berichten German · revision 34844

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1000, Notker|origins=goh rihten}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /bəˈʁɪçtən/, [bəˈʁɪçtn̩]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''berichten''' (third-person singular present berichtet, past tense berichtete, past participle berichtet, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|berihten]], [[inh|goh|birihten|t=to make right, improve]], formed from [[richten]] with the prefix [[be-]].^(Kluge 2011|111)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|141) It first meant “to make right, correct”, then more generally “to put in order”; used figuratively it meant “to instruct, teach”, and this in turn weakened to “to inform, relate”.^(Kluge 2011|111)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)^(Duden 7 2020|141) The same formation is [[nl|berichten]].^(Kluge 2011|111)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''birihten'' is recorded in Notker around 1000, meaning “to make straight, put in order, improve”, and reflexively “to come onto the right path”.^(Köbler AHD)^(Pfeifer 1993) Middle High German ''berihten'' appears from the ''Annolied'' (1077–1081) on, with senses ranging from “to settle, arrange, govern” to “to instruct” and “to relate”.^(Köbler MHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “to put right, correct” lasted into the 18th century and was then taken over by [[berichtigen]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) The sense “to instruct someone (in something)” was also common until the 18th century: Luther speaks of comforting and instructing troubled consciences, and Schiller writes that the helmsmen ''sind des Fahrens nicht wohl berichtet'', “are poorly instructed in sailing”.^(DWB|1, 1521)^(Paul 2002) Regionally it meant “to give the last sacraments”, and in falconry “to train a hawk”.^(Paul 2002)^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ Its present sense, “to give an account of what has happened”, took a genitive or accusative of the person until the 19th century, and then the dative.^(Paul 2002) The noun [[Bericht]], Middle High German ''beriht'', first meant “instruction, agreement, reconciliation”;^(Pfeifer 1993) ''Berichterstatter'' “reporter” dates from the early 19th century.^(Pfeifer 1993) Swedish ''berätta'' “to tell” is counted among the German loanwords in Swedish.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Old High German ''birihten'' is used by Notker.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 1077–1081 – Middle High German ''berihten'' appears in the ''Annolied''.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 16th century – Luther uses it for “to instruct, comfort” (consciences).^(DWB|1, 1521)

+ * 18th century – The sense “to correct” passes to ''berichtigen''.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)

+ * Early 19th century – ''Berichterstatter'' “reporter” appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|relate]], give a factual account of something: ''Sie berichtete uns von ihrer Reise.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|report]] (on), especially in the media or to a superior: ''Die Zeitung berichtete ausführlich über den Prozess.''^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''(dated)'' To inform someone; now mainly in ''falsch berichtet sein'' “to be misinformed”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Bericht]]

+ * [[berichtigen]]

+ * [[Berichterstatter]]

+ * [[Berichterstattung]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[richten]]

+ * [[recht]]

+ * [[unterrichten]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}