GOF: US Murder vs UK Curse

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 88095

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Berit Jakobsen" <belijako at o...>
wrote:
> bboy_mn wrote:
>  ... person who has the UK edition quote me ..., so that I can see 
> the difference ... and see if that clears up the true meaning ...?
> > 
> > --- Quote Goblet of Fire - Am Ed - HB - pg 10 ---
> > "My Lord, I must speak!" said Wormtail, panic in his voice now. 
> > "..., if *I* (my emphasis) murder --"
> > 
> > "If?" whispered the second voice. "..., the Ministry need never
> > know that anyone else has died. ..., one more death
> > and our path to Harry Potter is clear. ..."
> > 
> > --skipping a section--
> > 

 
 
> Berit replies:
> 
> Why on earth has the American Edition been "translated" that way? It 
> sure makes no sense at all :-) Here's what Rowling wrote (UK Ed):
> 
> Quote:
> [Wormtail speaking:] "'..., if I curse...'
> 
> [Voldie answers] '..., the Ministry need never know that anyone else
> has disappeared ..., one more obstacle removed and our path to Harry
>  Potter is clear. ...'"
> 
> [and then Voldie again, p. 16:]"'One  more curse ... my faithful 
> servant at Hogwarts ... Harry Potter is as good as mine, Wormtail. It 
> is decided.'"
> 
> Makes sense, doesn't it? Sounds like Voldemort is talking about 
> cursing the new DADA teacher at Hogwarts, Mad Eye Moody, ...
> 
> Berit

bboy_mn:

What on earth could the US publishers have been thinking? I can only
concluded that they didn't understand at all what they were reading,
because the original UK version makes perfect sense. 

One nitpick, while the 'curse' could be the curse they used to get
Moody, it could have also been the curse they used to incapacitate
Crouch Sr so the could get Junior, then they could use Barty Jr, to
help them get Moody.

In my mind, it's about equal for either one, although there is the
line '...I am not asking you to do it alone. By that time, my faithful
 servant will have joined us-...', that seems to imply that the Crouch
Sr/Jr situation will aready be taken care of, so perhaps, if that
interpretation is correct, then capturing Moody seems to be the only
thing left. 

Hummmm... the more I think about it, the more, I think you might be
right. The 'list' at the end appears to be a summary of the plan or
more accurately a planned sequence of events; first, the curse and
that curse leads to his 'faithful servant' at Hogwarts, and his faith
servant at Hogwarts leads to Harry Potter being his; capture Moody,
substitute Moody, capture Harry.

That is a lot easier sequence of events to conclude using the UK
edition, than it is using the USA edition. I'm very glad that they
have kept the 'translation' to a minimum in the current book, and
hopefully, they will continue with minimum possible changes to future
books. 

It wouldn't bother me at all if they didn't make any changes.
Certainly most intelligent people including kids can figure out the
meaning from the context. 

One change that I am aware of in the latest book, is someone tells
Harry to 'keep his pecker up'. In the context of the statement, it is
obvious that they are offerring Harry encouragement. Pecker in British
slang refers to courage, and is an indirect reference to the heart;
like saying 'take heart' or 'be strong'. 

That would have certainly cause of few giggles in grade schools and
middle schools, but that wouldn't have distracted people from the real
intent of the statement.  

Thanks for the help.

bboy_mn