Teilaufzählung

Teilaufzählung, a German term, translates to "partial enumeration" or "partial listing." It refers to a situation where a list or enumeration of items is not exhaustive but rather includes a selection of examples to illustrate a point or represent a category. This technique is often employed in writing and discourse to provide clarity and illustrative examples without needing to list every single possibility, which might be impractical or overly lengthy.

The purpose of a Teilaufzählung is to give the reader a good understanding of the scope or nature of the items being discussed. It suggests that there are more items in the category than those explicitly mentioned. The effectiveness of a Teilaufzählung relies on the selection of representative examples. If the chosen examples are not typical or are misleading, the partial enumeration can hinder understanding rather than facilitate it.

Commonly, a Teilaufzählung is introduced with phrases such as "zum Beispiel" (for example), "wie zum Beispiel" (such as), or simply by listing items followed by "und andere" (and others) or "etc." This signals to the reader that the list is not definitive. It is a rhetorical device used to manage information efficiently and make written or spoken content more accessible.