Aussage

Aussage is a German noun with several closely related senses. In everyday language, it denotes what someone says about a fact, claim, or situation, often phrased as a statement or assertion. In legal contexts, the term frequently refers to a witness’s or suspect’s statement that can be used as evidence, such as a spoken testimony or a written statement.

Etymology and linguistic usage: The word derives from aus- meaning “out” and sagen meaning “to say,” with die Aussage forming the noun from the verb aussagen. In linguistics and grammar, an Aussage describes the propositional content of a declarative sentence, as opposed to questions or imperatives. The term also appears in formations like Aussagesatz, which denotes a declarative sentence, and Aussagekraft, which refers to the evidential or informative force of a statement.

Legal context: In court and police work, an Aussage is typically obtained during investigations or trials and can be presented as evidence. Such statements may be given orally or in writing, and may be subject to formal procedures, such as recording and verification. Depending on jurisdiction, individuals may have rights related to making or withholding statements, including protections against self-incrimination or the obligation to tell the truth.

Synonyms and nuances: Close terms include Behauptung (claim) and Feststellung (finding), with nuance differences: Aussage tends to be neutral and broad, while Behauptung emphasizes assertion and may carry a stronger claim to truth. The word also appears in phrases like teilweise Aussagekraft (partial evidentiary value) and klare Aussage (clear statement).

See also: Aussagesatz; Zeugenaussage; Beweisaufnahme.