[Lexicog] The limits of illustrative sentences in bilingual dictionaries (the case of YES and JA)

[Fritz Goerling]

>From Fritz Goerling

I wonder what a good, useful bilingual dictionary should include
when it comes to illustrative sentences. What is too much and what
is too little? What should be included and what should go in
into comparative discourse or style studies like:
VINAY Jean Paul – DARBELNET Jean, Stylistique comparée du français
et de l’anglais : méthode de traduction, Paris, Didier, 1977

I give very rough equivalents below of English YES (and variations)
and German JA. Reality is far more complicated and differentiated,
depending e.g. on the intonation with which one pronounces YES
and JA in the respective languages.

I think those who master these nuances in both languages can be called
true bilinguals. But a bilingual dictionary cannot teach all those fine
distinctions and usages.


ay  ja
yeah  ja
certainly  ja; sicherlich, sicher doch
indeed  ja; in der Tat
surely  ja; sicherlich, sicher doch
yea  ja
yes  ja
yep  ja; klar
well..  na ja
aye  Ja-Stimme {f}
why  aber ja
well  nun ja
yea (Am.)  Ja-Stimme {f}
yes  aber ja
since  da ja
oh well  na ja
Well?  So? (= Ach ja?)
Yes, indeed!  Aber ja!
Yes, of course!  Ja, doch!
yup (yes)  ja, jawohl
yes, of course  ja, natürlich
if so  wenn ja
answer in the affirmative  Ja sagen
say yes  Ja sagen
oh well  ach ja
affirmative vote  Ja-Stimme {f}
Well, actually ...  Ja, also eigentlich ...
answer yes  mit Ja antworten
Yes, for sure!  Ja, sicher!
I'm afraid so.  Leider ja.
answer in the affirmative  mit Ja antworten
ayes and nays  Ja- und Neinstimmen
yes indeed  ja in der Tat
Hundreds, nay thousands.  Hunderte, ja tausende.
That's unbelievable!  Das ist ja unglaublich!
There you are!  Da sind Sie ja!
Why, that's outragous!  Das ist ja fürchterlich!
as you know German  da du ja Deutsch kannst
that's sod's law  das musste ja so kommen
I dare you!  Du traust dich ja nicht!
It is really ridiculous.  Es ist ja lächerlich.
Oh, by the way.  Ja, was ich sagen wollte.
That sounds like fun!  Das kann ja heiter werden!
answer with a plain yes  mit einem einfachen Ja antworten
Now stay put!  Jetzt mucks' dich aber ja nicht!
answer yes or no  mit Ja oder Nein antworten
to answer with a plain yes  mit einem einfachen Ja antworten
That's an absolute scream!  Das ist ja ein Witz!
I'm right, am I not?  Habe ich recht, ja?





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