Begleiterscheinung

Begleiterscheinung is a German noun that denotes a phenomenon that accompanies something else, usually as a secondary or incidental feature. Etymologically it combines begleit- (to accompany) with Erscheinung (appearance, phenomenon). The term is used across several domains to describe effects or signs that occur alongside a main event, process, or condition.

In everyday language and in scientific writing, Begleiterscheinung is broader than the medical term Nebenwirkung, which is typically translated as side effect and often implies a causal relation to a treatment or drug. Begleiterscheinung can be neutral or even positive and does not necessarily carry the same formal implication of causality found in Nebenwirkung. It is commonly applied to describe secondary phenomena that accompany changes, conditions, or developments.

Contexts in which the term appears include medicine, psychology, technology, and social or economic analysis. For example, fatigue or dry cough may be described as a Begleiterscheinung of a disease or a drug treatment, while the increased need for training after introducing new software can be referred to as a Begleiterscheinung of digitalization. Similarly, environmental or societal changes may have Begleiterscheinungen that are observable alongside the primary effect being studied.

Overall, Begleiterscheinung conveys the idea of an accompanying, non-central phenomenon that is part of the broader context surrounding a primary event or process. It is a common term in German-language discourse, especially in scientific and analytical writing.

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