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Alternate Time(s)General Remarks and Considerations The term "alternate" has its origins in Latin: the adjective or noun "alter" is for "(the) other", the verb "alternare" means "to take turns", the adjective "alternus" can be translated with "rotative", "alternative" or, indeed, "alternate". However, the main reason for pointing back to etymology here is that we prefer to understand something – an idea, a concept, a reality, a mechanism … – coined as "alternate" not as "subordinate", "subaltern" or "weak" compared with whatever it is altenate to. This includes, of course, that "alternate" is not a quality per se. Alternate concepts can be better or worse than a predominant concept / a concept currently in use, depending on what kind of criteria a relevant for the related decision about qualities and qualifications. Thus, whenever we think / speak / write about or refer to "alternate time" – or "alternate concepts / ideas / … of time" – we do so in relation to the concept, idea, … of time that is currently predominant in our Western European culture. Note: The globalization of related systems of time measurement and synchronization does not necessarily mean this time is "universal". Related entries: |