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souverän

English translation: confident

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:souverän
English translation:confident
Entered by: Kenneth Beattie

13:57 Aug 16, 2004
German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Psychology
German term or phrase: souverän
This term has been "bugging" me for a while now. It describes a way in which a person acts.

This particular context (automotive), the sales consultant deals with problems related to customers:

Sie respektieren die individuellen Kundenwünsche und bauen gerade deshalb eine gute Beziehung auf; der Umgang mit Problemen ist lösungsorientiert und souverän (Prinzip „carefree“).

Is it "carefree" or is it "in a dignified manner" or "in a superior manner"

Thanks
Kenneth Beattie
Local time: 03:14
confident
Explanation:
I think "confidence" is the key here.
Selected response from:

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 20:14
Grading comment
Thanks, this is the best one to go for in the context I think
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4confident
Kim Metzger
3 +4competently
Brainstorm
5 +1confident
Denise Boehning (X)
5autonomous
Ellen Zittinger
3 +1problem-solving and autonomously confident
Nancy Arrowsmith


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
souverän
confident


Explanation:
I think "confidence" is the key here.


    Langenscheidt Muret-Sanders
Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 20:14
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 64
Grading comment
Thanks, this is the best one to go for in the context I think

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  NGK
1 min
agree  Jo Mayr
18 mins
agree  roneill
45 mins
agree  Armorel Young
7 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
souverän
confident


Explanation:
I would suggest confident or competent. I don't think carefree is quite what is meant here.

Denise Boehning (X)
United States
Local time: 22:14
Native speaker of: English
Grading comment
Thanks, I'm using this but can only accept one answer according to rules - but who cares, it's the discussion that's valuable. The term "carefree" came from the author of the German text, not me! ;-)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  roneill
45 mins
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The asker has declined this answer
Comment: Thanks, I'm using this but can only accept one answer according to rules - but who cares, it's the discussion that's valuable. The term "carefree" came from the author of the German text, not me! ;-)

3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
souverän
competently


Explanation:
It's more the feeling that they have total control and cope with it all... more like masterly

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2004-08-16 14:02:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

They\'re the experts and know it all - is what they\'re saying.

Brainstorm
Austria
Local time: 04:14
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
Grading comment
Thank you for your thoughts. This was exactly the problem I had - how to bring across the feeling of having everything under control but not sounding overbearing - no single word quite seems to work here. If the author meant "competent" they might have written "Kompetent", "souverän" means masterfully or something like that but this sounds a bit over the top in the context.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Victor Dewsbery: I like "in control" and "masterly". There is a touch of superiority in the situation which is more than just "confidence" (but must be phrased tactfully, not to sound arrogant and overpowering). Another option would be "completely self-assured"
4 mins
agree  Ingrid Blank
31 mins
agree  Robert Kleemaier
32 mins
agree  Aniello Scognamiglio (X)
39 mins
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The asker has declined this answer
Comment: Thank you for your thoughts. This was exactly the problem I had - how to bring across the feeling of having everything under control but not sounding overbearing - no single word quite seems to work here. If the author meant "competent" they might have written "Kompetent", "souverän" means masterfully or something like that but this sounds a bit over the top in the context.

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
autonomous


Explanation:
self-governing, independent, free

to act with autonomy is to act independently of anyone else with one's own authority and freedom - or sovereignty

Ellen Zittinger
Local time: 19:14
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you very much. Autonomous does give the impression of someone acting on their own authority which kind of fits here. What it doesn't bring across though is the feeling of being in control of external circumstances - if you know what I mean?
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The asker has declined this answer
Comment: Thank you very much. Autonomous does give the impression of someone acting on their own authority which kind of fits here. What it doesn't bring across though is the feeling of being in control of external circumstances - if you know what I mean?

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
problem-solving and autonomously confident


Explanation:
would be my take. Confident of carefree does not included the psychological factors that I assume are being talked about here.

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Note added at 2 days 4 hrs 9 mins (2004-08-18 18:06:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

typo of = or

Nancy Arrowsmith
Local time: 20:14
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks. I agree that "confident" perhaps does not completely describe the qualities referred to here and perhaps some extra qualification of this in the text will be needed

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ellen Zittinger: did not take note of your word previously, just the two above. Would have to agree with you!
6 hrs
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The asker has declined this answer
Comment: Thanks. I agree that "confident" perhaps does not completely describe the qualities referred to here and perhaps some extra qualification of this in the text will be needed



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