Berichtenden

Berichtenden is a Dutch term formed from bericht, meaning to inform or report, and the agent noun suffix -ende. It is used as a present-participial noun to denote people who perform the action of informing or reporting. In this sense, berichtenden can be translated as “the informants” or “the reporters,” depending on context.

Usage and function: Berichtenden functions as a gender-neutral plural noun in formal or administrative language, journalism, and legal contexts where the individuals who provide information are described collectively. It can appear in both attributive and predicative positions, aligning with standard Dutch plural agreement. For example, in a sentence one might encounter: de berichtenden geven hun verklaring.

Distinctions: The term is distinct from more common nouns such as informanten (informants) and verslaggevers (reporters). Berichtenden emphasizes the action of reporting itself, rather than a fixed role or profession, and it can carry a more formal or literary nuance in everyday speech.

Relation to other languages: In German, a parallel form would be die berichtenden, the present participle used as a noun to describe those who report. This cross-linguistic parallel highlights how participial nouns function in signaling agents of an action.

See also: Bericht (report); Berichtgeving (reporting in Dutch); Informant; Reporter.

Notes: Because of its participial origin, berichtenden remains productive in compound or formal expressions, though its use may appear formal or literary in casual conversation. As with many gerundive forms, its exact interpretation can depend on context and stylistic choice.