English translation of Giesekus's famous article on the elasticity of liquids.

Starting from a suspension of elastic dumbbells or chain-like particle aggregates as a simple model of a viscoelastic liquid, the rheological equation of state is inductively derived into which the concept of an "elastic strain component" (recoverable strain) is incorporated and can be understood as a nonlinear extension of the so-called "generalized Maxwell model." Here, the liquid is characterized by a sequence of nested continua, each associated with an elasticity law. The consideration of the directional dependence of the mobility of the structural elements requires that the behavior of the liquids represented in this way generally deviates from a Weissenberg liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]