[HPforGrownups] Re: Was US POA audio modified from UK or US print?

[Laura Ingalls Huntley]

No: HPFGUIDX 95319

> Potioncat:
> But what Scholastic did for the most part was to translate regional
> terms that often didn't have a context, or had a different meaning in
> the U.S.  When I was first introduced to Harry Potter, fairly young
> children were reading it. (4th and 5th grade) Even if they had wanted
> to and had looked up jumper or fringe, they wouldn't have found the
> meaning JKR intended. If fringe was used in context of hiding his
> scar, most kids would realize it was bangs. But if it just referred
> to him flattening his fringe, they might think his robes were
> decorated with fringe.

Changes like "fringe" ---> "bangs" and "jumper ---> "sweater", don't 
actually bother me that much -- as Shaun pointed out, they don't really 
have any cultural significance.  (Although I do think that most kids 
*are* capable of figuring out these words in context.)

The omission or change of words like "Wotcher" and other slang, on the 
other hand, *is* a major problem, in my opinion.  These little tidbits 
are what *show* the reader that Harry et. al. are indeed *English* -- 
not just American kids running about in an environment that we are 
*told* is England.

Of course, the change that disgusts me the most is "Philosopher's" ---> 
"Sorcerer's".  Sorcerer's Stone?!  What does that even *mean*?  It's 
utter nonsense, I tell you, and it *is* insulting.  Even though it 
could be argued that the average American 4th grader might not know 
anything about Alchemy, surely they're capable of *asking* an adult 
about it, right? *grumbles*

> Potioncat who wonders how many people would know what they would get
> if they were in a Southern store and asked for a poke?  Or how to
> order a milkshake in New England?

*peers curiously at Potioncat*  Er . . . I'm a born and bred Mainer, 
and I can't for the life of me figure out what you're talking about.  
We order milkshakes differently?  Milkshake means something different 
to the rest of the US?  *puzzled* For the record, a milkshake in Maine 
is basically ice cream that's been mixed up with milk, so that it can 
be drunk through a straw.

Actually, I just looked the word up on Merriam-Webster Online, and it 
seems that the ice cream is actually optional according to the 
technical definition.  Is that what you were referring to?  So . . . "a 
thoroughly shaken or blended drink made of milk" and "a flavoring 
syrup" . . . would that mean that, outside New England, regular 
chocolate or strawberry milk would be considered a "milkshake"?  *tilts 
head* How odd.

Just a guess: poke = bag?

Laura