In the New York Times on September 26th there was an article by Anna Sauerbrey that talked about how English words were finding their way into every other language, in this case German. She pointed out, however,that German had some words that were difficult to translate into English. One is the word “zeitgenossen” which superficially means “contemporaries”. But it also has another, more subtle meaning: the word Zeitgenossen means “comrade” or “associate” and implies a mutual responsibility towards one another as well as the general public and the age we live in. In the context of the article, the author talks about multi-culturalism, as the world as a continuum of cultures, rather than a set of guarded frontiers.

Epicureans will recognise that zeitgenossen is a truly Epicurean word, indicating that we share this planet together, that we should strive to look after our fellow men (or associates), if only because if we do they will look after us when we need it. It implies cooperation and mutual care. The Germans also refer all the time in advertisements to “ihr partner” in whatever they are doing, inferring an equality and partnership which is sometimes missing in Anglo-Saxon dealings. We could do with more of these collaborative words in English.