changed words in Harry Potter books

[Lynne Murphy]

--On Thursday, January 18, 2001 8:20 pm -0700 Nancy Elliott
<nelliott1 at EARTHLINK.NET> wrote:
>
> "...what's this about changing some of the words in the U.S. edition so
> American children could understand them?
> Rowling pretended to bang her head against the sofa in mock frustration.
> ``SO much has been made of that,'' she groans, noting that it was only
> done where words had been used that really meant something very different
> to Americans.
> Her American editor pointed out that the word ``jumper'' - British for
> pullover sweater - means a kind of dress in American. She had had no idea.
> ``He asked, 'Can we change it to sweater?' which is just as British.''
> That was fine with Rowling."
>
>         --- from "Success Stuns Harry Potter Author"  by Audrey Woods
> (Associated Press, July 6, 2000)

Incidentally, like many other fantasy or scifi series, Harry Potter has
spawned a fan literature--including the subgenre composed by Harry/Hermione
'shippers' (people who like to imagine Harry and Hermione in a romantic
relationship).  A friend pointed out one to me, which I read with some
amusement because it was by an American trying to sound British.  She used
'jumper' for 'sweater' and such, but thought that 'naff' meant 'cool' (when
it means the opposite) and had men wearing vests over their shirts (instead
of under them).  (The ease with which one can make such errors--as made
evident by my train/railway station slip yesterday-- is why I only accept
editing jobs from British into American and not vice versa!)

You can find some of these stories at:
http://www.egroups.com/files/ParadigmOfUncertainty/
but you might need to sign up for egroups first.

Lynne


M Lynne Murphy
Lecturer in Linguistics
School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences
University of Sussex
Brighton BN1 9QH
UK

phone +44-(0)1273-678844
fax   +44-(0)1273-671320