book differences

[rowen_lm]

No: HPFGUIDX 40236

Rosie wrote:
>>I am British but I remember how much I used to like reading books 
with American words in when I was younger and trying to understand 
what they meant. I have just been listening to the American talking 
books version (Listening Library) and... it just doesn't sound 
right... come on, "Curse of the Boogers"? Owl Mail? I also have to 
say that whoever reads them is nothing on Stephen Fry. Get the 
Stephen Fry tapes, they're really really good.<<

>>I mean, looking that that Lexicon differences list... was it 
*really* necessary to change "Mummy" to "Mommy"? or "Happy Christmas" 
to "Merry Christmas"? It sounds as weird to me as reading an American 
book where all the characters, including the NY taxi driver - sorry 
cab driver - speak in obscure British public school (sorry, private 
school) and Lancastrian slang....<<

Actually, I quite like the Jim Dale American book-on-CD's. I think he 
does quite a good job. I do have to admit that I like to read the 
British versions (went there in person and bought a set) because of 
the slang. It sounds about as strange to me as American slang does to 
you. But still, the books have not been fully Americanized. When I 
read them, the characters still sound British. Even with the slang 
changed, they don't sound like Americans. Has to do with word order 
and choice of adjectives. But anyway . . . .

I do wish they hadn't changed some of the minor slang like Happy 
Christmas and Mum, but it was definetly necessary to change things 
like jumper. That would have lost quite a few "dumb Americans." lol

>>Incidentally, were any Americans (as a nation) insulted that the 
American publishers thought no one would buy it if it had the 
word "Philosopher" on the cover, hence the change to Sorcerer's Stone?
<<

I am extremely insulted by it. Everything over here gets "idiot 
proofed" when it's imported. You should see the mangled versions of 
Japanese anime we get. It's doubly bad since it's a "children's book" 
since apparently American kids are only slightly more intelligent 
than slugs. For example, almost all anime shows (since they are 
cartoons and therefore only kids like them) are editted to include so 
little of the actual plot and backstory that they barely make sense! 
And then they cut out anything mildly objectionable (i.e. a 4th 
grader having a crush on her teacher). It's annoying and insulting. 
Gah! Don't get me started on it. I swear, I'll start my own 
publishing company and do things right!!! Grrrrr . . . . I hate 
American editors! *needs to go cool off now*

Rowen Avalon