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sollen (here)

English translation: reportedly

08:10 Nov 20, 2004
German to English translations [PRO]
Linguistics / Modal Verb Problem
German term or phrase: sollen (here)
"Die Glaslaser der neuesten Generation werden auch ansatzweise in der Zahnhartsubstanzbearbeitung (kariöse Zahnhartsubstanz hat ein anderes Absorptionsverhalten als gesunde) eingesetzt, dies ***soll*** durch die Möglichkeit des „Superpulses“ ermöglicht werden. Es sei aber darauf hingewiesen, dass es zu dieser neuen Indikation noch relativ wenig internationale Literatur gibt."

What exactly does "sollen" mean here? It's not usually a modal verb that troubles me unduly, but here I just can't work out what exactly the intended meaning is supposed to be. TIA for helping me clear this up.
Rowan Morrell
New Zealand
Local time: 20:23
English translation:reportedly
Explanation:
You have a lot of great answers already, but I am posting yet another one, so that you will see how everyone agrees that it's not an easy question at all.

This will reportedly be made possible by the "superpulse"
Selected response from:

Melanie Nassar
United States
Local time: 11:23
Grading comment
Thank you all for your great answers. It was not at all easy to make a decision, but after reading all the answers through carefully, and trying your different ideas in my sentence, I have come to the conclusion that "reportedly" strikes pretty much the right note. It implies less scepticism than "supposedly", but makes it clear that this is something that others, and not the author, are claiming. So it's the points to armaat, but this is one case where you all deserve points, although I'm not quite sure where the first answerer got "eliminated" from. Otherwise, you all helped a great deal, and it seems most unfair to have to award points to just one person. But that's the way the system works. Thank you all again for your kind assistance - it's much appreciated.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2it is intended
Beate Lutzebaeck
3 +2supposedly
Derek Gill Franßen
3 +1is to be..
Kathinka van de Griendt
4perhaps
gangels (X)
4reportedly
Melanie Nassar
3according to
Kieran McCann
3will probably
Victoria Bryan (X)


  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
is to be..


Explanation:
"this is to be eliminated by the Superpulse blabla"..
"the Superpulse is said to eliminate blabla..."

Kathinka van de Griendt
Local time: 10:23
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Herbert2
4 hrs
  -> Danke, Herbert
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
it is intended


Explanation:
...; this is intended to be achieved by the "superpulse" function [option]. Meaning that they are looking to carry out the tooth-hardening treatment by using the superpulse laser function.

Please note that the wording of the German source text is not exactly wonderful: durch die Möglichkeit ermöglicht, oh dear ...

Beate Lutzebaeck
New Zealand
Local time: 20:23
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway: I have no doubt at all about your interpretation, but could the English be made a bit 'smoother' by 'should', is supposed to be, this is meant to be achieved by. etc?
2 hrs
  -> Absolutely. My wording was merely an attempt to get the meaning across. On reflection, I'd probably go for "meant to be".
agree  Annika Neudecker: Yep - intended to be/meant to be
8 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
supposedly


Explanation:
...as in: "...this is supposedly made possible by...". :-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 4 mins (2004-11-20 09:15:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I get the feeling that the author is recounting this second-hand, i.e. \"the reports show that this is made possible by...\" or \"the scientists/dentists/technicians developing this technology say that this is made possible by\". The author doesn\'t know this information from first-hand experience, which is also suggested by the following sentence (IMHO). :-)

Derek Gill Franßen
Germany
Local time: 10:23
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  davidgreen: I usually solve this with the first suggestion "is to be" but in this case I agree with Derek as well as Kathinka's second suggestion "is said to" because of the sentence that follows.
22 mins
  -> Thank you David.
neutral  writeaway: supposedly casts too negative a slant imho. it adds a hint of disbelief on the part of author and I'm not sure it's an opinion here, just reporting. better to keep it more noncommittal/some doubt, but noncommittal, just reported as such
2 hrs
  -> You do have a point, but I think that this amount of 'healthy' scepticism is carried by the word "soll" (IMHO). :-)
agree  Eve Schuttle (X): would also go for "this is made possible"...
7 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
according to


Explanation:
I agree with Derek that the author is describing this at second-hand, but would go further and suggest that the second sentence shows s/he is quite sceptical about the whole thing. 'is supposed to' is a bit too bald/rude but how about:
...and, according to the manufacturers[suppliers/distributors], this will be achieved using "superpulse" technology. It should be pointed out, however,...


Kieran McCann
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:23
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
perhaps


Explanation:
,...current plans envision the adoption of the 'super pulse' option for its realization.

I agree that 'soll' suggests the slightest hint of ambivalence towards the procedure, which I think is reflected in my proposal.



gangels (X)
Local time: 02:23
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 11
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
will probably


Explanation:
just another suggestion. I think the sollen refers to how it is not yet set in stone, so some form of doubt needs to come across in the English version.

Victoria Bryan (X)
Local time: 09:23
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
reportedly


Explanation:
You have a lot of great answers already, but I am posting yet another one, so that you will see how everyone agrees that it's not an easy question at all.

This will reportedly be made possible by the "superpulse"

Melanie Nassar
United States
Local time: 11:23
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you all for your great answers. It was not at all easy to make a decision, but after reading all the answers through carefully, and trying your different ideas in my sentence, I have come to the conclusion that "reportedly" strikes pretty much the right note. It implies less scepticism than "supposedly", but makes it clear that this is something that others, and not the author, are claiming. So it's the points to armaat, but this is one case where you all deserve points, although I'm not quite sure where the first answerer got "eliminated" from. Otherwise, you all helped a great deal, and it seems most unfair to have to award points to just one person. But that's the way the system works. Thank you all again for your kind assistance - it's much appreciated.
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