English translation: most flamboyant personality in the German solar industry/sector/field ...
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11:28 Sep 28, 2011
German to English translations [PRO] Marketing - Energy / Power Generation / Energy project
German term or phrase:schillerndste Figur der deutschen Solarbranche
"[...] der als schillerndste Figur der deutschen Solarbranche gilt"
This is referring to a person active in the solar industry but I'm unsure as to whether "schillernd" is a positive or negative characteristic?
Youre right tho - the first reaction from the German sitting beside me was that schillernd has something to do with light - and colourful doesnt have this, the sun, star, bright, glitzy aspect! lost in translation ;)
It's a good solution! I think schillernd is stronger, that's all, so would opt for flamboyant, as Stephen suggested. Colourful is missing the "light", the iridescence, in schillernd.
I think its clear from what has been said that schillernd has negative connotations but more in the sense of controversial, maybe involved in dubious practices, chequered past and all that - I have to admit that Im tending to go for colourful - its obviously a much more common expression in EN and is more positive but to me implies controversy, scandal and/or eccentricity too - tho in the end I guess def. so. likeable and I'm not sure if schillernd has that meaning.... "If someone has had a colourful past or a colourful career, they have been involved in exciting but often slightly shocking things." Sorry, Ramey, I do like your use of sun - and if it was mentioned in the German sentence think it would be very important to keep it but as it isnt ....! ;) or unconventional?? (colourful - not ordinary or predictable: characterized by unusual, unconventional, and sometimes illegal behavior
no attempt to hide his colorful past) etc etc.
In that case, I would use "character", and stick with "brightest", although "fixed star" isn't bad, either. If you're sure about "colourful", than I would still use "sun", to keep the connection to solar sector/industry. But that's my opinion, obviously I'm stuck on it! Have a good day.
I do believe that the "schillernd" includes both the positive and the negative aspect. Imagine the CEO of a big solar (= "clean"/environmentally friendly) company driving a Maserati, which Asbeck actually does, at least according to http://www.abendblatt.de/wirtschaft/article1465729/Der-Sonne...
I don't think the terms is being used negatively here because the entire article relies heavily on his opinion. I quite like "colourful", but I wanted to know whether "schillern" can be either positive or negative or both at the same time?
I have considered "the brightest, glaring sun in the Geramn solar industry"...........to keep the sun/solar pun, which would be a pity to lose. But also "the most brilliant/ the brightest character/original/fixed star/individual in the German solar industry" I could play with it for a bit longer, but it would be REALLY NICE to hear from the asker!!!! (no subtle hint)
youre absolutely right Ramey! Its a great word when you think about it - luckily dont think I've ever had to translate it before ;) I mean the dictionary offers everything from iridescent, shimmering, glitzy, colourful to ambivalent, checkered (past) and even dubious. I think Steffen might have a point when he suggests using two terms.
Hot discussion! But how certain are we about the negative aspect? Schillernd could be glaring or blinding, both of which I suggested below (just to cover my bases!) One also needs to take into consideration, when a word such as schillernd is used in German, that the English word must correspond in all aspects. It would be MOST useful to know how the author stands toward this glaring/gaudy/blinding/brilliant person AND the tone of the article overall. Are we chatty or are we critical, are we hyping here nicely or slaughtering? And the beat goes on.............
has been used to describe both Frank Asbeck and Utz Claassen in different contexts (and possibly neither of them have anything to do with this sentence!!)
Tend to agree with Steffen and Brigitte - do like Ramey's suggestion and the sun/solar thing but seems a little bit too much... what about (the more boring) colourful??
You must have more context, haven't you? I've give a couple of suggestions for both positive and negative, as "schillernd" could be both. Only you can discern which it is.
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Answers
6 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +5
brightest sun on the (German)solar sector/branch/area
Explanation: OR
most glaring star.... (negative)
most brilliant star/sun (positive)
most blinding light....(negative)
Ramey Rieger Local time: 00:46 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 10
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +5
