to attach / affiliate
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to attach
To integrate a smaller unit, for example a department, company, or territory, organizationally or territorially into a larger one, or to subordinate it to that larger unit.
Die kleine Forschungsabteilung wurde dem zentralen Institut angegliedert.
The small research department was attached to the central institute.
to affiliate oneself
To join a group or organization and become part of it.
Nach seinem Umzug versuchte er, sich schnell einem lokalen Sportverein anzugliedern.
After moving, he tried to quickly affiliate himself with a local sports club.
'Angliedern' (to attach/affiliate) is a separable verb. The prefix 'an-' comes at the end in a main clause. In the infinitive with 'zu', the form 'anzugliedern' is created, and in subordinate clauses the verb stays together.
Man gliedert die neue Abteilung an.
They attach the new department.
The word consists of the prefix 'an-' (expressing a connection) and the verb 'gliedern' (to structure, to divide). 'Angliedern' therefore literally means to insert something as a member or part into a larger structure.
Das kleine Tochterunternehmen wurde erfolgreich an den Konzern angegliedert.
The small subsidiary was successfully attached to the corporation.
This verb belongs to formal language. You mainly find it in texts from the fields of business, administration, and politics.
In der offiziellen Mitteilung wurde bekannt gegeben, dass das Institut angegliedert wird.
The official announcement stated that the institute would be attached.
When one unit is attached to another, there are two grammatical possibilities in German: with the dative or with the preposition 'an' plus accusative. Both are correct.
Die Bibliothek wurde der Universität angegliedert.
The library was attached to the university.
The reflexive form 'sich angliedern' always means that a person or group joins a larger organization on their own initiative. The reflexive pronoun 'sich' is the key clue here.
Der neu gegründete Chor möchte sich dem regionalen Sängerbund angliedern.
The newly founded choir would like to affiliate itself with the regional singers' association.
to connect / to join
Sich anschließen generally means joining or taking part in a group. Sich angliedern places more emphasis on someone or a smaller group becoming part of a larger organizational structure. Use sich anschließen for taking part together, and sich angliedern for structural integration.
Die neue Arbeitsgruppe gliedert sich dem Verband an und wird Teil seiner Struktur.
The new working group becomes part of the association and is integrated into its structure.
Die neue Arbeitsgruppe schließt sich dem Verband für ein gemeinsames Projekt an.
The new working group joins the association for a joint project.
