How do you translate "grundsätzlich"?

[Torsten]

Hi,

Could you please take a look at the following sentence:
At the beginning of any training program the participants are always briefed about the general requirements at introductory seminars and through personal meetings.

Below is the original German sentence which contains the word "grundsätzlich". How do you translate grundsätzlich into English?

Die Teilnehmer werden grundsätzlich in den Infoveranstaltungen und individuellen Gesprächen über die allgemeinen Erfordernisse informiert.

Many thanks,
Torsten
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Test Of English for International Communication
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[Alan]

Hi Torsten,

I'd go for 'thoroughly'.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Phrasal Verbs/hold

[HamburgEnglish]

Incorrect!

grundsätzlich can mean in this case

Were given a basic principles of ...
Were given the fundementals of ....

But not thoroughly!

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

In your sentence, you interpretted grundsätzlich to mean "always". Right?
I think that sounds just fine. It's less wordy than saying "as a matter of course" -- which to me is probably a more literal meaning of grundsätzlich in this case. In other words, it indicates something which is "a standard and fundamental part" and thus is "always included" as a part of all training programs. Is that the sense you're after?
.

[HamburgEnglish]

[D.S.Williams]

I would definitely agree with "always" for the above, but how would you translate Grundsätzliches used as a title for a section listing system specifications into English? The aren't the system requirements and nor are they "Basic principles", which was my first thought.

[Berlinder]

grundsätzlich = fundamentally, basically, principally, maily,

[Wordsworth]

grundsätzlich = fundamentally, basically, principally, mainly,

[Berlinder]

Miss Yankee,
You are getting confused a little bit with the wording ‘grundsätzlich’ (an adverb?).
It is the derivation of the substantive ‘Grundsatz’.
‘Grundsatz’ means principle, maxim, precept, policy, etc.
‘grundsätzlich’ doesn’t directly mean ‘always’. In an elaborate explanation one can mention it (always) to underline the emphasis on the word ‘grundsätzlich’.
The word ‘constituency’ in German is ‘Das Grundgesetz’ der Bundesrepublic.
Berlinder

[Berlinder]

Mr Alan
As you please, you can go for ‘thoroughly’.
Then you have thoroughly mistaken it.
I guarantee you modestly and wholly,
Thoroughly wondering where you got it!!!
- Berlinder

[Berlinder]

Mr Williams

There is an interesting saying: ‘Sag niemals nie’! ‘never say never’!
To be definite, one must be informed thoroughly and be learned.
Like me you are far-off from being a German scholar,
who can give you an expounded lecture with examples for;
Basically ‘grundsätzlich’ means fundamentally or principally.
Based in Hamburg, you can’t be sure of German phrases ‘always’,
‘Kein Meister ist von Himmel gefallen’. You will find the ways.
- Berlinder

[D.S.Williams]

The word ‘constituency’ means 'Wahlkreis' in German. ‘Das Grundgesetz’ is the 'constitution'. Slight difference!

Not that it really takes a first class honours degree to know that, but perhaps it helped?

[Berlinder]

Miss Yankee,
Please permit me to express my deeply felt regrets for committing an error in my last communication. It is hurting me incurably and insistently. It was an awkward mistake mortifying me persistently. I had mentioned this: ‘constituency’ means in German ‚Das Grundgesetz’. It is wrong. Mr Williams pointed it out to me. Tanks to him. It should be ‘Constitution = Die Verfassung, Der Grundgesetz’
My brain cells are vanishing by the scores and thus the memory diminishing. As such I had a blackout in that moment. My ability of observation slept for a while, grouping me into an ignorant lot. You might have thought of me as a show-off tinhorn, a swank and a bragger. Thinking it, I feel very bad and ashamed. In reality I am neither a swanker nor a wanker. I am not a blowhard or a braggart. I am not a rodomont and not at all a swankpot and never ever a cockalorum. Seldom resides in me for long the language wisdom. As you can discover here, it is not hard to recognise that I am a dependent of Dictionaries. All that does not help in the moment of a blackout. Therefore it is obviously a good step for me to keep myself out of arena of language acrobats and vocabulary aristocrats. I do not deserve to be here and I disqualified myself with a taint and a paint of disgrace, like a looser. It would be absolutely proper and appropriate to take a retreat from here, a honoured place for language talents.
But as a last attempt I dare to say and leave back just a last line. I have read at other spots here your poems and more. I was impressed of your aptitude and ability. I am sure if you join the circle of renowned laureates of letters and poetry, keep yourself in consistent touch with their works and books, you can enhance your proficiency and one fine day to publish a book of your own. I wish you good luck.
As I aforesaid I get off from here and say good bye.
- Berlinder, 26.07.09

[D.S.Williams]

I don't know whether to be amused or bemused...
In any case, thank you, Berlinder

[BrianL]

I am definitely bemused by all this...

"Die Teilnehmer werden grundsätzlich in den Infoveranstaltungen und individuellen Gesprächen über die allgemeinen Erfordernisse informiert."
"By principle, the attendees in the info meetings and individual discussions will be informed of the general requirements."