Paatiate

Paatiate is a neologism used to describe the act of incorporating intergenerational input into decision-making and design processes. As a verb, it means to solicit and integrate perspectives from older generations into a discussion; as a noun, paatiation refers to the process or practice itself.

Origin and etymology: The coinage is recent, first appearing in online discourse in the early 2020s. Some writers trace paatiate to a blend of paati, a term for grandmother in Tamil, and the English suffix -ate; others suggest it arose independently within communities focused on participatory design and knowledge exchange. The exact origin remains uncertain, and multiple etymologies are discussed in informal sources.

Usage: The term is used primarily in informal or semi-formal contexts, including blogs, forums, and collaborative workshops. Example: "The team paatiated the roadmap by inviting a grandmother-led community group to review the user stories." Another usage notes a paatiation session focused on accessibility and cultural relevance. The expression is most common in discussions about inclusive practices rather than formal technical vocabulary.

Reception: Paatiate has been described as a useful shorthand for intergenerational co-creation, but critics warn that it can be vague or perceived as performative if not accompanied by substantive engagement and transparent methodology.

See also: intergenerational dialogue, participatory design, co-creation, inclusive decision-making.