letters. The software’s mission aligns with SIL’s broader goal of overcoming linguistic barriers and fostering community development. With PrimerPrep, you can empower language communities by creating effective literacy tools that reflect their most valued languages. This guide will walk you through the steps of optimizing letter sequences using PrimerPrep.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Getting Started with PrimerPrep

Download and Install PrimerPrep

1. Visit the PrimerPrep Download Page to download the software.
2. Follow the installation instructions provided on the page.

Launch PrimerPrep

1. Open PrimerPrep by clicking on its icon.
2. Note that the program may take a few moments to start. Be patient.

2. Adding Texts for Analysis

Select Texts

1. Click the Add Text(s) button on the starting screen.
2. In the dialog box that appears, browse to select a text file in the language you want to analyze, and click Open.

Suitable Texts

• Use natural texts like traditional stories.
• Avoid technical or translated texts.
• Ensure texts are in Unicode (UTF-8 encoding). Check and convert encoding using Notepad if needed.

3. Word Discovery

Initial Analysis

1. PrimerPrep will analyze the words in the selected file and display them sorted by frequency.
2. To view results, click the Teaching Order tab.
3. PrimerPrep provides an “optimal” teaching order based on the elimination algorithm.

Adding More Texts

1. Click the Word Discovery tab to return to the main screen.
2. Click Add Text(s) again to select additional texts.

4. Configuring Language Settings

Modify Word-Breaking Characters

1. Click the Word-Breaking Characters button to adjust which characters are considered word-forming or word-breaking.
2. Double-click characters to move them between columns as needed.

Edit Digraphs

1. Click the Digraphs button to list digraphs (two characters treated as one).
2. Edit the list by adding or removing digraphs.

Treat Combining Diacritics Separately

1. Check the Treat Combining Diacritics Separately box if you want to analyze combining diacritics independently.

5. Editing Affixes

Define Affixes

1. Click the Edit Affixes button to define prefixes or suffixes.
2. Ensure each affix starts with a hyphen for suffixes or ends with a hyphen for prefixes.

Adjust Specific Words

1. Double-click words in the list to edit affix divisions manually.
2. Use the Filter box to quickly find words with common strings.

6. Customizing Teaching Order

Adjusting the Order

1. Click the Teaching Order tab to see the suggested order.
2. Drag and drop lessons to rearrange the order for better learning outcomes.

Adding Sight Words

1. Click on a position in the teaching order.
2. Click the Add Sight Words button to insert sight words, then enter the words you want to add.
3. Adjust their positions using drag-and-drop.

7. Entering Lesson Texts

Add Content

1. Click the Lesson Texts tab.
2. Type or paste syllables, words, and texts for each lesson.

Check Untaught Residue

• PrimerPrep will highlight any untaught letters in red, ensuring that the lesson only contains known letters.

Additional Tips

• Saving and Loading Projects: Use the File menu to save and load your project to avoid redoing analysis.
• Help and Support: Use the Help menu for in-program assistance or visit the PrimerPrep Help page.

Conclusion

Using PrimerPrep, you can effectively optimize the letter sequence for your language community’s reading primers, ensuring they are both educational and engaging. By following these steps, you can empower learners to thrive in their most valued languages, supporting SIL’s mission to overcome linguistic barriers and promote community flourishing.

For more detailed instructions and video tutorials, be sure to visit the PrimerPrep Help Page.