German Connectors Explained in English – Part 4
German Connectors Explained in English – Part 4
Scientific, Legal, and Highly Formal Connectors (C1–C2)
By Konnektoren | Berlin | 19th December 2025 19:30
At advanced levels of German, especially in academic, scientific, and legal contexts, connectors are used with extreme precision. These connectors help define scope, limitations, logical chains, and formal reasoning. Many of them rarely appear in spoken language but are common in research papers, legal texts, expert opinions, and policy documents.
This part introduces high-register connectors that significantly elevate formal written German.
1. angesichts – in view of / considering
🧠 Meaning
Refers to a fact or situation that must be taken into account.
🧱 Clause Type
Prepositional construction (no verb)
🔀 Word Order
No verb change
Followed by genitive (or dative in modern usage)
🇩🇪 Example
Angesichts der aktuellen Lage sind weitere Maßnahmen notwendig.
🌍 Translation
In view of the current situation, further measures are necessary.
✍️ Usage
Formal, official, political language
Very common in reports and announcements
2. unter der Voraussetzung, dass – on the condition that
🧠 Meaning
Introduces a strict condition that must be fulfilled.
🧱 Clause Type
Nebensatz
🔀 Word Order
Verb at the end
🇩🇪 Example
Das Projekt wird genehmigt, unter der Voraussetzung, dass die Kosten reduziert werden.
🌍 Translation
The project will be approved on the condition that costs are reduced.
✍️ Usage
Legal, administrative language
More explicit than sofern
3. nichtsdestotrotz – nonetheless / nevertheless
🧠 Meaning
Expresses strong concession, despite opposing facts.
🧱 Clause Type
Hauptsatz
🔀 Word Order
Verb in second position
🇩🇪 Example
Die Studie weist Mängel auf. Nichtsdestotrotz liefert sie wichtige Erkenntnisse.
🌍 Translation
The study has shortcomings. Nonetheless, it provides important insights.
✍️ Usage
Very formal
Often used in academic evaluation and critique
4. insofern (als dass) – insofar as
🧠 Meaning
Limits or relativizes a statement.
🧱 Clause Type
Nebensatz
🔀 Word Order
Verb at the end
🇩🇪 Example
Die Theorie ist überzeugend, insofern sie empirisch überprüfbar ist.
🌍 Translation
The theory is convincing insofar as it is empirically verifiable.
✍️ Usage
Academic, philosophical texts
Used to avoid overgeneralization
5. wieweit / inwieweit – to what extent
🧠 Meaning
Questions or evaluates the degree of validity.
🧱 Clause Type
Nebensatz (often indirect questions)
🔀 Word Order
Verb at the end
🇩🇪 Example
Es ist unklar, inwieweit die Ergebnisse übertragbar sind.
🌍 Translation
It is unclear to what extent the results are transferable.
✍️ Usage
Very common in academic conclusions
Signals analytical distance
6. unbeschadet – without prejudice to / irrespective of
🧠 Meaning
States that something applies without affecting another rule or fact.
🧱 Clause Type
Prepositional construction
🔀 Word Order
No verb change
Followed by genitive
🇩🇪 Example
Unbeschadet anderer Regelungen gilt diese Vorschrift weiterhin.
🌍 Translation
Without prejudice to other regulations, this provision remains in force.
✍️ Usage
Legal and administrative texts
Rare outside official language
7. folglich – accordingly / consequently
🧠 Meaning
Draws a logical conclusion.
🧱 Clause Type
Hauptsatz
🔀 Word Order
Verb in second position
🇩🇪 Example
Die Daten sind nicht vergleichbar, folglich ist die Auswertung begrenzt.
🌍 Translation
The data is not comparable; accordingly, the analysis is limited.
✍️ Usage
Formal but slightly more accessible than mithin
8. unter Zugrundelegung – based on
🧠 Meaning
Defines the methodological basis.
🧱 Clause Type
Prepositional phrase
🔀 Word Order
No verb change
🇩🇪 Example
Unter Zugrundelegung aktueller Studien ergibt sich ein anderes Bild.
🌍 Translation
Based on current studies, a different picture emerges.
✍️ Usage
Scientific and methodological contexts
Common in research papers
Summary Table (Part 4)
| Connector | Meaning | Structure | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| angesichts | in view of | prepositional | formal |
| unter der Voraussetzung, dass | on the condition that | Nebensatz | legal |
| nichtsdestotrotz | nonetheless | Hauptsatz | very formal |
| insofern | insofar as | Nebensatz | academic |
| inwieweit | to what extent | Nebensatz | academic |
| unbeschadet | without prejudice | prepositional | legal |
| folglich | accordingly | Hauptsatz | formal |
| unter Zugrundelegung | based on | prepositional | scientific |
Final Thought
At C1–C2 level, connectors are no longer optional stylistic tools — they define precision, responsibility, and analytical depth. Correct usage of these connectors signals academic maturity and full command of written German.
A complete, systematized overview of German connectors by register, level, meaning, and syntax is available at:
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