Intransparenten

Intransparenten is the plural form of the German adjective intransparent, used to describe something that is not transparent. It denotes opacity, lack of openness, or limited accessibility to scrutiny, information, or understanding. The term appears primarily in formal, academic, or administrative language and is often used to characterize processes, structures, or data that are difficult to inspect or evaluate.

Etymology and meaning: The word derives from transparent, with the prefix in- indicating negation. The concept aligns with the Latin root transparens, meaning shining through, but intransparent describes the opposite: information or procedures that do not reveal their workings clearly.

Usage and contexts: Intransparenten is common in fields such as political science, public administration, corporate governance, journalism, and research when describing opaque decision-making, hidden agendas, or obstructed information flows. It is typically a descriptive term, though it can carry evaluative nuance depending on context. It is often contrasted with terms like Transparenz (transparency) and Undurchsichtigkeit (obscurity).

Grammar note: The form intransparenten appears as the attributive adjective before plural nouns in various cases, for example: die intransparenten Strukturen (nominative plural), die intransparenten Verfahren (accusative plural). As with other adjectives in German, its ending shifts with article and case.

See also: Transparenz, Intransparenz, Undurchsichtigkeit, Offenlegung.

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