"The general plays with the public."

Translation: Der General spielt mit der Bevölkerung.

[PtitSeb]

What is the difference between Bevolkerung, Offentlichkeit, Publikum and Allgemeinheit?

[Menschenkind]

Bevölkerung = population, Öffentlichkeit = the public, Publikum = audience, Allgemeinheit = community or the general public. Pretty different things.

[PtitSeb]

Thanks a lot! From what you are saying, what would then be the difference between Allgemeinheit and Öffentlichkeit? I think I see the difference with Publikum, which would be an audience of people attending an event or a conference, and Bevölkerung, which is the general population. But Allgemeinheit and Öffentlichkeit seem to both be "the public"?

Also, given what you are saying, if the sentence is "The general plays with the public.", then Bevölkerung seems incorrect, Allgemeinheit or Öffentlichkeit would also be strange since we are talking about a concept, and Publikum seems to make more sense, or am I wrong?

[helenvee]

This has puzzled me too and what you're saying makes sense but I'm no expert. I'd love to have it explained.

[phle]

Would be nice if Duolingo stuck to the translations. Im getting quite confused about these.