expressive / speaking
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expressive
In a way that clearly expresses something, often without words; meaningful or telling.
Sie warf ihm einen sprechenden Blick zu, der mehr sagte als tausend Worte.
She gave him an expressive look that said more than a thousand words.
'Sprechend' (speaking) is the present participle of the verb 'sprechen' (to speak). Like many participles in German, it can be used as an adjective before a noun and declined accordingly.
Das ist ein sprechender Name für ein so lautes Auto.
That is a telling name for such a loud car.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If the word refers to living beings or devices that can produce sounds, the literal meaning is intended. If it refers to looks, examples, or names, the figurative, expressive meaning is intended.
Meine Nichte hat ein sprechendes Bilderbuch bekommen.
My niece got a talking picture book.
In the figurative meaning 'aussagekräftig' (meaningful), 'sprechend' (expressive) is often used in fixed phrases: 'ein sprechender Blick' (an expressive look), 'sprechende Augen' (expressive eyes), 'ein sprechendes Beispiel' (a telling example), or 'ein sprechender Name' (a telling name).
Die Ruine ist ein sprechendes Zeugnis der Zerstörung im Krieg.
The ruin is a telling testimony to the destruction in the war.
In the literal meaning 'sprechen könnend' (able to speak), the word is often used for animals or technical devices. Typical examples are: 'ein sprechender Papagei' (a talking parrot), 'eine sprechende Uhr' (a talking clock), or 'sprechendes Spielzeug' (talking toys).
Die neue Navigations-App hat eine angenehm sprechende Stimme.
The new navigation app has a pleasantly speaking voice.
mute / silent
'stumm' and 'sprechend' can form a clear opposite when it comes to the ability or act of speaking. 'stumm' then means that someone is not speaking or cannot speak. 'sprechend' describes that someone or something speaks or can speak, for example a person or a device. In other meanings, the words do not always work as exact opposites, for example with 'sprechend' in the sense of 'meaningful' or 'telling'. For the simple contrast: 'stumm' means without speech, 'sprechend' means with speech.
Das sprechende Gerät erklärt den nächsten Schritt mit klarer Stimme.
The speaking device explains the next step in a clear voice.
Nach der schlechten Nachricht blieb Tom lange stumm.
After the bad news, Tom remained silent for a long time.