[HPforGrownups] US/English Versions

[~ chappnee ~]

No: HPFGUIDX 34337

Well I think I have the ideal position here.  I live in Canada so saying so 
would mean that I'm extremely familiar or, at most, talk with American 
slang.  As most of you might know, Canada's version of the books was the 
British version and I have to tell you, that even though I had no idea what 
a prefect was (I'm assuming that it is a common term in Britain?), what 
'bogies' were, and what she meant by 'jumper', it wasn't the hardest thing 
in the world to figure out.  

The whole issue with confusing 'soccer' and 
'football' didn't matter much to me at all.  In fact, even though I 
understood it to mean Canadian football, it didn't confuse me because it's a 
minor detail and not significant to the plot.  I just went on reading 
without really thinking much about it.  Besides, she does a good enough job 
of explaining how Quidditch is played without having to compare it to 
soccer/football.  I have to admit that only last night did I realise while I 
re-read PS again for the zillionth time, that she probably meant soccer.  

The term prefect wasn't that hard to figure out either: Percy, a prefect, 
leads everyone to the safety of their dorms when there is danger and is the 
subject of pride in Mrs. Weasley; Prefects get special train carts and 
bathrooms to themselves and I think somwhere it says that he threatened Ron 
that he would take points away from Gryffindor so obviously, he has some 
power within the school and is an advanced student.  And the simple 
difference between 'Boogers' and 'Bogies' isn't worth mentioning at all 
however the difference of 'jumper' vs. 'sweater' was a bit confusing as it 
came up quite often in the book.  Although I _did_ know, that it had to mean 
something else in Britain than in Canada.  Exactly _what_ he was wearing 
didn't really matter though, now did it?  All that mattered was that Ron 
hated his colour and that Harry was given one suggesting that he's part of 
the Weasley family.  

The point is, you don't have to know every word/slang 
term in a book to enjoy reading them and JKR does a pretty good job of 
hinting at what they mean anyway.  A whole chunk of the story is Harry 
experiencing a huge culture shock.  If Americans are able to adapt to the 
Wizarding culture with Harry, then why aren't they capable of getting used 
to British culture? - Would be my question to scholasitc.  Maybe if someone 
outside of scholastic were to taunt them saying, "Canadians can do it, what 
makes you think Americans can't?" would have changed their mind because now 
it is a question of pride which I believe is a weak spot.  I think he 
totally misjudged the capabilities of the American public because the way I 
see it, there isn't that much of a difference between Canadians and 
Americans except that Americans present themselves as being unintelligent - 
maybe they are, I don't know, but I doubt they are _that_ stupid - and maybe 
Canadians are a little more reserved.

        Anyway, what I loved most about the book was the fact that it was 
British.  In some cases, I had to laugh because the characters seemed so, 
so, British!  (It is a good thing, for those who might take offense if not 
otherwise told so.)  I liked finding out the way they refer to certain 
things in Britian (or at least England) just like I loved finding out that 
Americans have differen't words for things like 'pop' in Canada on a cruise 
I went on.  The poor boy I was talking to mistook me for saying 'pot', as in 
the drug, until he realised I was pointing to my drink!  The books being 
written in British slang and taking place in Britain made it all the more 
believable for me and made me more excited about going there.  I've always 
wanted to travel to Britain (namely England) and the books gave me one extra 
reason to go!  Now, to come up with the money...ha ha!  (I'm only in Grade 
11 by the way.)  

I also liked seeing it written with the " 'u' spice " in 
the word 'flavour'.  It's my little pet-peeve.  I can't understand why 
Americans would drop the 'u' in flavour.  It just doesn't look right!

~Chappnee,

-who thinks colour should be spelled with a 'u' too but thinks 'program' 
should be left with only one 'm' and no 'e'.  :)


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