Citation, Attribution and Intertextuality
Explicação
Writing der Autor sagt is flawless and far too neutral. German academic prose has a dozen attribution verbs, and each reveals what you think of the source before you say anything.
The attribution verb carries stance: feststellen accepts, behaupten casts doubt, einräumen marks a concession by the cited author.
| Verb | Implied stance |
|---|---|
| feststellen | states — factual, neutral |
| belegen · nachweisen | demonstrates — you accept the evidence |
| behaupten | claims — you have reservations |
| betonen | emphasises — the source values this |
| einräumen | concedes — against their own interest |
Indirect citation
laut + dative · dem Autor zufolge · wie X betont
Paraphrase with Konjunktiv I
Aristoteles zufolge sei der Mensch ein soziales Wesen.
⚠️ Watch out
✗ Using behaupten for an established fact
✓ feststellen for facts, behaupten for contestable claims
behaupten signals that you doubt it.
🧠 feststellen states · behaupten doubts · betonen values · einräumen concedes. Reported sources take Konjunktiv I.
Exemplos
Laut der Studie sei ein direkter Zusammenhang nachweisbar.
According to the study a direct connection is demonstrable.
Der Autor räumt ein, dass seine Methode Schwächen aufweist.
The author admits that his method has weaknesses.
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