namewherever

Namewherever is a neologism used in writing, worldbuilding, and linguistic discussions to describe the practice of using a generic placeholder for a geographic location instead of disclosing a specific toponym. It functions as a meta-textual device to anonymize, defer naming, or evoke universality in a setting.

Origin and scope: The term namewherever arose in online communities that discuss drafting processes, place-naming, and worldbuilding. It is not part of formal linguistics and does not describe a fixed feature of natural languages. Rather, it identifies a commonly encountered practice in drafting or fictional world design, where the exact name of a place is unknown, undecided, or deliberately withheld.

Usage and examples: In practice, namewherever appears as a stand-in for a city, town, or region while the author works on the setting. It helps maintain flexibility or maintain ambiguity in early drafts. For example, a sentence might read, “Namewherever lies at the edge of the desert, near the old caravan road,” with the actual name to be supplied later. In some cases, namewherever is used as a template or note within worldbuilding documents to signal where a precise toponym should be inserted.

Relation and alternatives: Related ideas include placeholder names, anonymized labels, and generic topoi in fiction. Critics argue that excessive use can disrupt immersion or clarity. Namewherever remains a descriptive term for a drafting technique rather than a formal linguistic category.