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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Alle Lese- und Hörtexte sind einem Oberthema zugeordnet.

English translation:

All the reading and listening texts selected have one theme in common

Added to glossary by British Diana
Mar 2, 2013 14:53
11 yrs ago
2 viewers *
German term

Alle Lese- und Hörtexte sind einem Oberthema zugeordnet.

German to English Other Education / Pedagogy Description of an English examination
There are already seven KudoZ entries for "zugeordnet" but none seems to fit my sentence, nor am I happy with the dictionary suggestions "assigned to, correspond to or associated with".

This is part of the introduction to a new English language exam at CEFR C2 level and the sentence is explaining that the exam has a monothematic approach: "Alle Lese- und Hörtexte sind einem Oberthema zugeordnet, wobei sowohl inhaltlich unterschiedliche Aspekte beleuchtet werden als auch die Textsorten entschieden variieren. "
For Oberthema I have "overall theme". What really happens is that the test developers decide on an overall theme, possibly because they already have a good first text about it and they think it has possibilities, and then they look for or write more texts on the same main topic, which are then used in the exam. As an example it is decided that the overall theme is to be "Cars". So then all the reading and listening comprehension texts have to be about cars. How can I put this more elegantly?
It's sunny here for the first time in months, so possibly some fellow Germany-livers are all out for a walk? Hope others are at their computers and can help me!
Proposed translations (English)
3 +2 All the reading and listening texts selected have one theme in common
3 +7 ... revolve around a common theme / subject
4 +2 All written and oral texts are on a single theme
5 All reading and listening texts are subsumed under a general topic.
4 All reading and listening texts are on the same topic area
4 all narratives (stories) and texts are covering a collective subject
3 All reading and listening texts are allocated to one principal theme
3 All reading and listening texts have been assigned to an overall theme
3 all readings and audio materials are aligned under an overarching topic
3 focus on an overarching theme
References
Just came across PTE General

Discussion

Lancashireman Mar 3, 2013:
Hi Di I doubt whether you will be swayed by anything as proletarian as voting. As usual, your eventual choice will send ripples of amazement around the community.
Helen Shiner Mar 3, 2013:
Selected expertise My votes go to 'selected' to get you round this problem, as an elegant solution; and to listening to what Andrew says on the subject, given his many years in the teaching profession.
British Diana (asker) Mar 3, 2013:
Qual der Wahl? Well, colleagues, you have done me proud. Thanks for all these suggestions and comments!
Please cast your votes and I will try and decide which of all the suggestions I find the most suitable.
British Diana (asker) Mar 3, 2013:
@orla Thanks for asking this because my answer might explain why I am so keen to get in the idea of the "zuordnen" being deliberate. The intro to the exam is part of a so-called Handbook which is meant for anyone interested but NOT students, so for people who want to find out what this exam tests, how it does it, what the requirements are, how it is reliable and authentic etc. So it might also be read by future materials authors, too.
oa_xxx (X) Mar 3, 2013:
PS Just to be clear - is this introduction to the exam meant for students or teachers? (or future test developers?)
oa_xxx (X) Mar 3, 2013:
we always called them aural exams - orals, aurals and written, maybe just my school - but definitely listening not audio. I also agree that the idea that someone has been responsible for the "zuordnen" is implicit - anything else is impossible! Would probably go for based on.
Lancashireman Mar 2, 2013:
Re 'audio texts' ... currently receiving enthusiastic endorsements all over this web page. The standard term in an exam context is 'listening'.
franglish Mar 2, 2013:
@Diana in your comment on Penny's answer you say "...if we could include the idea that sombody has done the 'zuordnen'. Evidently someone has, it's implicit!
British Diana (asker) Mar 2, 2013:
@David Hallo David!
As this is a text introducing a new exam I know that the author is deliberately pointing out the reasons why things have been done the way they have to demonstrate that the exam is fit for purpose.. I'd like to get the "zuordnen" part in for this reason.
David Moore (X) Mar 2, 2013:
Greetings Diana, IIWY, I wouldn't make too much of the "zugeordnet" as it really is superfluous to translate the idea into English - as is so often the case.

That's why I support Susan in principle, but would use "listening" or "auditory" texts perhaps.

If you think it through, the writers would in any event have been instructed to write the various papers on a single subject, if they do, as you say, cover one subject, wouldn't they?

Proposed translations

+2
2 hrs
Selected

All the reading and listening texts selected have one theme in common

Another alternative which gets across the idea of "zuordnen"
Note from asker:
Thank you, John! "selected" does indeed get it across.
Peer comment(s):
agree oa_xxx (X) : that selected might work somewhere in the sentence to get the idea of "zuordnen" across!
15 hrs
agree Phoebe Indetzki : Yes, I like "selected"
18 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "This gets the point because "selected" brings across the "zuordnen" I wanted. Apologies to Trudy and supporters, I will definitely use "revelve around" in another context"
38 mins

All reading and listening texts are allocated to one principal theme

All reading and listening have been allocated to one principal theme

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/evaluat...

