Generalismus

20:08 Jan 5, 2015 

Well from my perspective Generalismus is associated wit tendencies to be negative, like uniformity, so to make him somebody who seems overeducated is wrong, it sounds way too bloated, additionaly general does in no way mean intellectual refinement it is more a way to say that it stems from basic education and easy to understant solutions

16:23 Jan 5, 2015 

eclectic interests/expertise in (nearly) any branch of science/universal interest/insatiably curious-insatiable curiosity/with a universal thirst for knowledge/allround intellectual refinement/beyond all (professional) restraints, etc.

15:21 Jan 5, 2015 

would also capture the idea of Renaissance Man

14:44 Jan 5, 2015 

Also thought thought of a Renaissance Man, but even this guy can't fill those weighty shoesl.

14:42 Jan 5, 2015 

(over)specialisation, compartmentalisation

14:21 Jan 5, 2015 

to call it an affinity for intellectual generalism?

13:59 Jan 5, 2015 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymath
a Renaissance man

13:52 Jan 5, 2015 

general scientist - which is why I suggested multi-disciplinary or holistic

13:39 Jan 5, 2015 

A tendency to approach a general mindset of universality.

13:01 Jan 5, 2015 

and again i agree with TonyTK, there is nothing wrong with approach, but mindset sounds about right too

13:01 Jan 5, 2015 

Good point - thanks.
Let's see if I can come up with something that captures that idea.

13:00 Jan 5, 2015 

oriented

12:57 Jan 5, 2015 

... Andrew? It contains the excellent words "app" and "roach", it's an anagram of "a crap hop" (something I was very good at at school). Would you prefer "mindset", "perspective" ("peptic verse")?

12:55 Jan 5, 2015 

He appears to have established his reputation as a 'scientist' (in the broadest sense), while colleagues are better known as leading 'physicists', 'chemists' or 'biologists'.

12:52 Jan 5, 2015 

well the text implies that the described person aprroaches something from a universal or general point of view, but as a german i think the term universal might be too wide in meaning but if the text is to advertise the person it seems ok.
but again in this context it implies that he approches problems from an universal viewpoint, so to use one word changes what is meant with the sentence

12:52 Jan 5, 2015 

= universal applicability OR universal appeal
Not really an applicable or appealing choice in this context.

12:51 Jan 5, 2015 

The entire text lauds his multifaceted talents unendlessly, which makes the sudden appearance of the word Generalist rather confusing to the reader.
Perhaps here "ombudsman" or similar?

12:48 Jan 5, 2015 

yes, well, I wish you a self-determined 2015 all the same. Don't know how the 'approach' encroached.

12:46 Jan 5, 2015 

may work, keeping it close to the German with one term.

12:45 Jan 5, 2015 

How should Jonathan 'approach' the term Generalismus? We have seen several 'approaches' today. Is the chosen translation destined to contain 'approach'?

12:41 Jan 5, 2015 

you are right the meaning is in the area you described

12:38 Jan 5, 2015 

... "universality" might work (... "his universalist approach" ...). Perhaps even "integrative". I assume it's more about "general" in the very broad sense of "Studium generale".

12:36 Jan 5, 2015 

as opposed to specialist. Not so much to do with multiple talents as with multiple fields of expertise.

12:35 Jan 5, 2015 

While searching for possible other german words so the most practical Choise would be allgemein, so it could also be translated as "universal approach", but directly it would translate to "general approach" so in context it would be "his tendencies to take a universal approach"

12:32 Jan 5, 2015 

the notion of 'multitalented', but will of course ask the author for his input.
Thanks to you all.

12:28 Jan 5, 2015 

here your translation seems to be correct out of the context... like a Person with a broad range of interests... it depends on the context, the word can work positive, negative and neutral

12:24 Jan 5, 2015 

but maybe you should ask the author? He/she obviously had something specific in mind. I'd be interested in discovering what that could be.

12:20 Jan 5, 2015 

"...wegen seines hohen wissenschaftlichen Renommees als vorbildlichen Wissenschaftler and Generalisten...." = multitalent/broad skill set??

12:13 Jan 5, 2015 

The Text rougly translates to: "Thanks to his Reputation in the scientific world and his tendencies to take a general approach, as well as his ability to mediate between several different scientific areas XXX was elected as the spokesman in the year 2007." And Generalismus is hardly a flattering term in German

12:13 Jan 5, 2015 

in choosing this word. Duden defines it only on military terms and I can't fine it anywhere else. I'm afraid we can only guesstimate the meaning based on the overall context : "universality"?
Perhaps the author meant "middle of the road approach" or words to that effect - i.e. not bogged down by the political side of the workaday Wissenschaftsbetrieb?

12:10 Jan 5, 2015 

'Vermittler'. It is hardly flattering to take a general approach, which indicates the speaker has no founded knowledge. I believe the term reflects his ability to speak to the 'general public' on the one hand, as well as his diplomacy when mediating between varying, and possibly rival, scientists. It is certainly not the same thing.

11:55 Jan 5, 2015 

It is in the Line that he likes to take a general approach and he tries to treat everyone the same ... but it is a little more, he likes to treat them the same but wants them to put into effect his principles, rather than their own ... i don´t think that there is a direct Translation ... even though linguee suggests generalism

11:48 Jan 5, 2015 

How about something along the lines of ability to engage the public at large - ability to speak to people on all levels rather than just those with specialist understanding?