angeblich

English translation: claimed and a variety of other meanings acc to context

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:angeblich
English translation:claimed and a variety of other meanings acc to context
Entered by: Susan Welsh

14:42 Apr 21, 2013
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.)

Thanks!
Susan
Susan Welsh
United States
Local time: 10:16
claimed
Explanation:
1. that someone who claimed to know
2. she claimed that
3. she claimed she was not
4. supposedly
Selected response from:

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 08:16
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).
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2claimed
Kim Metzger
3 +1ostensibly
Horst Huber (X)
3 +1reportedly
Andrea Weis (X)
Summary of reference entries provided
Allegedly, purportedly
Kim Metzger

Discussion entries: 17





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
ostensibly


Explanation:
For some of the occurrences, "apparently" or "supposedly" might fit others.

Horst Huber (X)
United States
Local time: 10:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
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.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Michael Martin, MA: "ostensibly because" would hit the right tone of slight ironic detachment not found in the other solutions..
52 mins
  -> Thank you!
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
claimed


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: 08:16
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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).

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway: yes, this is the register.
1 hr

agree  Andrea Weis (X)
1 hr

neutral  Bernhard Sulzer: I don't get the impression #3 + possibly #4 are something she claimed but part of the doctor's assessment based on the prehistory, as described by her family members ( see asker's context in question box).
2 hrs
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
reportedly


Explanation:
I'd consider "reportedly" since it is part of a report that's based on observations made by people who knew her. (connotative meaning)

Better yet, I'd recast the sentence. It does not need to be an adverb.

Andrea Weis (X)
Local time: 09:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Bernhard Sulzer: not all of it is reportedly - look at #2 + poss. #4, it's what she herself claimed. For the rest, I find "reportedly" too distant, too uninformed. The doctor is basing his opinion on information gathered from her immediate family, not believing it.
11 mins

agree  Anne Schulz: If the physician claims to be objective (and must be objective by way of his profession), he will use a neutral term, even if he does not always mean it. Moreover, phrases like "pt reports [pain on hand shake, etc.]" are common medicalese.
11 hrs
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Reference comments


1 hr peer agreement (net): +1
Reference: Allegedly, purportedly

Reference information:
The physician is talking about what individuals are saying about themselves, not about what others are saying about them. Allegedly and purportedly don't fit.

Allegedly - If someone allegedly does something, another person says that they have done it, even though this has not been proved http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/allege...

Purported said by some people to be real or true, but not proved to be real or true
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/purpor...

Supposedly - as some people believe or say, although you may not agree with this

1. that someone who …. knew the Neumann family well reported that …
2. when I gave her my hand she flinched slightly because the wound …. hurt her
3. …. she was not Phantastisch
4. She quickly became very fond of the story about little Jesus, …. because of the simple, childish …


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2013-04-21 16:36:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Different terms may be needed, but not allegedly or purportedly.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2013-04-21 18:13:03 GMT)
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claimed
1. that someone who claimed to know
2. she claimed that
3. she claimed she was not
4. supposedly

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 100
Note to reference poster
Asker: Thanks Kim, "claimed" works well in those spots.


Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  writeaway: yes sir. a different register is needed for this particular context. Am sure that as native English speaker, Susan is aware of what English fits and what doesn't.
7 mins
neutral  Bernhard Sulzer: I don't get the impression #3 + possibly #4 something she claimed but part of the doctor's assessment based on the prehistory, as described by her family members ( see asker's context in question box). /It's not the word, just who claims what in 1,2,3,4
4 hrs
  -> It's both. /So what's your problem with "claim"?
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