bruchstückhaften

Bruchstückhaft is a German adjective meaning fragmentary or consisting of fragments. The word is formed from Bruchstück, meaning fragment or piece, and the suffix -haft, which denotes “having the quality of.” Thus bruchstückhaft describes something that exists in fragmented form or is composed of fragments, rather than as a continuous whole.

The term is widely used in literary criticism, film and art analysis, and in discussions of memory or narrative structure. A bruchstückhafte Erzählung, for example, presents scenes or episodes as distinct fragments rather than a seamless, linear storyline. Likewise, bruchstückhafte Erinnerungen refer to memories that come in disconnected fragments.

In contrast to similar adjectives such as fragmentarisch or lückenhaft, bruchstückhaft emphasizes the palpable presence of distinct pieces and often an intentional or stylistic fragmentation, whereas fragmentarisch stresses non-continuity and episodic structure, and lückenhaft highlights missing parts.

Grammar: As an attributive adjective, bruchstückhaft follows standard German declension: die bruchstückhafte Darstellung, eine bruchstückhafte Erinnerung, bruchstückhaften Fragmente, bruchstückhafte Erzählungen, etc.

See also: Bruchstück (fragment).