Day 25: Reviewing the Paper That Attacks Him
Over dinner at home in Tübingen, Katharina (A), a journal editor, asks her husband Matthias (B), a psychologist, why an email has put him off his food.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
- Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense. Point at (or tap) a German word to see what it means.
- Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native German, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.
Dialogue
Audio recordings are on the way. For now, each lesson is the dialogue with its English translation.
Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day · point at a word to see its meaning
-
A
Matthias, du stocherst seit zehn Minuten in deinen Maultaschen herum. Welche Mail hat dir denn so den Appetit verdorben?
Matthias, you've been picking at your Maultaschen for ten minutes. Which email has put you off your food like that?
-
B
Eine Replikationsstudie aus Utrecht nimmt sich mein Keksexperiment vor, und ausgerechnet ich soll sie begutachten.
A replication study from Utrecht goes after my biscuit experiment, and I'm the one who's supposed to review it, of all people.
-
A
Da gibt's nichts zu überlegen: Du lehnst ab, zumal du als Vater des Experiments befangener nicht sein könntest.
There's nothing to think about: you decline, all the more since, as the father of the experiment, you couldn't be more biased.
-
B
Befangen, ich? Sofern die Daten sauber sind, erkenne ich sie an, wenngleich mir dabei das Herz blutet.
Biased, me? Provided the data are sound, I'll accept them, even if it makes my heart bleed.
-
A
Das glaubt dir keine Redaktion der Welt, und ich spreche aus Erfahrung. Einen Interessenkonflikt legt man offen, statt ihn sich schönzureden.
No journal in the world would believe that, and I speak from experience. You declare a conflict of interest rather than talking yourself out of it.
-
B
Tja, fürs Ablehnen ist es etwas spät. Das halbe Gutachten habe ich nämlich gestern Nacht schon geschrieben.
Well, it's a bit late to say no. You see, I wrote half the review last night.
-
A
Du hast was? Lass mich raten: zwei Seiten Verriss, obschon deine eigene Stichprobe damals aus vierzig hungrigen Erstsemestern bestand.
You've what? Let me guess: two pages tearing it apart, although your own sample back then consisted of forty hungry first-year students.
-
B
Im Gegenteil, eine Lobeshymne. Die Utrechter arbeiten tadellos, wohingegen meine vierzig Erstsemester heute kaum für eine Bachelorarbeit reichen würden.
On the contrary, a hymn of praise. The Utrecht team's work is impeccable, whereas today my forty first-years would barely be enough for a bachelor's dissertation.
-
A
Rührend, aber abgelehnt wird trotzdem. Mach aus deiner halben Lobeshymne einen Kommentar unter deinem Namen, den drucke ich in meiner Zeitschrift.
Touching, but you're declining all the same. Turn your half a hymn of praise into a comment under your name, and I'll print it in my journal.
-
B
Ein Kommentar des Ehemanns, gedruckt von der Herausgeberin? Soweit ich das beurteilen kann, wärst du da ein klein wenig befangen.
A comment by the husband, printed by the editor? As far as I can judge, you'd be a tiny bit biased there.
Your progress is saved in this browser only, with no sign-up. The course page and the menu show where you left off. Well done! Next up: Day 26: Recommending the Poet Her Own Book
If this free course has helped you in your German journey, please consider supporting the project. It's a one-person effort, and even small contributions help keep it running and free for everyone.