JK Rowling Announcement

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Xenophon

I presume you also own classics such as Wini ili Pu and the like.

I sure do. And its sequel, "Domus Anguli Puensis" ("The House at Pooh Corner").

Good stuff .

[OtterBooks]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

I wonder if the books will be the UK versions (I hope so) or if folks in the US will have to buy the US versions.

what's the difference between them?

[Shopaholic]

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

what's the difference between them?

Different terminology/phraseology that is often used in the UK & Canada but have totally different meanings in the US. I heard an interview with Arthur Levine and they talked about things like jumpers, crackers and a couple of other ones that were amusing. It was years ago so I can't remember them all but they chose to change what JKR originally wrote and substitute it with something American readers were thought to understand better.

The biggest change was the title of the first book. Philosopher's Stone to Sorcerer's Stone. They thought Sorcerer would have more intrigue for American audiences than Philosopher would.

[OtterBooks]

Originally Posted by Shopaholic

Different terminology/phraseology that is often used in the UK & Canada but have totally different meanings in the US. I heard an interview with Arthur Levine and they talked about things like jumpers, crackers and a couple of other ones that were amusing. It was years ago so I can't remember them all but they chose to change what JKR originally wrote and substitute it with something American readers were thought to understand better.

The biggest change was the title of the first book. Philosopher's Stone to Sorcerer's Stone. They thought Sorcerer would have more intrigue for American audiences than Philosopher would.

Interesting. Is this sort of practice common with UK/US edition books?

[HarryT]

Title changes are common, often for copyright reasons, but rewrites of this form are thankfully rare. The changes are pretty arbitrary, though; eg references to "Guy Fawkes Night" remain - would the typical American teenager know what that was?

[OtterBooks]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Title changes are common, often for copyright reasons, but rewrites of this form are thankfully rare. The changes are pretty arbitrary, though; eg references to "Guy Fawkes Night" remain - would the typical American teenager know what that was?

The typical American teenager may not know what it was, but may be encouraged to find out; hence, one of the values of reading. But if a book is an assembly line entertainment product tailored for maximum sales, then such value is of little importance.

[RainingLemur]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Title changes are common, often for copyright reasons, but rewrites of this form are thankfully rare. The changes are pretty arbitrary, though; eg references to "Guy Fawkes Night" remain - would the typical American teenager know what that was?

If they've seen "V for Vendetta," they may claim to know that Agent Smith put on a mask and blew stuff up, and that's what it's all about.

[anamardoll]

I have fond memories of listening to the Hitchhiker books (Douglas Adams) as a child and wondering what a "biro" was.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I have fond memories of listening to the Hitchhiker books (Douglas Adams) as a child and wondering what a "biro" was.

I have learned a lot of the way the UKisms. And if I need to know more, I just ask my wife. So, I'm all set.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I have fond memories of listening to the Hitchhiker books (Douglas Adams) as a child and wondering what a "biro" was.

I remember listen to Hitchhiker's and thinking a zebra crossing was something to do with migrating animals.

[HarryT]

What do you call them? It had never crossed my mind that they might be called anything other than zebra crossings .

[Dulin's Books]

its boring harry - crosswalks .

[Ryvyan]

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

its boring harry - crosswalks .

Have to admit I laughed.

Even though we use British English in schools, many phrases from American English have made their way here, and right now we use them interchangeably (just don't litter 'z' and 's' in the same piece of writing). I bought my books based on the origins of the author and not my preference, feel that the essence of language would be lost. I'm talking about modern authors, mind you.

I may not notice the language difference if I'm reading the American version of Harry Potter, but I'll be uncomfortable knowing it. If there's a phrase I don't understand (rare), I'll just google it or deduce using magical powers that be.

[DMB]

I read the first Potter book in French translation. It was fun seeing how they translated the names. Similarly, the Asterix books are widely translated. I bought them originally to improve my French (and because I enjoy them) and in the English versions the names are different. So the dog, Idéfix, becomes Dogmatix in English.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by ApK

I remember listen to Hitchhiker's and thinking a zebra crossing was something to do with migrating animals.

You weren't the only one!! Until Dulin said "cross walks" just now, I thought... never mind.