Deutschlisch

Technology = Technologie?

According to my Duden Calendar (under the Title Trends) it becomes more and more common for Germans to use Technologie as a translation for technology in context where it should be Technik, Methode or Verfahren.

Langenscheidt German dictionary explains the term die Technologie as follows:

1. die Lehre, wie naturwissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse in der Produktion genutzt werden
2. alle technischen Kenntnisse

And die Technik:

1. alle Mittel und Methoden, mit denen der Mensch die Kräfte der Natur und die Erkenntnisse der Naturwissenschaften für sich praktisch (aus)nutzt

which is a close equivalent of Macmillan’s definition of technology: advanced scientific knowledge used for practical purposes, especially in industry

2. die Maschinen und Geräte (eines Betriebs)

which could be a twin brother of Longman’s explanation: new machines, equipment, and ways of doing things that are based on modern knowledge about science and computers

Fazit: the German word Technologie (in its original meaning) applies mostly to the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area : engineering.

My Duden calendar specialist thinks that it’s been used more and more in the meaning of Technik because it just sounds better. My guess is that it’s a classical instance of a false friend and a tricky one because they really sound and look alike and the differences in meanings of Technik and Technologie are rather subtle…