Most new words come from usage, from the needs of specialists, from the people on the street, etc. They come because of a new need, a new process, a new object, a new situation, etc. We know that words are powerful as they partly shape what we can think and how we think about it. Often, without a word we can’t fathom the existence of something.
I believe that we are in a situation where a concept and its word do not exist yet but the need for it is prominent and urgent. I hope that I will be able in the following lines to make the case that we are now confronted with such an issue/opportunity.
Our evolution from human 1.0 (sapiens sapiens) to Human 2.0 (agriculture) to Human 3.0 (metals) to Human 4.0 (industrial) took place at a relatively slow but accelerating rate. Our recent access to Human 5.0 (Information technology age) is moving at an ever increasing rate but we are missing the tool to manage or thrive with the change and diversity that comes with it: the “Weltburger” spirit is missing from our actual Globalization process. The consequences are the many negative ‘isms that comes from the fear generated when you miss the tool to manage or thrive with new daily encounters/change.
Therefore,
We argue that in the same way we needed mathematics and languages to manage the former human stages (1-4), we need new abilities to manage or thrive within the information technology age in a humane way.
We argue that by giving a word to this new needed ability, language will allow for awareness, acknowledgment, engagement at large by society.
We argue that in this case, it is the language that needs to be a leading force toward the change that is needed to handle our ever increasing changing and diverse world, laying the foundation of the paradigm shift that need to take place.
We argue that access to a word will allow for thoughts to crystalize and take further the abilities needed to ensure a humane Human 6.0 era.
We argue that without these abilities we are sliding toward populism, sexism, racism, generationalism, entitleism, and a spate of other dehumanising ‘isms that plague our times.
We argue that the word proposed below should be international and that it should be of German origin, like Zeitgeist, kindergarten, Zeitgeber, Eigenvalue, etc. The concept in English has a few name but misses the global scope as it focuses on the cultural aspect only.
We have spoken for the last 20 years with a few scholars and much has been suggested. The word proposed is the culmination of innumerable discussions and people. Since it is a new concept, the word will sound new and maybe uncomfortable to some of you. We argue that the pressing need for a crystallization of our awareness for these new needed abilities justifies a certain level of scholarly “uncomfortability”, humbly speaking.
The word is “Eigenvielfalt”, and if we dare, with its verb, eigenvielfalten and its adjective, Eigenvielfältig. Yes, I hear you, yet, may I suggest you say it a few times before using the axe :-).
The long array of words in English is, among others, “cross-culture abilities”, “intercultural abilities”, “third culture abilities” but although pointing in the right direction these words do not show the core concept which is to work on one own personal diversity to be able to manage or thrive with "diversity and change" as a whole. In other words, diversity is not limited to cultures: it has several roots including gender, religion, race, nationality, wealth, age, education, profession, language, and yes culture. The root “Eigen” is already known in English and its uses marries well the concept of making diversity/complexity understandable.
You may be tempted to suggest other words like “eigene Vielfalt” to use existing words and proceed cautiously. But to use a combination of existing words does not offer the same power that a single word has. We argue that we do not really have the time to proceed cautiously caught between the fear of many people on the left of the Gauss and the euphoria of the many on the right (Note: the use of left and right in this case does not refer to the political spectrum. In an unstable world, people tend to be afraid (left) or ecstatic (right), both contributing to the problem).
