wörtlichzuwörtlich

Wörtlichzuwörtlich is a neologism used in German-language linguistics and translation studies to describe an approach to quoting or translating that aims to reproduce the source text as literally as possible. The term signals a strict fidelity to the exact wording of the original.

Etymology and usage: The compound combines wörtlich (literal) with zu wörtlich (to literally) and is sometimes written as one word or with spacing in different sources. It is not a standard or universally accepted term, but appears in scholarly discussions, editorial theory, and media criticism as a way to label or critique extreme literalism in quotation practices or translations.

Concept and scope: The idea of wörtlichzuwörtlich centers on preserving original lexemes, punctuation, capitalization, and even syntactic quirks when transferring text from one language or context to another. In practice, it describes a verbatim transfer that prioritizes word-for-word accuracy over naturalness in the target language. It is often contrasted with sinngemäß or sense-for-sense translation, which prioritizes meaning and readability over exact wording.

Examples: Original German sentence: "Er hat es nicht gewagt, aber er hat es versucht." A wörtlichzuwörtlich English rendering could be "He has not dared it, but he has it attempted," which is awkward, whereas a sense-for-sense rendering would be "He didn't dare to do it, but he tried."

Reception and relevance: The term is used to discuss the limits and consequences of verbatim transfer in quotation practices, translation pedagogy, and textual criticism. It highlights tensions between fidelity to the source and the requirements of natural expression in the target language.