durchschaubar

Durchschaubar is a German adjective meaning transparent or easily understandable. It describes information, processes, decisions, or organizations that can be inspected and understood without opaque steps or hidden agendas, and that invite verification by observers.

Etymology and form: The word combines durch- from through with schaubar, derived from schauen meaning to look, with the suffix -bar indicating “able to be.” The related nouns include Durchsichtigkeit (transparency) and Durchschaubarkeit (comprehensibility).

Usage and nuance: The term is common in business, governance, journalism, and technology. It is used to argue for openness and clear reasoning, as in the phrases ein durchschaubares Budget or eine durchschaubare Entscheidungsstruktur. In technology, durchschaubare Modelle or durchschaubare Algorithmen describe systems whose behavior can be traced and explained by humans, aligning with concepts like explainable AI.

Connotations: Durchschaubar emphasizes clarity, traceability, and inspectability rather than necessarily simplicity. It often carries normative undertones, signaling a standard of good governance or responsible communication. Its antonym is undurchschaubar or intransparent.

See also: Transparenz, Offenlegung, Nachvollziehbarkeit, Explainable AI, verifiable processes.