Book differences

[corinthum]

No: HPFGUIDX 40262

Joyce wrote:

> These books are British books and I do not want to read Americanized
> versions of them.  JKR wrote them in a particular way.  They are
>based on a certain way of life, of looking at the world.  The
>references to British life and language are part of what I and my
>children love about the books.  It is insulting to believe that
>children can not adapt and learn new ways to learn a language they
may >think they already know.   I know that my children have certainly
>expanded their vocabulary by reading the books in the British edition.

JKR made the changes herself, though, didn't she?  In which case she
obviously didn't think the book was substantially changed simply by
changing a few words.  Although I agree that the changes may not have
been necessary, I am not offended by them (with the exception of
Philospher--> Sorceror, which was not changed due to language
differences).  The books were not "dumbed down" for the American
versions; they were simply translated.  In that respect, I don't see
that the American versions are any different from the Spanish/other
language (sorry, not exactly sure into which other languages they have
been translated; living in Miami I have seen only Spanish and
American) versions that have been published.  An unnecessary
translation for most, but not all younger children would have made an
immediate connection between a jumper and a sweater, or a cupboard and
a closet, for example, which do have rather different meanings in
British and American English.          

-Corinth