lexical answers (was Re: OoP: half way through; a few comments (minor spoilers))

[psychic_serpent]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "Kaitlin" <ReinaKata02 at y...> 
wrote:
> I will add some spoiler space to answer your questions...~Kaitlin
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> "plumeski" wrote:
> > "Library?", suggested Katie Bell after a few moments.
> > "I can't see Madam Pince being too chuffed with us doing jinxes 
> > in the library", said Harry.
> > 
> > ...
> > 
> > As far as I'm aware, this usage of "chuffed" is peculiarly 
> > British, and I doubt the US edition would have included it...
> 
> *Actually, the US version does use "chuffed," as well as a number 
> of Other British words--Blimey, jumper, mum (rather than "mom"), 
> mate, and "taking the mickey," whatever that means...

Yes, my daughter noticed the Britishisms right away.  I think I 
didn't notice at first because I've become accustomed to reading the 
British versions, but my UK copy is still winging its way to me, so 
I weakened and bought a US version.  "Mum" was actually used in all 
previous US editions, so that's nothing new, and things 
like "chuffed" appeared too (particularly in the twins' dialogue, 
which was always the most bursting with vernacular).  I noticed Ron 
calling Harry "mate" which I don't recall from either the previous 
US or UK versions; I think that's more a matter of them getting 
older, doing what they hear older people doing, and also feeling 
closer to each other.  The first thing I noticed was, very early in 
the book, "trainers" being used for "sneakers."  In fact, except for 
the Philospher's/Sorcerer's Stone change, I had the impression that 
the only changes made for the US audience were spellings, 
like "favorite" for "favourite."  There weren't even grammatical 
changes; the US version has "Gryffindor are" instead of "Gryffindor 
is."  Nice to see this.  A pity she didn't have the clout way back 
when to adequately protest the change of PS to SS.  I thought I'd 
heard her say that she wanted few changes for the US version this 
time around.  That's something I liked.  There were actually quite a 
lot of things I liked, although a load of things I didn't.  That'll 
have to wait....

--Barb