specialty / specialist field
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specialty / specialist field
A limited area within a larger subject or activity in which a person or institution has special knowledge and skills.
Ihr Spezialgebiet ist die Herzchirurgie bei Neugeborenen.
Her specialty is heart surgery on newborns.
The word is made up of 'Spezial-' and 'Gebiet'. 'Spezial-' comes from 'speziell' (special), and 'Gebiet' means 'area' or 'field'. A 'Spezialgebiet' is therefore literally a 'special area'.
Mein Spezialgebiet ist die deutsche Literatur des 20. Jahrhunderts.
My specialty is 20th-century German literature.
'Spezialgebiet' (specialty / specialist field) is often used with the verbs 'haben' (to have) or 'sein' (to be). You can also say that you 'concentrate on a specialist field' or 'specialize' in one.
Die Professorin hat ein sehr interessantes Spezialgebiet.
The professor has a very interesting specialty.
When talking about activities in this area, the preposition 'auf' is often used. Someone is an expert 'auf einem Spezialgebiet' (in a specialist field).
Auf diesem Spezialgebiet gibt es nur wenige Experten.
There are only a few experts in this specialist field.
focus / center of gravity
'der Schwerpunkt' and 'das Spezialgebiet' can both name an area that someone deals with in particular. 'Schwerpunkt' describes what someone is currently focusing on especially in a piece of work, training, or planning. 'Spezialgebiet' means a specialist field in which someone has especially extensive knowledge or skill. That is why a 'Spezialgebiet' is often something lasting, while a 'Schwerpunkt' can also apply only to a project or an exam. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with concentration on one area. For a person's knowledge and skills, 'Spezialgebiet' usually fits; for the focus of a task, 'Schwerpunkt' usually fits.
Alte Häuser zu renovieren ist das Spezialgebiet dieser Firma.
Renovating old houses is this company's specialty.
Adam legt beim Lernen den Schwerpunkt auf Grammatik.
When studying, Adam puts the focus on grammar.