alignment / assimilation
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alignment
The process by which differences between things, people, or systems are reduced in order to make them more similar or equal. This can refer to laws, standards, living conditions, or other areas.
Die Angleichung der Lebensverhältnisse in Ost- und Westdeutschland ist ein langfristiges politisches Ziel.
The alignment of living conditions in eastern and western Germany is a long-term political goal.
assimilation
In linguistics, the process by which a sound adapts in its pronunciation to a neighboring sound. This process is also called assimilation.
Ein Beispiel für eine Angleichung ist die Aussprache von „fünf“ als „fümf“ in manchen Dialekten.
An example of assimilation is the pronunciation of 'fünf' as 'fümf' in some dialects.
The word is derived from the verb 'angleichen' (to align/adapt), which consists of 'an' and 'gleich' (same/equal). The ending '-ung' turns it into a noun that describes a process: the process of making things 'gleich' (equal/same) to one another.
Die Angleichung der Gehälter in der Firma dauert schon mehrere Jahre.
The alignment of salaries in the company has already been taking several years.
'Angleichung' (alignment) is very often used in the structure 'Angleichung von A an B' (alignment of A with B). The preposition 'an' is always used with the accusative here.
Die Regierung plant die Angleichung der deutschen Gesetze an die EU-Vorgaben.
The government is planning the alignment of German laws with EU requirements.
'Angleichung' (alignment) is a formal word that is mainly used in written language and in political, economic, or scientific texts.
In dem Bericht wird die Angleichung der Bildungsstandards gefordert.
The report calls for the alignment of educational standards.
Common topics in connection with 'Angleichung' (alignment) are the alignment of living conditions, prices, salaries, or legal standards.
Die Angleichung der Renten in Ost und West ist ein wichtiges Thema.
The alignment of pensions in eastern and western Germany is an important topic.
You can recognize the linguistic meaning from the context. When 'Laute' (sounds), 'Aussprache' (pronunciation), or 'Assimilation' (assimilation) are mentioned, phonetic assimilation is almost always meant.
Im Seminar haben wir über die Angleichung von Konsonanten im Deutschen gesprochen.
In the seminar, we talked about the assimilation of consonants in German.
adaptation / adjustment
Anpassung refers to a change that makes something fit particular requirements. Angleichung, by contrast, emphasizes reducing differences between several rules, standards, or systems. If something is aligned with a requirement, Anpassung is appropriate; if several sides are meant to become more similar, Angleichung is appropriate.
Die Angleichung der Schulordnungen beider Gemeinden beginnt im Mai.
The alignment of the school regulations of the two municipalities will begin in May.
Die Anpassung der Schulordnung an die neuen Vorgaben beginnt im Mai.
The adjustment of the school regulations to the new requirements will begin in May.
