Changes in the Harry Potter Books
Here's a list of the changes between the British and American versions of the first Harry Potter book, the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone, which I got off the forums of the ign filmforce site, a great movie news site with message boards full of cool people... Anyway, it's interesting to see what it is they thought Americans wouldn't be able to handle... Read on!
UK Edition US Edition
9 lot / bunch 4
And now it's time, naturally, for my opinion on the matter, free of charge! (At least I waited until after the information to begin my rambling this time...) Now, some of these changes may truly have been necessary for a proper understanding, with the popular example being "jumper." (Also "a bag of crisps" may have been a strange image: charred bits of burnt stuff? in a bag? why...?) But there are others that most people probably would have figured out that would have maintained a neat British flair, which would have been better. There are even some that seem overly excessive (Mum? What's that? Oh, MOM! And who would have guessed that a sweet-shop was a candy shop?) and a tad underestimative of our American youth. The ones I most object to, though, are the ones that dull the meaning and magic behind the words... For instance, cellotape. Cellotape is the typical tape brand in Britain, like Scotch tape in America. Knowing this makes the fact that wizards use Spellotape a lot cooler... And I truly think kids could have figured it out... Thus my overall verdict is that most of it didn't need to be done, and I'm glad they're changing less as the books continue...
As usual, e-mail your thoughts on the matter to me if you like at dragonfyre52@hotmail.com
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Page, Word or Phrase / Word or Phrase, Page
9 the baker's opposite / the bakery 4
10 shan't / won't 6
13 sherbet lemon / lemon drop 10
16 dustbin / trashcan 14
16 motorbike / motorcycle 14
19 bobble hats / bonnets 18
19 cooker / stove 19
19 roundabout / carousel 18
20 punch-bag / punching bag 20
20 sellotape / scotch tape 20
21 cine-camera / video camera 22
21 mummy / mommy 21
21 video recorder / VCR 22
22 cinema / movies 22
23 bobbles / puff balls 24
23 fringe / bangs 24
23 glove puppet / hand puppet 24
23 jumper / sweater 24
23 sellotaped / taped 24
24 beetroot / beet 25
24 bins / trash cans 25
24 ice lolly / ice pop 26
29 comprehensive / public school 32
29 letter-box / mail slot 33
29 post / mail 33
30 holidaying / vacationing 34
34 toilet / bathroom 40
35 a sharp turning / a sharp turn 41
35 motorway / highway 41
35 video / VCR 41
36 multi-storey car park / multilevel parking garage 43
37 packet of crisps / bag of chips 44
42 have a place / have been accepted 51
42 mum / mom 50
43 Dear Mr Dumbledore, / Dear Professor Dumbledore, 52
52 notes / bills 65
52 set books / course books 66
53 hamburger bars / hamburger restaurants 68
54 gummy / toothless 68
61 football / soccer 79
67 next day / the next day 89
68 trolley / cart 90
78 bogey-flavoured / booger-flavored 104
83 trainers / sneakers 110
91 ...three people left to be sorted. 'Turpin, Lisa' became. ...three people left to be sorted. "Thomas, Dean," a Black boy even taller than Ron, joined Harry at the Gryffindor table. / "Turpin, 122
93 jelly / Jell-O 125
98 queuing / lining up 131
101 Dear Harry, (it said in a very untidy scrawl) I know you get Friday afternoons off, Dear Harry, / I know you get Friday afternoons off, 135
122 pitch / field 164
124 football / soccer ball 167
124 rounders / baseball 168
127 jacket potato / baked potato 172
135 nobbled / clobbered 184
140 crumpets / English muffins 199
147 Happy Christmas / Merry Christmas 200
147 sweets / candy 201
150 a tea of / a meal of 204
152 disused / unused 207
161 Philospher's Stone / Sorceror's Stone 219
165 changing room / locker room 225
167 revision timetables / study schedules 228
168 One Hundred / One Thousand 229
175 dressing gown / bathrobe 240
175 teddy / the teddy 240
179 learns spells off by heart / learn spells by heart 246
179 revision / studying 245
181 Prof. M. McGonagall / Professor M. McGonagall 247
182 lookout / problem 249
193 on about / talking about 265
214 lavatory seat / toilet seat 296
214 sweet-shop / candy shop 296
217 quits / even 300
218 mad / crazy 302
219 barking / off his rocker 302
219 sweet-boxes / candy boxes 303
221 drawn / tied 306
222 came top of the year / had the best grades of the first years 307
