The Italian edition of Harry Potter underwent extensive revision in 2011. Preview the differences by comparing a text sample in this post!
A brief look at the revisions to Harry Potter in Italian
“P for Prefect!” Molly Weasley gets in on the joke!
In English, "Prefect" and "Percy" both begin with "P." So how is Fred's tease treated in languages that don't use the word "prefect"? In some cases, Molly gets in on the joke.
Harry Potter in the Classics: How Latin and Ancient Greek Captured a 20th Century Setting
Find out how the Latin and Ancient Greek translations of Harry Potter deal with modern technology, the wizarding world, and modern culture.
Japanese book art in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Find out how an American lawyer ended up doing the illustrations for the Japanese edition of Harry Potter. Then take a look at some of his work!
Gringotts Break-In: Catalan newspaper clippings
In Catalan, the Daily Prophet's article on the Gringotts break-in reads a bit more like an actual newspaper article.
The Sphinx’s Riddle: Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Icelandic
The Sphinx's riddle in Harry Potter and the Goblet of First is tough to translate. How's it handled in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese?
The Big Reveal: the rare Uyghur translation of Harry Potter I just got my hands on…
For weeks, I've been teasing other collections about this rare and fascinating book. Now it's time to unpack it!
Harry Potter in a made-up language? The Esperanto translation!
Esperanto is the only language Harry Potter has been translated into that's completely made up (like Elvish and High Valyrian)! So what's it like?
A tale of trolls and goblins: the Low German “Puk” in Harry Potter
Translation is a powerful tool, and even the smallest subtleties can create big differences in a story. Take a look at this case from the Low German translation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, where a connection is drawn between stupid trolls and the clever-faced goblins.
Low-resource languages: what they are and why they matter
Every so often, I like to talk about low-resource languages. They're a matter of particular importance in today's tech world and, for me, the topic is especially important in terms of expanding access to vital information throughout the world. So today I want to discuss a little bit about what low-resource languages are, why they... Continue Reading →