speaker
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speaker
A device that converts electrical signals into audible sound waves in order to play sounds, music, or speech.
Könntest du die Musik bitte leiser machen? Die Lautsprecher sind voll aufgedreht.
Could you please turn the music down? The speakers are turned all the way up.
mouthpiece / spokesperson
A person who acts as a mouthpiece or spokesperson for a group, organization, or idea and publicly represents its opinion.
Er machte sich im Parlament zum Lautsprecher der kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen.
In parliament, he made himself a mouthpiece for small and medium-sized businesses.
The word is built very logically: it consists of 'laut' (loud) and 'der Sprecher' (the speaker). So a 'Lautsprecher' is literally a device that 'speaks loudly.'
Die Durchsage am Bahnhof kam über die Lautsprecher.
The announcement at the train station came over the speakers.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If it is about technology, music, or announcements, the device is meant. If it is about politics or social groups, the person as a mouthpiece is meant.
Ich brauche neue Lautsprecher für meinen Computer.
I need new speakers for my computer.
When the device is meant, 'Lautsprecher' (speaker) is often used with verbs such as 'einschalten' (to switch on), 'ausschalten' (to switch off), 'aufdrehen' (to turn up), or 'leiser stellen' (to turn down).
Kannst du bitte die Lautsprecher etwas leiser stellen?
Can you please turn the speakers down a bit?
The figurative meaning for a person is very often used in the fixed expression 'sich zum Lautsprecher für jemanden/etwas machen' (to make oneself a mouthpiece for someone/something).
Er hat sich im Stadtrat zum Lautsprecher für die Anliegen der jungen Familien gemacht.
In the city council, he made himself a mouthpiece for the concerns of young families.
speaker / spokesperson
Sprecher and Lautsprecher can both refer to a person who speaks publicly for a group. Sprecher denotes an official representative role that passes on information; Lautsprecher describes someone as a mouthpiece who publicly represents the opinion of a group or an idea. For a formal function, Sprecher is the clearer choice.
Der Lautsprecher der Bewegung vertritt ihre Forderungen in jeder Talkshow.
The movement's mouthpiece represents its demands on every talk show.
Der Sprecher des Verbands informiert die Presse über den Beschluss.
The association's spokesperson is informing the press about the decision.
