Interpretationsgrenzen

Interpretationsgrenzen is a term used in German-language discourse to denote the boundaries within which a text, statement, or phenomenon may be interpreted. The concept acknowledges that interpretation is always constrained by factors such as linguistic structure, context, evidence, and normative frameworks. Beyond these boundaries, interpretations risk becoming speculative, unjustified, or contrary to established meaning or law.

Fields where it is discussed include law, literary studies, linguistics, and philosophy. In law, interpretive boundaries arise from the text of the statute, constitutional provisions, and established canons of construction, which guide courts to derive meaning from the wording and legislative intent while avoiding unwarranted extensions. In literary studies and hermeneutics, boundaries are set by authorial intention, genre conventions, historical context, and textual evidence; overinterpreting a text beyond what the evidence supports is considered inappropriate. In linguistics and translation studies, boundaries reflect semantic and pragmatic constraints, such as polysemy and contextual meaning, which limit how a phrase can be interpreted or translated.

Methodologically, interpretative boundaries are identified through close reading, textual criticism, semantic analysis, and triangulation with corroborating sources. The notion serves to promote consistency, transparency, and defensible conclusions, while critics argue that rigid boundaries may impede legitimate interpretation or reflect power relations in determining what counts as acceptable evidence.

Related concepts include hermeneutics, statutory interpretation, textual criticism, and linguistic pragmatics.