German term
Trotzdem
Trotzdem: Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus jagt Bienen und gibt ihnen ein Zuhause (1). Den Langeoogern Michael und Maike Recktenwald steht das Wasser noch nicht bis zum Hals, trotzdem verklagen sie die EU (2). Und Lisa Prantner näht gegen das Vergessen an (3).
I am trying to translate the word 'trotzdem' in the above phrase.
Context:
The phrase is from an article in the German science magazine ZEIT WISSEN. It discusses ideas nominees have come up with for the sustainability prize 'Mut zur Nachhaltigkeit'. The phrase appears as a caption beneath three pictures of the nominees.
I was thinking it might be referring to the idea that despite the problems they face, the nominees are coming up with ideas to make a difference. However, I am really not sure. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
| 3 +1 | Not easily dissuaded |
Michael Martin, MA
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| 4 +1 | Nevertheless |
Birgit Gläser
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| 4 +1 | Even so; despite that, |
David Moore (X)
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| 4 | Still or yet |
Thayenga
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| 4 | notwithstanding |
Katarina Peters
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| 3 | And yet |
Wolfgang Hager
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Aug 13, 2019 19:06: Susanne Schiewe changed "Level" from "Non-PRO" to "PRO"
PRO (3): philgoddard, Thayenga, Susanne Schiewe
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Proposed translations
United States
Creativity wins in the long run
Native in: German (Variant: Germany) 
, English (Variant: US)
Works in: German to English
Not easily dissuaded
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Note added at 1 hr (2019-08-13 17:44:17 GMT)
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Here, any solution needs to work like a slogan or standalone phrase. The one-word technique used in the German doesn't work in English.
Here's more background..
https://www.weser-kurier.de/region/niedersachsen_artikel,-wa...
| agree |
philgoddard
: Yes, I think this is the implication, like my suggestion of "beating the odds".
23 mins
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I am open to more ideas but none have been put forward.
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| neutral |
Betty Finn
: too specific-we have no idea if they are easily dissuaded or not.Not easily dissuaded is still a bad answer and has nothing to do with whats being said.
2 days 22 hrs
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"Trotzdem" connects the 3 scenarios under a common theme: "Too specific" is still better than not even attempting to identify such a theme/Convince me with arguments, not strong opinions.
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Nevertheless
Achtung - im ersten Satz den Doppelpunkt durch ein Komma ersetzen, sonst sieht es auf Englisch sehr komisch aus...
| agree |
Gordon Matthews
: "nevertheless" is what "trotzdem" means and I think it serves perfectly well as a translation in this context. I don't see why the word can't stand on its own, given the context. An alternative would be "In spite of everything!"
15 hrs
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Still or yet
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Note added at 46 mins (2019-08-13 17:22:30 GMT)
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Still,.... You could also use "And yet....
Canada
Accuracy and A1 presentation
Native in: Hungarian , English (Variant: US)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Hungarian to English, and 13 more.
notwithstanding
Even so; despite that,
| agree |
writeaway
1 hr
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| neutral |
philgoddard
: It's a picture caption with no text before it, so this can't be the answer. Michael's is the only one that makes sense in my opinion.
5 hrs
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I think this can very well fit here; if we had the entire context, and knew exactly what appears before and after the pictures, we could be that much wiser, but personally I don't like Michael's idea at all.
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Italy
Comprehension and Accuracy
Native in: German 
Works in: German to English, Italian to English, English to German
Discussion
The latter would be like: "Brave: (1) Joe Smith fought off a bear with bare hands; (2) Jane Brown tackled a mugger; (3) ...." in which all three vignettes illustrate bravery.
Are there any other examples of similar punctuation in the article, or elsewhere in the same magazine?
Actually, when I first read it, I thought the first "Trotzdem" had been inserted by the Asker to emphasise what the Question was about!
https://www.mut-zur-nachhaltigkeit.zeit.de/nominierte
@asker
The German caption is really bad, IMO. I'd probably omit the first word; it seemingly serves no purpose and could be a typo for something akin to "trotzen."
It certainly is not beating the odds or not easily disssuaded, though nevertheless or something like it won't really work either, IMO.
Good way to deal with this is to write what you think they should have; e.g., the captions in US and UK news reports don't necessarily match those in German newspapers.
Plus, repeating trotzdem a sentence later just doesn't sound right, not even in German.
What they might have had in mind: Bienen jagen + Zuhause geben is a bit of an oxymoron (I mean, his company manufactures pesticides and, yet, he advocates for giving insects "a home"). But this is pure speculation.
Trotzdem needs to have some reference point somewhere in the article; but that is exactly the reason why this snippet won't do--despite all of the information the asker provided.
Best
"Trotzdem" also appears further down, but that may just be coincidence.
What's all the stuff about being in up to their necks and suing the EU?