Bezeugung

Bezeugung is a German noun derived from the verb bezeugen, meaning to bear witness, attest, or testify. It denotes the act or result of declaring that something is true, often by giving testimony or providing evidence. The term can refer to oral testimony as well as to written attestations.

Etymology and scope: Bezeugung combines the prefix be- with zeugen (to witness), and its use spans legal, administrative, and everyday language. In formal contexts, it commonly appears as the act of attesting to a fact or the certification of a document by an authority. A Bezeugung can be a sworn statement or an official attestation that a statement or signature is genuine.

Usage and examples: In a legal setting, a witness may give a Bezeugung in court, or a notary may issue a Bezeugung to certify the authenticity of a document or signature. Phrases such as “eine Bezeugung ablegen” (to make a testimony) or “die Bezeugung der Echtheit” (the attestation of authenticity) are typical. Beyond law, Bezeugungen may also refer to corroborating statements or confirmations that support a claim or hypothesis in research, administration, or archival work.

Relation to other terms: Bezeugung is related to, but distinct from, Zeugenaussage (the actual testimony given by a witness), Zeugniss (a certificate or testimonial), Beweis (proof or evidence), and Beurkundung (notarial certification). While Zeugenaussage emphasizes the content of what is said, Bezeugung emphasizes the act of attesting or confirming a fact.

Overall, Bezeugung functions as a formal notion of witnessing or attestation, used in legal, administrative, and scholarly contexts to indicate that something is confirmed as true or authentic.