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Händlerbuch
Bestimmtsein der Geschicke

Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

es gilt das gesprochene Wort

English translation:

The spoken word is final

Added to glossary by Allan Wier
May 14, 2002 20:32
22 yrs ago
4 viewers *
German term

es gilt das gesprochene Wort

German to English Bus/Financial General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
A CEO is addressing a stockholders' meeting. I believe it means something like: "the spoken word is the official text"
Proposed translations (English)
5 +2 The spoken word is final
5 +3 the spoken word applies
4 +3 the spoken word prevails
5 +2 see explanation
5 In cases of conflict, the spoken text rules (or: shall prevail, or: governs))
5 Check against delivery
4 this is the gospel
4 the spoken word is the only legally binding form here
4 verbal declarations are taken into account.
4 My word is my bond
4 -1 verbal agreements apply / are binding
Change log

Jan 25, 2017 17:08: Steffen Walter changed "Field" from "Marketing" to "Bus/Financial"

Proposed translations

+2
18 mins
Selected

The spoken word is final

This is proper conference terminology (the other answers are not bad, but if you're looking for the proper phrasing, this would be it).
Peer comment(s):
agree John Kinory (X) : or 'definitive'.
1 hr
Cheers :-)
agree Сергей Лузан : Straight to the point.
17 hrs
Cheers :-)
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Many thanks for your assistance."
3 mins

this is the gospel

maybe an option. Something about this makes me think it's got a double meaning to it...

"what you hear is what you get"

Sorry, just a joke! (but maybe a funny alternative?)
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3 mins

the spoken word is the only legally binding form here

to take it strictly.
In contracts one often uses the phrase 'es gilt das geschriebene Wort' to exclude the possibility of an oral agreement.
Reference:

Professional experience

Peer comment(s):
agree Steffen Walter : With your comment on "geschriebenes Wort" in contracts; also, sentence "Mündliche Nebenabreden wurden nicht getroffen" is quite frequently used to express the same idea.
54 mins
disagree John Kinory (X) : I can see nothing here to suggest that it is the ONLY legally binding form.
1 hr
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7 mins

verbal declarations are taken into account.

verbal delacations will be recorded.

(meaning that they will be recorded and are part of the minutes.
Peer comment(s):
agree gangels (X) : oral pronouncements have legal standing
55 mins
disagree John Kinory (X) : Does not sound like a phrase that an English speaker would use.
1 hr
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9 mins

My word is my bond

gilts, bonds, stocks...?
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+3
12 mins

the spoken word applies

...is what I have used for Dresdner Bank's balance sheet press conference, for example. Since this is usually only printed on the manuscript, you may want to use "Manuscript - The spoken word applies".
Peer comment(s):
agree Beate Lutzebaeck : Great explanation! Now I understand what they are trying to say ...;-)
7 mins
agree Theo Bose
19 mins
agree NGK
26 mins
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+3
13 mins

the spoken word prevails

Just an option and a play on the legalese phrase: "The ... version shall prevail". I am, however, quite sure that "es gilt das gesprochene Wort" does not have any legal connotation in your context, rather it seems to be part of a peptalk emphasising verbal communication.
Peer comment(s):
agree Ralf Lemster : I think it's supposed to work as a disclaimer in case of discrepancies between the manuscript and the speech
5 mins
Yep, I'm convinced now that your are right - the phrase has in fact a legal connotation, in which case "prevails" or "shall prevail" might be the better option.
agree Steffen Walter
45 mins
agree Ursula Peter-Czichi
1 hr
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+2
1 hr

see explanation

This is a bit of boilerplate that I have seen on almost every speech text - and I have seen plenty in 8 years of conference interpretation. It simply indicates that the text is a draft (usually provided by a staffer to the principal making the speech) and that the great man's spoken words, not this draft text, are authentic. In other words, dear journalist, pay attention to the speech and quote what was said - and do not be lazy and simply go have a cup of coffee and quote this text. Because we'll call you on it.
Peer comment(s):
agree John Kinory (X) : Yes, in this specific context.
10 mins
agree Beate Lutzebaeck : Another great explanation!
1 hr
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-1
1 hr

verbal agreements apply / are binding

I can see nothing here to suggest that ONLY oral (but I prefer verbal) agreements apply. The distinction, I think, is between formulations that say 'Only written agreements apply', 'All agreements must be made in writing' (these 2 are boilerplates I use a lot), and the above. It simply means that whether OR not written agreements are acceptable, 'a gentleman's word is his bond', figuratively or literally speaking.
Peer comment(s):
disagree Beate Lutzebaeck : That would be the case if the German said: "Das gesprochene Wort gilt". "Es gilt...", however, implies a negation, excluding by inference all other options (in this case the written manuscript).
59 mins
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5 hrs

In cases of conflict, the spoken text rules (or: shall prevail, or: governs))

This makes it perfectly plain to the reader who may not be familiar with the standard procedures.
Something went wrong...
12 hrs

Check against delivery

This is the statement normally used by English/American speechwriters. Many speeches are distributed before the event to press, analysts, interpreters, etc. The statement is an indication that the written text is only a draft and that the speaker may deviate from it. Therefore, the speech 'delivered' by the speaker is the version that counts.
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