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Um- und Querdenker

English translation: unconventional thinker

07:42 Feb 26, 2020
German to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Marketing / Market Research
German term or phrase: Um- und Querdenker
Die Messe XX ist seit 35 Jahren die Messe für Visionäre, Um- und Querdenker, für erneuerbare Energien, Energie-Effizienz und für nachhaltiges und innovatives Bauen.

vielen Dank!
martina1974
Austria
Local time: 18:57
English translation:unconventional thinker
Explanation:
simply someone who does not think along standard lines; I think an extra translation of "Umdenker" here would needlessly complicate the construction and not add any significant information, given the context.
Selected response from:

Eric Zink
Local time: 18:57
Grading comment
vielen Dank!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2innovators
Julia Burgess
5people/everyone/all those able to think outside the box
transatgees
4unconventional thinker
Eric Zink
4nonconformist
Kartik Isaac
4original thinkers
Chris Pr
3 +1inventors and mavericks
Ramey Rieger (X)
4rethinkers and against-the-grain thinkers
Michael Martin, MA
3revolutionary and lateral thinkers
Adrian MM.


  

Answers


38 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
unconventional thinker


Explanation:
simply someone who does not think along standard lines; I think an extra translation of "Umdenker" here would needlessly complicate the construction and not add any significant information, given the context.

Eric Zink
Local time: 18:57
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
vielen Dank!
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59 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
nonconformist


Explanation:
Visionaries and nonconformists: people who do not conform to the trends of the average person.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=nonconformis...

Kartik Isaac
Switzerland
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
original thinkers


Explanation:
...would be the perfect fit with visionaries...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2020-02-26 09:16:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

...and also tie "Um- und Quer" together quite nicely..

Chris Pr
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:57
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
innovators


Explanation:
Might work for this context. Other possibilities: people who think outside the box; lateral thinkers. Agree with Eric that it's probably best to use just the one term in English.

Julia Burgess
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:57
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Steffen Walter: "Lateral thinkers" was my first thought.
4 hrs
agree  philgoddard: I like this because it's short and active.
5 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
inventors and mavericks


Explanation:
I would use three terms to keep a nice rhythm:

for visionaries, inventors and mavericks

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 18:57
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 81

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  seehand: with your three terms
20 hrs
  -> much obliged!
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
people/everyone/all those able to think outside the box


Explanation:
Expression in common usage

transatgees
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:57
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
rethinkers and against-the-grain thinkers


Explanation:
There are two terms, Umdenker and Querdenker. They overlap but cannot be reduced to one. Lateral thinkers also works well for the second term, as others have noted.

Example sentences:

"Carpenters Workshop Gallery and Lombard Odier have come together as true rethinkers to create an innovative and ground-breaking exhibition at the Ca’d’Oro called.." https://cwg.lombardodier.com/contents/cwg-news/news/2019/apr...

"Every generation has its share of unconventional, against-the-grain thinkers and leaders who refuse to listen to the naysayers and follow their own instincts. Often, they fail, but some break through, and when they do, it results in smarter solutions for all." https://www.zdnet.com/article/when-business-thinkers-go-agai...

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 12:57
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 116
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
revolutionary and lateral thinkers


Explanation:
I thought lateral thinking, as in English/Norman Frenchman Edward de Bono's revolutonary book. was an obvious choice - silly me...


    Reference: http://www.linguee.de/deutsch-englisch/uebersetzung/umdenken...
Adrian MM.
Austria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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