Americanization of Harry Potter = BAD - Page 2

Belle · 04-04-2003, 08:24 AM

Being British myself I think that changing the HP books is very wrong. Living in Britain we have to put up with all the Americanisms in day to day life and in books written by Americans, and we understand perfectly what meaning they are trying to put across. Harry is an English boy going to an English boarding school, and some of the humour is very English. I am sure Americans can understand what JK Rowling means without having things 'translated' for them.

***IronParrot*** · 04-04-2003, 06:13 PM

And even if they don't understand it, they certainly have the capacity to learn. But to deny them that opportunity is ridiculous.

The sad thing is, most readers don't even know this many changes have been made.

SamwiseGamgeeOTS · 04-24-2003, 03:26 PM

I certainly didn't.......I'm American....wow, i definatly feel really stupid now...

Laurus Nobilis · 04-24-2003, 03:44 PM

Don't feel stupid!

It's the ones who got the idea of changing it who *should* feel stupid. I think at least they should have warned readers that changes had been made, so you could choose what version to buy.

Fimbrethil · 04-24-2003, 03:44 PM

No I don't think we should feel stupid (I'm American). Just uninformed. I think some things might have confused me in the British version of the books but then again I'm smart (somtimes) and I think I could've figured it out!

gimli7410 · 04-29-2003, 10:32 PM

americans always have to have it there way

jk

Tanoliel · 04-29-2003, 11:23 PM

Rubbish.

(Okay, unfortuntely NOT rubbish...but the Americans who Have Their Way are not all of them....)

It was the publishers...and if I had a choice, I wouldn't have changed anything. In fact, I'll probably buy any other HP books on the internet and get the real versions. They're better.

Hasty Ent · 05-05-2003, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tanoliel
In fact, I'll probably buy any other HP books on the internet and get the real versions. They're better.

If you do, make sure the publisher is Bloomsbury, NOT Scholastic (aka The Fascist Publishing Co). I tried to locate the original British text and found it on Amazon's UK site.

Tanoliel · 05-05-2003, 01:27 PM

Yeah, no joke. The power of internet is great and good...(and sometimes evil...but still bloody useful!)

tano

sun-star · 06-24-2003, 12:50 PM

I thought I'd bring this thread back up because:

Talking to some American HP fans, I've heard that there are fewer changes in Order of the Phoenix (from UK TO US editions) than in previous books. Not having the Scholastic versions, I couldn't say, but does anybody know if it's true?

Cirdan · 06-24-2003, 01:25 PM

Most of the types of edits previously common were not committed this time around. Much of the original style seems to be included. I think things like "pass your exam" versus "get your exam", where it is very ambiguous, were still done. Things like replacing "pudding" with "dessert" were not done this time around.

Elf Girl · 06-24-2003, 02:48 PM

Yes, I was very impressed with their restraint. (But I still can't wait for my British version to come!)

Ragnarok · 06-24-2003, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sun-star
I can't believe they thought it was necessary to make so many changes. Do they really think Americans are so culturally insular that they won't read a book where it says "biscuits" instead of "cookies"? If I were American, I would feel quite insulted. I'm really glad British publishers don't "translate" American books in the same way (as far as I'm aware) because I find them the best way of finding out about the American way of life and language differences. It's far more interesting to learn stuff like that, IMO

I feel insulted , so how about all the whiners stick to english version and stop the crying.

04-04-2003, 08:24 AM	#21
Belle Enting Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Essex! Posts: 72	Being British myself I think that changing the HP books is very wrong. Living in Britain we have to put up with all the Americanisms in day to day life and in books written by Americans, and we understand perfectly what meaning they are trying to put across. Harry is an English boy going to an English boarding school, and some of the humour is very English. I am sure Americans can understand what JK Rowling means without having things 'translated' for them. __________________ You made me that much stronger Made me work a little bit harder Made me that much wiser So thanks for making me a fighter Made me learn a little bit faster Made my skin a little bit thicker Made me that much smarter So thanks for making me a fighter

04-04-2003, 06:13 PM	#22
*IronParrot* Fowl Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Calgary or Edmonton, Canada Posts: 53,420	And even if they don't understand it, they certainly have the capacity to learn. But to deny them that opportunity is ridiculous. The sad thing is, most readers don't even know this many changes have been made. __________________ All of IronParrot's posts are guaranteed to be 100% intelligent and/or sarcastic, comprising no genetically modified content and tested on no cute furry little animals unless the SPCA is looking elsewhere. If you observe a failure to uphold this warranty, please contact a forum administrator immediately to receive a full refund on your Entmoot registration. Blog: Nick's Café Canadien

04-24-2003, 03:26 PM	#23
SamwiseGamgeeOTS Elven Warrior Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A quaint little hole which last time I checked was somewhere near Ohio, Middle-Earth. Posts: 165	I certainly didn't.......I'm American....wow, i definatly feel really stupid now... __________________ "...Eragon recoiled in shock. Standing in front of him, licking off the membrane that encased it, was a dragon."

