French Names WAS French Derivatives & Translation Issues

[mingarooni]

No: HPFGUIDX 40632

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "lupinesque" <lupinesque at y...> wrote:
<snip>
 
> I think the translators are right to work with the names for
exactly 
> the reason that they do contain puns or allusions that are 
> important.  It is never possible to translate all such levels of 
> meaning, playing on English words as they do, but Patmol is an 
> example of the translator giving it a shot.

It's been a month or so since I finished reading the books in French,
but some interesting things which I do remember: Tom Marvolo Riddle is
Tom Elvis Jedusor in French (because, of course, the acronym has to be
'Je suislord Voldemort').  This relates to Amy's post because there
are a couple of things which have added meaning in the French translation:
Voldemort being a Jedusor means that the Riddle house is known as 'la
maison' (=house) 'jeux du sorts' (sounds like Jedusor in French),
meaning games of chance or fate (or jeter un sort is to cast a magic
spell).

Also the Sorting Hat becomes Le Choixpeau Magique. Choixpeau sounds
like chapeau (hat) and choix means choice, I thought this was a
particularly clever play on words.

So yes, despite leaving some things out that they should have put in,
and being unable to translate all the wordplays, the translators do do
a very good job sometimes.

(Plus, and I'll probably get lynched for this :), but I didn't notice
Diagon Alley being a play on the word 'diagonally' until I read the
French translation!) 

and Nicole said:
>This makes me wonder if the company that translated the book from
>English into French used American or British translators.

Jean-François Ménard is probably fairly French I think :)
and for those of you who are interested, as I said in OT:

All the French covers and back covers (and a couple of other goodies)
are now here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/files/Graphics/Book-related%20G=
raphics/frenchhp/

(complete with Lockhart and Malfoy with black hair)(!!!)

and how cute is the French Harry?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/files/Graphics/Book-related%20G=
raphics/frenchhp/frenchhp.jpg

enjoy!

Belinda