Multicultural Harry Potter

[lea.macleod at gmx.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 17208

Starling was wondering why they changed Hermione´s name in the German 
editions:

> What I found especially interesting was how many personal names were 
left alone.  The only name that was changed was Hermione, for which 
"Hermine" is used -- oddly enough, the French form of the name.  So 
how come the French edition I saw had "Hermione?" <g>.  Just 
wondering.

I think they did a good job keeping 99 % of the names as they are. I 
don´t think Herr Dumbledore would figure very well in the books... 
Probably a lot of hints get lost though, especially with the "speaking 
names".

Hermine is actually a German name, it´s not particularly french. 
Hermine is the female version of Hermann, which is a *very* German 
name, IMO. On the other hand, Hermione does work well in french 
(they´d pronounce it "Er-mee-on"), as I know  - not a french girl but 
-  a french ship by that name.