While I thoroughly enjoyed the American versions of the Harry Potter books, it’s interesting to read about all of the differences between the UK and US versions. [via Jake]
What do you think? Should they have changed the books for the US? Or should they have just left them in their original form, in the spirit in which they were written? Personally, I say leave well enough alone. Why change a good thing? I’m all for diversification and learning something new about another culture!
10 replies on “Potter Changes…”
Interesting. I have the British version of all four; I haven’t read the American ones. There is some Brit slang throughout (as the comparison charts show); some of it is obvious and some could trip people up.
If you’re curious, you’re welcome to reread them in the original English. 😉
Well, being an American is very demanding. I have no time for deciphering foreign gibberish. And frankly, since my country rules, everyone else should adapt their art to my tastes.
Or something like that.
*shakes head*
I can understand having to translate some words that we Americans are too lazy to figure out… but I wouldn’t have minded “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.”
In fact, I love reading British spelling… colour, specialises.
Oh yeah — HOWDY, C! 🙂
You know I would love to get Mad Max in the origional Austrailian language track or Trainspotting in the origional Scottish.
I was inspired by this to write about what the Lord of the Rings Movies would be like if they were made by Hollywood.
oh I meant to add that the British should just learn to speak ENGLISH. yeah. 😉
At first I had really wanted them to leave the differences in there, but after reading the list and seeing several things that would have confused me, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to change it since it was intended for children who would have a harder time puzzling over the differences.
I’ve been very tempted to order copies of the books from Canada which supposedly has the British versions of the books – although there is some confusion on that. Someone on HPforGrownups found at least one difference between the Bloomsbury (UK) and Raincoast (CA). This isn’t on the HP Lexicon’s list but the UK version names Sirius Black’s Gringotts vault number, #711. No one can figure out why it was left out when the book came Stateside. That seems like a pretty important fact, particularly when you note that it’s only two spaces away from #713 – the vault that was holding the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone.
I see no difference at all! Hep me!
I see no difference at all! Hep me!
A few links to share…
First off, check out the Real Audio videos and still pictures at ImplosionWorld.com – it’s always great fun to watch