I can't read the Japanese, but:

Originality is taking something that already known and combining in a extraordinary way.
->
Originality is taking something that is already known and combining it in a extraordinary way.

It might be more natural if "something" was replaced with something not singular, so that the meaning of "combining" is clearer:

Originality is taking something that already known and combining in a extraordinary way.
->
Originality is taking things already known and combining them in a extraordinary way.

What does the Japanese say?

@small_snow
@Pfirsichbaeumchen

The Japanese sentence explains the word "オリジナリティ(I think it is translated as "originality" in English)", but it's unnatural from a Japanese language and a theoretical point of view. I think it's a mistranslation from Chinese so I'll ask @Yorwba what Chinese means.
I'll let you know when the Japanese language is fixed.

"Creativity" is perhaps a better word choice, and perhaps what was meant in the original sentence.

Perhaps also instead of combining "something" (1 thing), combining "things" (plural) might be better.

@AlanF_US
Based on the opinion of Yorwba, I've change the Japanese:
創造力とは、既に知られている要素を、意外な方法で組み合わせる能力である。

He also noted the following, besides changing 'Originality' to 'Creativity':
- '要素' is a better match than '事'.
- The phrase "能力である" is missing.

I think maybe the word "要素" means element, factor, constituent, and so on in English. Also, I think it would better match to start out with "Creativity is the ability ...."

@Pfirsichbaeumchen
What do you think? このままにしててもいいかな？

The original turns out to be German: #1225895 ("Creativity is the ability to combine already known elements in unusual ways"). I think 不凡 means "extraordinary" (as in "not mundane" or "not something that you see all the time"). 意外 sounds like "unexpected" to me. They are all similar, although not quite the same.

The word "things" is very unspecific. However, even in the original German version, one might wonder about the use of the word "Elemente" (elements), which may be an instance of what the sentence is about. 🙂 It makes me think of "atomoi", basic building blocks that can be arranged to form a myriad of things, but it takes creativity to leave the ordinary behind.

As for the construction of the English sentence, all of the directly and indirectly linked translations are a bit more concise, but the rather rigid word order in English as well as all the missing commas (🙂) can make it necessary or preferable to choose more lengthy or seemingly more complicated wordings in order to make the meaning clear or change the position of words without sounding old-fashioned or too bookish (combine already known elements → take elements that are already known and combine them).

I think it wouldn't be too much of a problem to leave the sentence as it is. Maybe Alan and Sundown can make a decision as to whether they want to keep it like that, or find a compromise based on the information given. 🙂

You could (I would) get rid of "already", because it's superfluous, really:

Creativity is the ability to combine known elements in unusual ways.

"Elements" makes it sound a bit more academic, but that suits the sentence: most people, I reckon, wouldn't come out with a sentence like this halfway through their pint down The Dog and Duck. :)

If you'd like it to sound less bookish, I wonder if "known" could be dropped from the English translation. How about this?

Creativity is the ability to combine things in unusual ways.

If you think that would be losing too much information and that "things" really should be qualified, how about this?

Creativity is the ability to combine familiar things in unusual ways.

The Japanese clearly is emphasizing the "already known" aspect.

既に知られている要素 = already known elements (things)

@CK I was just dealing with the English sentence (while also keeping an eye on the German). I can't speak a word of Japanese.

What about:

Creativity is the ability to combine things you already know in unusual ways.

?

EDIT:

Since it seems this sentence can't be used, I'll add it myself:

Creativity is the ability to combine familiar things in unusual ways.

> 意外 sounds like "unexpected" to me.

I agree with Pfirsichbaeumchen on this.

I would also change "way" to "ways."

Creativity is taking things that are already known and combining them in unexpected ways.

@small_snow
Does this sound OK to you?

>Does this sound OK to you?
Yes. I think it's OK. (変更が少なくてすむし）
And I think sundown's suggestion sounds good, too. Could we add any of those?

I'd prefer for the people who made the suggestions to add the sentences. Thanks!