Keeping to the matter

Sache is the matter, the thing itself. Sachlich means pertaining to the matter and nothing else.

English has no clean equivalent. Objectivity suggests neutrality of the observer. Matter-of-fact is a description of manner. Sachlich is neither — it names a discipline: keeping to the substance and out of everything around it.

A German asking you to be sachlich is not asking you to be calm. They are asking you to talk about the problem.

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