Language in OOTP less Americanized?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 104474

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Marny Helfrich"
<marnyhelfrich at c...> wrote:
> Hello!
> 
> You all have inspired me to reread OoTP and although I am only a few
> chapters in (at the ministry of magic), I'm reminded of something I
> noticed the first time and I wonder what you know about it.
> 
> The language in this book (and I have the scholastic edition that 
> was available the first night, yes I went to the bookstore at 
> midnight) seems less "Americanized" that in the others.  Just in 
> what I have re-read today I have noticed "hosepipe," Ron calling 
> Harry "mate," and a reference to Harry's "fringe" (bangs).
> 
> I wonder if they were in such a hurry to get the book out that they 
> didn't take the time to change everything?
> 
> Apologies if this is a FAQ,
> 
> Marny

Asian_lovr2:

While I can't deny that being 'in such a hurry' didn't come into play,
I think it is more likely that they realized after four books the
readers were become more sophisticated and more familar with British
terms and expressions. Plus, there have actually been complaints since
the very beginning that the USA publisher was mucking up the story by
making too many changes. 

So, the lack of excessive 'translation' is a combination of things,
the greatest of which, I feel, is that it isn't needed any longer.

There are a few that could have cause some problems like Fred or
George saying he 'kept his peaker up' which was translated as 'kept
his spirit up' (OotP). In the UK 'peaker' means 'heart' which implies
good spirits or good mood. 

If they had left the orignal word in the book, as far as I'm
concerned, the worst that would have happened is alot of grade school
kids would have giggled and snickered. Although, I have to wonder if
kids today would even recognise the alternate slighly naughty meaning
of that word. 

For those here who don't know, it refers to a very private part of the
male anatomy. I believe one of the nicer equivalent slang terms in the
UK would be 'willy'.

Here is one I discovered the other day from Chamber of Secrets. Near
the beginning when Dobby and Harry are talking in Harry's bedroom,
Dobby says something that Harry doesn't understand, and the narrative
said that Harry was 'at sea'. In the USA version it says he was 'lost'
meaning he was clueless. 'At sea' might be a somewhat obscure
reference, but I think most moderately intelligent people would have
figured it out from the context.

Back to your point; I think it is a combination of a reduced need to
translate, and a desire on the part of the USA readers not to have
every little word or phrase changed.

For what it's worth.

Steve/asian_lovr2 (who is frequently 'at sea')