June 24, 2020
"actually" in German
I have received two reactions on yesterday's contribution about the word "eigentlich" in German. Basically the question is: how do the Germans say actually?
I have to be honest. I don't think that German has a word that equates to "actually". Even though I have learned English for many years, but I haven't quite understood its meaning. In my eyes - linguists, please don't read on - it is a filling word that doesn't modify the meaning of the message. I do use it in places where I feel native speakers would use it.
Maybe for English speakers, it is a sad truth, but speakers of German can live without this word.
That said, in most of the cases, I recommend not to bother translating "actually".
"aActually" in German
I have received two reactioncomments on yesterday's coentributiony about the word "eigentlich" in German.
Basically, the question is: h/How do the Germans say "actually?"
The quotation marks are mandatory; the capitalization varies according to different style guides. I put the question mark inside the end quotation mark because I follow American style guidelines, but it could go outside for UK English. You could say "the Germans."
I don't think that German has a word that equates to "actually"."
I'm following American style guidelines for the quotation marks to be consistent, but your original version is fine for UK English.
Even though I have learned English for many years, but II still haven't quite understood its meaning.
In my eyes - —linguists, please don't read on - —it is a fillinger word that doesn't modify the meaning of the message.
I do use it in places where I feel native speakers would use it.
MIt may be a sad truth for English speakers, it is a sad truth, but speakers of German can live without this word.
If I were writing this, I'd probably say, "It may be a sad truth for English speakers, but German speakers can..." so that there's parallelism.
That said, in most of the cases, I recommend not to bother translating "actually"."
If I were writing this, I'd probably write: With that said, in most cases, I would recommend not bothering to translate 'actually.'
Feedback
It is very interesting how filler words vary from language to language. I myself tend to overuse "actually," "really," and "honestly." I had to wean myself off "eigentlich" and "wirklich" overuse/abuse in German haha.
June 28, 2020
Yes, watch out with overusing "wirklich". The more you use it, the more it seems that what you say is not "wirklich".
July 7, 2020
Basically, the question is: h/How do the Germans say "actually?"
American style only puts punctuation inside if it is a comma or a period: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/punctuation/quotation_marks/more_quotation_mark_rules.html
July 8, 2020
There's wiggle room for the American style, specifically for question marks and exclamation points. So we can both be right! I hew to the New York Times in a pinch [we all have our favored authorities haha]: https://archive.nytimes.com/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage-9E06E6D9163EF934A15756C0A9649D8B63.html.
July 9, 2020
That's interesting! Personally I usually go by what I remember seeing in print and what makes sense to me, and I check with the Chicago Manual of Style if need be. Thanks for the reference. :)
"actually" in German
I have received two reactioncomments on yesterday's contribution about the word "eigentlich" in German.
Basically the question is: how do the Germans say "actually"?
I have to be honest.
I don't think that German has a word that equates to "actually".
Even though I have learned English for many years, but I haven't quite understood its meaning.
In my eyes - linguists, please don't read on - it is a filling word that doesn't modify the meaning of the message.
I doNevertheless, I still use it in places where I feel native speakers would use it.
Maybe for English speakers, it is a sad truth, but speakers of German can live without this word.
That said, in most of the cases, I recommend not to bother translating "actually".
June 24, 2020
I've studied linguistics and I pretty much agree with your hypothesis: "actually" has become some kind of emphatic particle devoid of any meaning in itself. I googled it up quickly and some linguists seem to share our minds. So, "eigentlich" as defined by the Duden matches the original meaning of "actually", but the common modern use of that English word says otherwise. That would explain some English speakers translating all their "actually"s, and thus the presence of "eigentlich"s in odd places.
Come to think of it, I often translate my "en fait"s into "eigentlich"s, I suppose I also sound weird every now and then..!
June 25, 2020
Merci.
I have no linguistics background at all and just follow my feeling.
Therefore, you have made me a big compliment.
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"actually" in German This sentence has been marked as perfect! " |
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I have received two reactions on yesterday's contribution about the word "eigentlich" in German. I have received two I |
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Basically the question is: how do the Germans say actually? Basically the question is: how do the Germans say "actually"? Basically, the question is: h/How do The quotation marks are mandatory; the capitalization varies according to different style guides. I put the question mark inside the end quotation mark because I follow American style guidelines, but it could go outside for UK English. You could say "the Germans." |
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I have to be honest. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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I don't think that German has a word that equates to "actually". This sentence has been marked as perfect! I don't think that German has a word that equates to "actually I'm following American style guidelines for the quotation marks to be consistent, but your original version is fine for UK English. |
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Even though I have learned English for many years, but I haven't quite understood its meaning. Even though I have learned English for many years, Even though I have learned English for many years, |
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In my eyes - linguists, please don't read on - it is a filling word that doesn't modify the meaning of the message. This sentence has been marked as perfect! In my eyes |
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I do use it in places where I feel native speakers would use it.
This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Maybe for English speakers, it is a sad truth, but speakers of German can live without this word. This sentence has been marked as perfect!
If I were writing this, I'd probably say, "It may be a sad truth for English speakers, but German speakers can..." so that there's parallelism. |
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That said, in most of the cases, I recommend not to bother translating "actually". This sentence has been marked as perfect! That said, in most If I were writing this, I'd probably write: With that said, in most cases, I would recommend not bothering to translate 'actually.' |
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