(page 8)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 40 min (2013-03-02 15:34:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

should squeeze in "texts" between "listening" and "have"
Note from asker:
Thank you, freekfluweel!
Something went wrong...
+7
43 mins

... revolve around a common theme / subject

All reading and listening texts revolve around a common theme (or subject)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 45 mins (2013-03-02 15:38:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or: are based on a common theme
Note from asker:
Thank you, Trudy!
Peer comment(s):
agree Phoebe Indetzki
7 mins
agree Wendy Streitparth : Like this best. Maybe audio texts?
1 hr
agree franglish : With Wendy, incl. audio texts
3 hrs
agree Daniel Arnold (X)
6 hrs
agree oa_xxx (X) : with based on
13 hrs
agree freekfluweel : Like the use of "subject", theme could also be smth abstract which is not likely to be the case here
16 hrs
agree anasta12
22 hrs
neutral Lancashireman : Sorry, 'revolve around' doesn't have the necessary gravitas for the given context.
1 day 2 hrs
Something went wrong...
52 mins

All reading and listening texts have been assigned to an overall theme

This one includes the idea that somebody has deliberately assigned the texts to the theme.

Another option: "All reading and listening texts belong to an overall theme".
Note from asker:
Thank you, Martina!
Peer comment(s):
neutral freekfluweel : Asker specifically requested not to use "to assign"
16 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 hr

All reading and listening texts are subsumed under a general topic.

Another alternative
Note from asker:
Thank you, Tecton! This looks promising...
Something went wrong...
17 mins

All reading and listening texts are on the same topic area

That's what we'd have said when I was teaching

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2013-03-02 17:32:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

...placed under an overarching theme?
Note from asker:
Thank you, Penny! It would be nice if we could include the idea that somebody has done the "zuordnen".
Something went wrong...
+2
11 mins

All written and oral texts are on a single theme

Perhaps it could be more elegant, but this works for me.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2013-03-02 20:07:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I thought the "zugeordnet" was implicit.
Note from asker:
Thank you, Susan. Possibly the aspect of them having been deliberately "zugeordnet" by the test developers is a bit lacking?
Of course you are right, Susan, it is implicit. Ideally I would like to make it a tiny bit explicit(!)
Peer comment(s):
agree David Moore (X) : See discussion entry
57 mins
Thanks, David
agree franglish : alternatively"All written and audio texts come under the heading of a single theme".
4 hrs
Thanks, franglish. "Audio" is good.
Something went wrong...
10 hrs

all readings and audio materials are aligned under an overarching topic

"Text" and "hearing" seems to mix metaphors. 'Subsuming" is quite different from coordination.
Note from asker:
Thank you, Horst! I know what you mean, but apparently in linguistics one can talk of texts whether they are heard or read! Additionally in practice the listening texts are scripted or if they are really authentic, it will be a transcript of a genuine conversation so a written text of the LC does exist.
Something went wrong...
4 hrs

focus on an overarching theme

There are so many ways of expressing "zugeordnet" even in this context that it's not difficult come up with viable solutions and still
keep faithful to the original. The clincher is whatever sounds best to the end user. Here are a couple of more options:

- are devoted to an overarching theme
- are unified by an overarching theme

(I am not big on "overarching theme". Can easily be replaced by other options, too.)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day12 hrs (2013-03-04 03:44:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Myriads of possibilities really...

After some more digging, I decided that I like best "organized, categorized or linked under (an overarching/unifying theme) or even "grouped under overarching themes". BTW, while the German expression uses the singular, it also leaves wide open the possibility that there might be more than one theme. Given the context, that might actually be more likely..

Personally, I don't think the translated verb needs to express the same degree of technicality as the German does but it can certainly be done and the options above accomplish that goal. Here are some more but I would only include them under "ferner liefen"...

included/united/unified/connected under an overarching theme
Note from asker:
Thank you, Martin! More interesting suggestions...
Something went wrong...
1 day 16 hrs

all narratives (stories) and texts are covering a collective subject

Why not?
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

17 hrs
Reference:

Just came across PTE General

which seems to take a similar approach

"This means that all exam tasks are related through a common theme which allows candidates to activate the different domains of knowledge they have acquired..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PTE_Young_Learners

"PTE General tasks are related through a common theme which allows candidates to activate the different domains of knowledge they have acquired and thus further enhance second language acquisition. It also provides a coherent thread for candidates to guide them through the various tasks.
The tasks can be interrelated through a common topic or a scenario where the different tasks “build” a story and integrate different language skills"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PTE_General

"The item types in each PTE General test are grouped together around topics referred to as themes. These
are used in item types across language skills, for example listening and reading or reading and writing... The written component
of the test contains three themes and the spoken part two. Sections 7 and 8 in the written part are thematically linked. Sections 12 and 13 in the spoken part are related by theme."
http://pearsonpte.com/PTEGeneral/Documents/PTEG_GuideL5.pdf

As always, not too sure about what wiki says, not the same as what is on their own website but maybe you can find more info. My vague attempts:

The texts selected for the... are based on a particular topic/subject area/are thematically linked (but vary in content/type etc)

OR emphasise first that there is an overall theme: The reading and listening comprehension tests are based on a specific theme/theme based. Texts are carefully selected to highlight different aspects...
Reference:

http://pearsonpte.com/Pages/Home.aspx

Note from asker:
Thanks, orla! This is indeed a very useful reference - for inspiration , not for copying, of course.
Something went wrong...
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