US & UK editions; dumbing down?

[Terry van Ettinger]

No: HPFGUIDX 35578

I had not really noticed much in the way of words being replaced for U.S.
benefit, but then I've read half of the books via Jim Dale's narrated
versions and the other half from the Braille Institute versions.  So it's
possible that I have yet to see a U.S. edition.  In any event, I personally
think that the language used in the books should be left as is.  If JKR used
"jumper" for sweater, then that's what it should be.  It does us good to
learn to recognize those type of regional terms.  The stuff that isn't clear
can be looked up in a dictionary, verified with a British friend or
associate, or checked
>out in any number of places.  And learning about regional slang is also a
good way to learn to understand the culture of the region where the slang
originated.

 Regards,
Terry

Cole wrote:
> > > I don't understand why changing obvious British colloquialisms for
> > > American colloquialisms would be considered "dumbing down".  When
> they
> > > translated HP to German or Russian, I am sure that certain
> passages
> > > and "slang" were changed to reflect that culture.  Jeez, even in
> > > America, certain words have different meanings depending on where
> you
> > > live.  I don't think changing the word jumper to sweater was so
> > > God-awful and compromised the integrity of the HP series.  I mean,
> a
> > > jumper in America is a ladies dress -- and doubt that Harry is a
> > > cross-dresser. Even though the "primary" language in Britain &
> America
> > > is English, there a lot of differences in our slang -- for
> example,
> > > loo for bathroom, lift for elevator, randy -- well,er, all of you
> > > Brits know what randy means!
> > > Although I do agree that the title of the 1st book should not have
> > > changed.  There is an explaination of what the stone is; the
> prefix of
> > > said stone did not really have to change.
> > >
> > > cole(who does do her research on words she doesn't know and is not
> a
> > > dumbed down American)
>
{Elvish edit to remove some un-needed text-  Manxy}