A Practical Dictionary of German Usage

2001

Author: K. B. Beaton

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

ISBN: 0199246653

Category: Foreign Language Study

Page: 948

View: 999

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One of the most difficult tasks confronting the English speaker learning German is that of finding exactly the right German word to translate an English word in a particular context. Many common English words have several, sometimes a bewildering number of German equivalents. Thus it is alltoo easy to find yourself saying the equivalent of Have you extinguished the rubbish? instead of Have you put out the rubbish? Bilingual dictionaries list equivalents, but give little or no information about their use. The articles in this practical dictionary are much longer than those to be foundin a bilingual dictionary, and the number of words treated is fewer, with a concentration on those which cause particular difficulties for speakers of English.The complexity of the relationship between English words and their German equivalents is attributable to two factors. Firstly, frequently-used English words often have more than one meaning, and each of the English meanings may be expressed by more than one German word. Such words will be at leastpartial synonyms, but the field of meaning is likely to be divided up in a way that is different from English. Each article in the book starts by separating out the different meanings of an English word, and then explains the meaning and use of the German equivalents for each, with numerousexamples. The book will be an essential reference work for advanced language learners and for teachers of German at all levels, offering a uniquely detailed insight into the structure of word meaning in German as well as practical advice on usage.

Using German

2003-09-04

Author: Martin Durrell

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

ISBN: 0521530008

Category: Foreign Language Study

Page: 354

View: 682

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This is an extensively revised and updated edition of the acclaimed Using German.

Using German Synonyms

2000-05-29

Author: Martin Durrell

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

ISBN: 0521469546

Category: Foreign Language Study

Page: 350

View: 327

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This book, designed for students who have already developed a basic competence in German, aims to broaden and improve their vocabulary by providing detailed information on groups of German words with related meanings. It is invaluable as a guide to finding the right word for the context. In order to enhance understanding of the structure of the German vocabulary, groups of synonyms are organised under German (rather than English) headwords. All entries are accompanied by an example of usage and English glosses and there are two indexes allowing users quickly to locate words in German or English. The book takes full account of register variation, indicating the degree of formal or informal use, and reflects regional usage especially in Austria and Switzerland. It is an essential reference for intermediate and advanced students as well as teachers and other professional linguists seeking access to the finer nuances of the German language.

The Semantics of German Verb Prefixes

2015-01-14

Author: Robert B. Dewell

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Company

ISBN: 9789027269126

Category: Language Arts & Disciplines

Page: 284

View: 766

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The Semantics of German Verb Prefixes is the most comprehensive study ever undertaken in this area of German grammar. Using an extensive collection of naturally occurring data, the author proposes an image-schematic interpretation for each of the productive prefixes be-, ver-, er-, ent-, zer-, um-, über-, unter-, and durch-. These abstract semantic patterns underlie a remarkable range of particular meanings, and they consistently account for subtle contrasts between prefixed verbs and alternative constructions such as simple verbs, particle verbs, and verbs with other prefixes. Furthermore, the author develops a schematic meaning for the prefixed verb construction itself. This grammatical meaning reflects the interpreter’s perspective and attentional focus as the objective event is imagined to unfold. Underlying all of these proposals is a novel conception of meaning as a dynamic and flexible process with a constantly active role for the interpreter. This volume will be of great value to cognitive linguists as well as scholars and students of German who want to gain insights into a central and puzzling part of the morphosyntax and semantics of the German language.

Modern German Grammar

2006-08-23

Author: Ruth Whittle

Publisher: Routledge

ISBN: 9781134859146

Category: Foreign Language Study

Page: 919

View: 744

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Announcing an innovative, new, practical reference grammar, combining traditional and function-based grammar in a single volume. It is the ideal reference grammar at advanced secondary level and above.