Explizierung

Explizierung is a term used in several disciplines to describe the process of making implicit information explicit. It denotes the act of transforming or presenting content in a way that leaves fewer ambiguities and increases clarity. The concept is commonly discussed in linguistics, translation studies, logic, and computer science, where explicit representations aid understanding, analysis, or processing.

In linguistics and discourse analysis, Explizierung refers to strategies that render information more explicit in speech or writing. This can involve adding subject pronouns in languages where they are often dropped, clarifying reference by naming antecedents, or supplying details about time, manner, or deixis that the context would otherwise leave implicit. Such additions help ensure that listeners or readers grasp who is involved, when events occur, and how relations between elements are established.

In translation studies, Explicitation is a recognized translation strategy. Translators may introduce information not overtly present in the source text to reduce ambiguity or to accommodate the expectations of the target audience. Examples include inserting explicit subjects, amplifying pronouns or determiner phrases, and adding coherent markers or clarifying modifiers. The concept is associated with Vinay and Darbelnet, who argued that translations often render more explicit content than the original.

In other fields, Explizierung can refer to making implicit assumptions, constraints, or prerequisites explicit in formal representations, such as specifications, models, or ontologies. The goal across applications is to improve transparency, verifiability, and usability by ensuring that essential aspects are clearly stated.