Deborah Lipp

Last night, Arthur and I were discussing teen life with someone (Ann), and we got into a thing about the difference between navigate and negotiate.

Ann said Arthur negotiated a situation, and Arthur said he didn’t because it was non-verbal, it was more like he navigated it. And I said negotiate can be non-verbal, like negotiating a curve, and maybe the difference was that navigation was a planned route, whereas negotiation was just getting through. In which case Arthur had negotiated.

So now this is interesting. Both navigate and negotiate have specific meanings, and metaphorical meanings. What is the difference?

The dictionary, it turns out, isn’t that helpful, but I slogged through. American Heritage gives navigate as (in part):

1. To plan, record, and control the course and position of (a ship or aircraft).
2. To follow a planned course on, across, or through: navigate a stream.
3. a. To make one’s way: navigated with difficulty through the crowd. b. Informal To walk: He was too unsteady on his legs to navigate

For navigate, Merriam-Webster has:

1. to steer a course through a medium
2. GET AROUND, MOVE
3. a : to sail over, on, or through b : to make one’s way over or through : TRAVERSE

Merriam-Webster also gives etymology, which is nice. Latin navigatus, past participle of navigare, from navis ship + –igare (from agere to drive)

On negotiate, American Heritage is rather terse:

1. To confer with another or others in order to come to terms or reach an agreement.
2. a. To succeed in going over or coping with: negotiate a sharp curve. b. To succeed in accomplishing or managing: negotiate a difficult musical passage.

Merriam-Webster says:

1 a. to deal with (some matter or affair that requires ability for its successful handling) : MANAGE b. to arrange for or bring about through conference, discussion, and compromise
2 a : to successfully travel along or over negotiate a turn b : COMPLETE, ACCOMPLISH negotiate the trip in two hours

And, our friend etymology lesson: Latin negotiatus, past participle of negotiari to carry on business, from negotium business, from neg– not + otium leisure

So, metaphorically, did Arthur negotiate or navigate? Navigate is planned, and involves travel or movement. Negotiate is about management and accomplishment, and implies business. To literally suceed in negotiating, one might metaphorically navigate, as it is something of a journey. I think he more negotiated. Or, this might be hair-splitting and painfully dull, and I should stop now.