Hot answers tagged nuance
8
Tricky one. I would use as possible translation in these cases (bold preferred):
Shame relates to having done something wrong:
Scham (maybe even "Schande", but that's a really strong word)
embarrassment is a result of having done something foolish:
Peinlichkeit, Scham, maybe even Blamage (strong word again)
ashamed of oneself without anyone ...
7
When used for a technology product the usage of "simpel" is not appropriate. Indeed it does have the subtle meaning of something to be very easy on one hand but on the other hand also to be not so sophisticated.
In the context of technology use e.g.:
es ist einfach zu bedienen (simple)
es ist leicht zu bedienen (easy)
es ist nicht schwer ...
6
There is no difference in semantics only in phonetics.
I have desire burning for you.
I have a burning desire for you.
Just a more elaborate way of saying things. Also sounds more old fashioned to say:
Er liebte sie immer noch. <-- past tense --> he still loved her
Er liebt sie noch immer. <-- present progressive --> he loves ...
6
Both meanings are popular, but I can't think of a situation in which a) is intended and b) is understood. So the problem is not a possible misunderstanding.
However, to my ears, "simpel" does not sound like a word you want to have in an operating manual. It's not colloquial, but somehow a little blunt (can't find a better way to describe it). The standard ...
5
First of all it is important to point out that we are talking about a nuance here.
So AFAIK there is no written rule about it.
I think you're right with you're assumption that "noch immer" can have a slightly negative touch.
If a context or an opinion on the subject is given in the same sentence or a preceding one there is no difference between the two.
...
5
Pejoration
The linguistic term for words changing their meaning over time with a loss of quality (Ullmann).
PEJORATION. A term in linguistics for the process of semantic change in which there is a depreciation or downward shift in the meaning of a word, phrase, or lexeme: for example, Old English cnafa (boy: compare German Knabe) became Modern English ...
4
so I think I need to add something that hasn't been mentioned. From a functional point of view Scham and Peinlichkeit are not the same. Scham is something you FEEL, nothing else. It is not applicable for shame in situations like the following:
It's a shame.
It doesn't matter here, why it is a shame. Scham just doesn't work there. The most common ...
3
A related (though distinct) phenomenon is what happened to "bitch," which I presume started as a name for an animal, and by being used as a metaphorical dysphemism, became an offensive word for a spiteful woman.
Another distinct, related phenomenon in English is how originally non-normative words for marginalized groups become offensive, sometimes to the ...
2
Ich glaube, dass ist eine knifflige Sache, weil man zwischen der reflexiven Version ("sich lieben") und der transitiven Version ("etw. lieben") unterscheiden muss.
"Sie lieben sich" könnte im richtigen Kontext auch heißen, dass die Personen jeweils sich selbst - nicht jemand anderen - toll finden. Um die Verhältnisse klar zu machen, kann man dass ...
2
There is also a newly created word "fremdschämen". It is not in the Duden I think, but it is used quite a lot.
It explains the way one feels, if someone else is making a fool of himself. You feel ashamed seeing him while doing it. I heard it the first time from a juror in a casting show, saying it to a girl who did an awful performance.
Here is a ...
2
I think "immer noch" has a tendency to "has not stopped", whereas "noch" sounds a bit like "still, but may change in future".
Ich arbeite noch. - "I am still working (although I am going to stop working soon)."
Ich arbeite immer noch. - "I am still working (since this morning)" / "I have not stopped working."
Therefore, you could say "Ich liebe ...
2
Vorab, der Duden nennt als Synonym zu sich unter anderem sich gegenseitig, was beide Aussagen auf etwa ein gleiches Level stellt.
Canoo.net hält fest:
Reziproke Pronomen drücken eine wechselseitige Beziehung aus. Im Deutschen verwendet man dafür das unveränderliche Pronomen einander.
Oft werden auch die Reflexivpronomen des Plurals verwendet. Zur ...
1
Da keine weiteren linguistischen Erklärungen kommen, hier noch einmal eine aus dem Sprachgefühl:
"sich" ist in diesem Fall (Plural) mindestens zweideutig. Um es ganz klar zu machen, kann man zwischen "sich selbst" einerseits und "einander"/"sich gegenseitig" andererseits unterscheiden.
Der Unterschied zwischen "einander" und "sich gegenseitig" ist nur ...
Only top voted, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible
