5.29 Legal and administrative German — Epoché
What you will be able to do Understand sixty words of German administration and law: at the office, in money matters and contracts, in court and with the police, and the verbs and adjectives of official letters. Read an official decision, a Bescheid , and find what matters: what was decided, what you must do, and by when you can object. Recognise the style called Amtsdeutsch : noun phrases, verb-noun pairs such as Einspruch erheben , passive constructions and prepositions such as zwecks and gemäß . Avoid the traps: Gläubiger is a creditor, not a believer; anzeigen means to report to the police. Sentences from this lesson, before the explanation. Read the German aloud; all of them come back below. German English Der Anwalt entschied sich, Berufung einzulegen. [1] The lawyer decided to appeal the case. Ich werde gegen das Urteil Berufung einlegen. [2] I will appeal against the sentence. Der Angeklagte erklärte dem Richter, unschuldig zu sein. [3] The accused told the judge that he was innocent. Er erklärte die Angelegenheit ausführlich. [4] He explained the matter in detail. Wie alt muss man sein, um ohne Einwilligung der Eltern heiraten zu können? [5] How old do you have to be to get married without your parents' permission? Wir müssen nicht alle diese Rechnungen gleich heute bezahlen. [6] We don't have to pay all these bills today. Ich habe letzten Monat nicht alle meine Rechnungen bezahlen können. [7] I wasn't able to pay all my bills last month. Können Sie mir bitte Bescheid geben, wenn Sie zurück sind? [8] Can you please let me know when you're back? Prerequisites : 5.28 — you need the words of housing and administration from 5.12 Vocabulary , of law and rights from 5.14 Vocabulary , and the alternatives to the passive from 2.34 Grammar . Anyone who lives in Germany, Austria or Switzerland receives letters from offices: from the tax office, the town hall, the health insurance fund, the landlord's lawyer. They are written in a style that Germans themselves call Amtsdeutsch or Behördendeutsch , and that many find hard to follow. It is precise, because every word may matter in a later dispute, but it piles up nouns and avoids saying who does what. The good news for a learner is that it uses a limited set of words and formulas again and again. This lesson gives sixty of the most important ones and shows how an official letter is built. Word list Sixty words in four groups: at the office, money and contracts, courts and police, and the verbs and adjectives of Amtsdeutsch . At the office Word (article, plural) Meaning Notes der Bescheid（-e） de official decision, notice; information Gender / part of speech masculine noun How English differs Bescheid geben , to let know ; der Steuerbescheid , tax assessment . Gib mir Bescheid! [9] Let me know. die Bewilligung（-en） de approval, grant Gender / part of speech feminine noun How English differs Of money or permits; from bewilligen , to grant . Ich warte auf die Bewilligung. [10] I am waiting for approval. die Bescheinigung（-en） de certificate, confirmation Gender / part of speech feminine noun How English differs A document that confirms a fact: Arbeitsbescheinigung , Meldebescheinigung . The example's translation says receipt ; a Bescheinigung is a receipt only when the fact it confirms is a payment. Die Bescheinigung muss von der Behörde unterschrieben und abgestempelt werden. [11] The receipt has to be signed and stamped by the authorities. das Standesamt（-ämter） de registry office Gender / part of speech neuter noun How English differs Births, marriages and deaths are registered here; a civil wedding takes place here. Die Trauung findet im Standesamt statt. [12] The wedding is taking place at the registry office. die Steuererklärung（-en） de tax return Gender / part of speech feminine noun How English differs Literally tax declaration . Ich mache meine Steuererklärung selber. [13] I do my own taxes. der Beamte（-n） de civil servant, official Gender / part of speech masculine noun, adjective declension How English differs ein Beamter , die Beamtin ; German civil servants have a special legal status for life. Der ältere Bruder meines Vaters ist Beamter. [14] My father’s older brother is a civil servant. die Bürokratie（-n） de bureaucracy Gender / part of speech feminine noun How English differs Stress on the last syllable. Ich hasse Bürokratie. [15] I hate bureaucracy. die Anhörung（-en） de hearing Gender / part of speech feminine noun How English differs In parliament, in court, or before an office decides. Für Oktober ist eine Anhörung angesetzt. [16] A hearing is set for October. die Aufforderung（-en） de request, demand, summons Gender / part of speech feminine noun How English differs Official letters begin Wir fordern Sie auf, … , you are requested to … Mein Sohn hat mich damit überrascht, dass er ohne Aufforderung sein Zimmer aufgeräumt hat. [17] My son surprised me by cleaning his room without being told. die Berechtigung（-en） de entitlement, authorisation Gender / part of speech feminine noun How English differs berechtigt sein , to be entitled . Sie haben keine Berechtigung, dort einzutreten. [18] You are not authorized to enter there. die Einwilligung（-en） de consent Gender / part of speech feminine noun How English differs Formal; in data protection die Einwilligung to the use of data. Ich kann nicht ohne die Einwilligung meiner Eltern heiraten. [19] I can't get married without my parents' permission. die Ermäßigung（-en） de reduction, concession Gender / part of speech feminine noun How English differs Reduced prices for students and pensioners: ermäßigt . Erhalten Studenten beim Eintritt ins Museum eine Ermäßigung? [20] Do students get a discount when entering the museum? der Vermerk（-e） de note, remark (in a file) Gender / part of speech masculine noun How English differs A short official note on a document or in a file. Das wird als dauerhafter Vermerk in Ihre Akten eingetragen. [21] This is going on your permanent record. der Hinweis（