@Susan 21:08 Jan 30, 2011
This expression (in correct usage) does two things: on the one hand, it's function is that of a hiatus, that is to say, it forms a break in the flow of speech, indicating that a new idea is going to be introduced, and at the same time (in most cases, especially when used with the colon), it takes up a topic which has already been mentioned before, in order to add a new aspect; or, it might summarize a number of previous statements in a few phrases, etc.
So, it's a rhetorical figure, which can be translated in many different ways. But to decide which translation fits best, normally one would have to know quite a bit about the preceding sentences/speech, to make sense of it.
So maybe there's some important context lacking here (preferably from the point where "das Kollegium" or those belonging to it were last mentioned). In this case, abundant quoting from the original could be quite helpful (and would be justified). |