Any differences between Sorcerer's & Philosopher's?

[Jim Flanagan]

There are no substantial differences in the text of the American and 
British editions, aside from numerous minor differences in grammar 
and vocabulary which were probably inserted by the publishers' 
editiorial staffs.  Several of these differences have 
been discussed here and on the main group (sweater/jumper, 
names of confections, etc.). If you are interested in such things, 
it's probably worth getting both versions of one of the volumes. I 
think that the PS/SS differences are probably the largest, and 
diminish in the later books. 

Here are some differences that I have noted between versions:

1.  Quotation marks:  British versions use single quotes (') the 
first level, and double quotes (") as the second level.  The American 
versions are the opposite. The French and Spanish editions don't use 
quotation marks at all, but use double dashes and double braces 
respectively.  Here's an example from the first chapter of Chamber:

British: 'I meant "please"!' said Harry quickly.  'I didn't mean --'

American: "I meant 'please'!" said Harry quickly.  "I didn't mean --"

French:  --Je voulais simplement dire «s'il te plaît!»
précisa Harry d'un ton précipité.  Je ne pensais pas du tout à...

Spanish: --¡Me refería a «por favor»! --dijo Harry inmediamente--. No 
me refería a...


2.  The British versions omit periods after many abbreviations, such 
as Mrs -- Thus, Filch's cat is "Mrs Norris" in the British versions, 
but "Mrs. Norris" in the American.


3.  Collective nouns are sometimes treated as plural in the British 
versions, but singular in the American. This is particularly obvious 
when referring to sports teams:

British: "Slitherin score!"

American: "the Slitherins score!"


4.  An editorial substitution of "mother" for "father" in one passage 
of GoF differentiates the American from the British and French 
versions (this has nothing to do with the "wand order" error, which 
exists in all three editions):

British:  Harry described how the figures which had emerged from the 
wand had prowled the edges of the golden web, how Voldemort had 
seemed to fear them, how the shadow of Harry's *father* had told him 
what to do, how Cedric's had made its final request. (GoF, p. 606)

American: Harry described how the figures that had emerged from the 
wand had prowled the edges of the golden web, how Voldemort had 
seemed to fear them, how the shadow of Harry's *mother* had told him 
what to do, how Cedric's had made its final request. (GoF, p. 698)

French: Harry raconta comment les silhouettes jaillies de la baguette 
avaient marché le long du cercle délimité par le dôme
d'or, il décrivit l'expression de peur sur le visage de Voldemort, il
rapporta les paroles de son *père* qui lui avait dit ce qu'il devait 
faire, puis l'ultime requête de Cedric. (CdF, p. 621)

Comment: When you look back at the passage where Harry's parents (or 
their "echoes") are speaking to him, it is true that his mother gives 
him more instructions than his father does. Apparently an American 
editor changed "father" to "mother" for this reason. The French 
translator was apparently working from the British text, and 
said "father." 


5.  Here's an odd substitution going from the British to the 
American. The French and Spanish versions of the same passage are 
included for comparison:

British: "...it's awful trying to go to the loo with her wailing at 
you --" (CoS, p. 101)

American: "...it's awful trying to have a pee with her wailing at 
you --" (CoS, p. 133)

French: "...C'est terrible d'aller aux toilettes et de l'entendre 
gémir sans arrêt..." (lCdS, p. 146)

Spanish: "...es horroroso ir al servicio mientras la oyes llorar." 
(lCS, p. 119)

Comment:  Americans know quite well that "loo" is a British term for 
toilet, so this substitution was entirely unnecessary.  Perhaps one 
of our slash fanfic authors is moonlighting at Scholastic, and 
inserted "pee" for shock value.


-Jim Flanagan
(Hard at work on the International Editions FAQ)


--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., Monica Lai <etmother at y...> wrote:
> Dear All:
> 
> Is there any difference between the UK version and the
> US version in addition to the title?
> 
> I have a copy of the UK version and am wondering if I
> should get a US one.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Monica
> 
> 
> 
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