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German to English translations [PRO] General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
German term or phrase:angeblich
My question is on the connotation of this word (I know the dictionary definitions, from Duden and from DE-EN dictionaries).
In English, allegedly, supposedly, reputedly, and reportedly all convey subtle differences as to whether the speaker thinks what is being described is unsubstantiated, pure hokum, or possibly true but we just don't know.
My German text is from 1927, a physician examining Theresa Neumann, a woman who is a mystic, has visions, has "stigmata," performs miracles. He is describing her prehistory, as described by her family members. He touts himself as being objective, only interested in science, not theology. But he is also rather more inclined to think she is a "hysteric"--ie that her claims are not true.
Some examples: Doch kann ich nicht verschweigen, daß uns brieflich von einer die Familie Neumann **angeblich** gut kennenden Seite mitgeteilt wurde, daß mancherlei psychopathische Abwegigkeiten in der weiteren und näheren Verwandtschaft vorgekommen seien.
Als ich ihr die Hand gab, zuckte sie leicht zusammen, da die Wundmale dabei **angeblich** schmerzten.
Phantastisch war sie **angeblich** nicht.
Die Geschichte der „kleinen Therese vom Kind Jesu" habe sie bald sehr lieb gewonnen, **angeblich** wegen des einfach kindlichen, bescheidenen und frommen Wesens, das der kleinen Therese eignete und das ihr immer als Ideal vorschwebte.
There are lots more. So my question is whether to give this a relatively neutral coloration (reputed to be, etc.) or a more ironic one (supposedly, etc.)
Once again, I find helpful contributions made by many, and thank you all. What I take away from this is that "angeblich" does not have a particularly negative connotation or a particularly neutral degree of skepticism--it can be either-- so the English word (perhaps there are many more English words for this) has to be chosen according to how one understands the text. That's a little tough in this case (where the doctor is skeptical but trying not to sound too skeptical). 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
1. doctor is describing what someone else told him in a letter about her and her family 2. doctor describes his own first meeting with her 3. based on what family members have said about her 4. based on what family members have said about her
And allegedly is also used in normal speech, if you are quoting someone. Purportedly less so but it's by no means legalese. I'd steer clear of some of the other translations of angeblich for legal texts, though.
The "ich" is the doctor. He is saying that she drew back as if in pain (because of the wound in the palm of her hand, the Stigma). It seems to me that he is casting doubt on whether the pain is real. He doesn't think she is a faker, but rather a "hysteric."
Susan, is the doctor saying the following, based on his own experience when meeting her, or who is "ich" here: "Als ich ihr die Hand gab, zuckte sie leicht zusammen, da die Wundmale dabei **angeblich** schmerzten." If it's the doctor, then the "angeblich" is her claim.
I really have nothing more to say/add here and I bow to your angeblich superior knowledge
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
@writeaway
19:06 Apr 21, 2013
allegedly is by no means exclusive to legalese, neither is purportedly. the man is "allegedly" writing a scientific report, but the meaning of "angeblich" is obviously variable in the context.
I would definitely not use the same word for each of these occurrences of "angeblich" but rather follow Ramey's suggestion to find the most appropriate English word/phrase. The first one definitely means supposedly in the sense of reportedly. hearsay ... and the fourth is again something the person claims to have been convinced of - if she herself claimed it (as in example # 2) - or "supposedly in the sense of "purportedly/as is believed (assumed)" if this was revealed to/told by others.
allegedly, purportedly are used in legalese and basically relate to crimes of some sort probably doesn't mean the same thing at all.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Why one word?
15:42 Apr 21, 2013
In the first case I would opt for allegedly. In the second case, I'd use an adjective "she claimed that the scar/woulds hurt" 3. She was purportedly...... 4. probably
The colorings are all "iffy", but I would differentiate according to context.
"Supposedly" conveys strong skepticism, and I don't know whether that is intended, or whether that is what a German native speaker infers from "angeblich." Whereas something like "reputedly" is much more neutral. That's why I asked the question.
Explanation: For some of the occurrences, "apparently" or "supposedly" might fit others.
Horst Huber (X) United States Local time: 07:07 Specializes in field Native speaker of: German PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: @Michael: "slight ironic detachment" -- I think that is indeed what's needed, since the doctor presumably does not want to sound biased against what the patient is telling him, yet he is not writing for her, but for a professional audience of other doctors and the public.
Explanation: 1. that someone who claimed to know 2. she claimed that 3. she claimed she was not 4. supposedly
Kim Metzger Mexico Local time: 05:07 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 100
Grading comment
Once again, I find helpful contributions made by many, and thank you all. What I take away from this is that "angeblich" does not have a particularly negative connotation or a particularly neutral degree of skepticism--it can be either-- so the English word (perhaps there are many more English words for this) has to be chosen according to how one understands the text. That's a little tough in this case (where the doctor is skeptical but trying not to sound too skeptical).