Finding a name for human connection
This is a brief linguistic essay following up on some thoughts and conversations I had while visiting my home city of St. Petersburg, Russia, two weeks ago.
As usual, I had just one week and too many things to do. Therefore, I decided that I would meet only with family and a selected few of my old friends. While having these precious meetings, I thought – what really is it that connects us to the people dear to us? What word would be appropriate, in English or in Russian, to describe that connection? I brought it up while talking to my friend Natalia, who is, by profession, an English teacher and therefore more qualified than I.
The first term that came to mind was “synchronicity.” This term was coined by Carl Jung and refers to events that seem unexplainably connected. I am not sure it could be applied to people, but it would at least capture the magic. However, the Russian translations “синхронность” or “одновременность” are not a good fit at all. Of course, you coincide with these people in time; otherwise, you could not have a conversation! Natalia suggested “affinity,” which is the same in both languages. It is probably the best choice, as it describes a certain compatibility and even indirectly relates to the English “chemistry.” However, it just sounded too technical. I wanted something more poetic.
Then I thought of “созвучие” — “consonance” in English. After all, if we are all just instruments in the enormous orchestra of the Universe, or even just notes in the Universe’s song, then some instruments or notes would naturally sound better together. Perhaps this is why certain people seem to “resonate” with us from the first moment — as if our inner melodies already share a rhythm. There is no need for explanation or effort; harmony simply exists, unbidden, between certain souls. Sometimes there isn’t even a need to finish a sentence — you begin, and they already know where it’s going, or they begin and you find yourself completing the thought. It is as if the music of understanding plays through both at once.
That’s it, folks. No final conclusion. 🙂