04-24-2003, 03:44 PM	#24
Laurus Nobilis Enting Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina Posts: 73	Don't feel stupid! It's the ones who got the idea of changing it who should feel stupid. I think at least they should have warned readers that changes had been made, so you could choose what version to buy. __________________ "...So the essential Quest started at once. But I met a lot of things on the way that astonished me. Tom Bombadil I knew already; but I had never been to Bree. Strider sitting in the corner at the inn was a shock, and I had no more idea who he was than had Frodo. The Mines of Moria had been a mere name; and of Lothlórien no word had reached my mortal ears till I came there. Far away I knew there were the Horse-lords on the confines of an ancient Kingdom of Men, but Fangorn Forest was an unforeseen adventure." ~ J. R. R. Tolkien

04-24-2003, 03:44 PM	#25
Fimbrethil My microwave speaks to me Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Having conversations with my major household appliances. Posts: 937	No I don't think we should feel stupid (I'm American). Just uninformed. I think some things might have confused me in the British version of the books but then again I'm smart (somtimes) and I think I could've figured it out! __________________ Bah, Bah black sheep have oyu any wool? Yes sir, yes sir. Three bags full! One for the master, one for the dame, one for the little boy who lives down the lane! Bah, bah black sheep have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir. Three bags full. I'll be gone for a while. But never fear! "I shall return anon!"

04-29-2003, 10:32 PM	#26
gimli7410 the dumb stoner canuck Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: canada Posts: 2,542	americans always have to have it there way jk __________________ -"Down with the system"-Serj tankian of system of a down -“Humans have been on the earth for millions of years, yet we don’t believe man began thinking until he started building walls. And what good have these walls ever done us?”-Serj tankian of soad -"stupid people do stupid things"-Serj tankian of soad "Trying is the first step to failure" Homer Simpson "It isn't going to be easy"-jerseydevil "only the good die young" I AM CANADIAN If the people lead, the leaders will follow.

04-29-2003, 11:23 PM	#27
Tanoliel Eccentric Chocolate Crow Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The Emerald City--Seattle, WA Posts: 1,861	Rubbish. (Okay, unfortuntely NOT rubbish...but the Americans who Have Their Way are not all of them....) It was the publishers...and if I had a choice, I wouldn't have changed anything. In fact, I'll probably buy any other HP books on the internet and get the real versions. They're better. __________________ Wisdom for Short Attention Spans...Ozy and Millie. It rocks. Food Of The Gods: 3,7-dihydro-3,7-dimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione Feed Me.... Another Online Dwelling Place... "All right, I confess. It is my intention to comandeer a ship, pick up a crew in Tortuga, to rape, pillage, plunder and otherwise pilfer my weasely black guts out." -Captain Jack Sparrow "The trouble with unknown enemies is that they are so difficult to identify." -Amelia Peabody Emerson "Most people obey the orders of someone who is pointing a gun at their head." -A.P. Emerson

05-05-2003, 01:27 PM	#29
Tanoliel Eccentric Chocolate Crow Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The Emerald City--Seattle, WA Posts: 1,861	Yeah, no joke. The power of internet is great and good...(and sometimes evil...but still bloody useful!) tano __________________ Wisdom for Short Attention Spans...Ozy and Millie. It rocks. Food Of The Gods: 3,7-dihydro-3,7-dimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione Feed Me.... Another Online Dwelling Place... "All right, I confess. It is my intention to comandeer a ship, pick up a crew in Tortuga, to rape, pillage, plunder and otherwise pilfer my weasely black guts out." -Captain Jack Sparrow "The trouble with unknown enemies is that they are so difficult to identify." -Amelia Peabody Emerson "Most people obey the orders of someone who is pointing a gun at their head." -A.P. Emerson

06-24-2003, 12:50 PM	#30
sun-star Lady of Letters Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England Posts: 2,476	I thought I'd bring this thread back up because: Talking to some American HP fans, I've heard that there are fewer changes in Order of the Phoenix (from UK TO US editions) than in previous books. Not having the Scholastic versions, I couldn't say, but does anybody know if it's true? __________________ And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool.

06-24-2003, 01:25 PM	#31
Cirdan Elf Lord of the Grey Havens Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: somewhere else Posts: 2,381	Most of the types of edits previously common were not committed this time around. Much of the original style seems to be included. I think things like "pass your exam" versus "get your exam", where it is very ambiguous, were still done. Things like replacing "pudding" with "dessert" were not done this time around. __________________ There exists a limit to the force even ther most powerful may apply without destroying themselves. Judging this limit is the true artistry of government. Misuse of power is the fatal sin. The law cannot be a tool of vengance, never a hostage, nor a fortification against the martyrs it has created. You cannot threaten any individual and escape the consequences. -Muad'dib on Law The Stilgar Commentary

06-24-2003, 02:48 PM	#32
Elf Girl Lurker Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Lothlórien Posts: 3,419	Yes, I was very impressed with their restraint. (But I still can't wait for my British version to come!) __________________ There's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium...

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
The Chronicals of Harry Potter: A joke	klatukatt	Harry Potter	1	06-18-2008 12:08 AM
Character foils in Harry Potter	Nurvingiel	Harry Potter	22	01-14-2005 11:26 PM
Harry Potter Has Similar Relations with LotR	straight_face	Lord of the Rings Movies	2	01-22-2003 08:15 PM
The List Thread	Aeryn	General Messages	56	11-04-2002 11:19 PM