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message 1: by Anthony (new)

Anthony Farshaw | 120 comments This topic is especially for those whose mother language is not English and have read "Harry Potter" in both their own language and the original English version. I myself have read the Dutch translation, and it made me wonder if the translator must have hated certain characters, because sometimes the choice of how to translate a character's name seemed very bizarre.
To start with the "least offensive", Cornelius Fudge is called in Dutch "Cornelis Droebel". This is a pun on the inventor Cornelis Drebbel, and the word 'troebel', which means 'murky".
Things are getting weirder with Rufus Scrimgeour, who is called "Rufus Schobbejak". "Schobbejak" can be translated as 'scoundrel', 'crook', 'scumbag', etc. And even though Harry does not feel very much sympathy towards the Ministry of Magic, I don't think "Rufus Schobbejak" deserved a name suggesting he was an evil man. After all, he died because he chose not to betray Harry to Voldemort.
But the ones who had the worst were two of the Weasleys. I admit they are not my favourite characters either, but still they should be considered to be a part of the group of heroes. So it's very surprising that the name of Molly Weasley-Prewett was translated into "Molly Wemel-Protser". "Protserig" means 'gaudy', while a 'prutser' is a 'bungler'. Given that "Prewett" means 'brave', the translated Dutch name couldn't be more wrong! And finally, there is Ronald Bilius Weasley, whose name is translated into "Ronald Virus Wemel". I surely don't have to explain the meaning of the word 'virus'.

So, that makes me wonder, are there any other bizarre translations in other languages?


message 2: by Valkyrie (new)

Valkyrie Cain | 6 comments I don't know about bizarre translations, but I have watched bits and pieces of the movies in urdu, and was astonished to see that they had changed the wording of the spells completely. What is the point of that?


message 3: by Jenna (new)

Jenna Zayat | 101 comments I've seen screencaps of the Chamber of Secrets movie with subtitles of the Chinese (I'm pretty sure it's Chinese) language translated back into English, and I must say, they are hilarious. You can find them on buzzfeed if you search up "harry potter Chinese subtitles".

My personal favorite is when Lucius Malfoy introduces himself in Flourish & Blotts and the subtitles say: "Lois Malfroy"

Another good one is when Ron and Harry are flying the Ford Anglia to Hogwarts and the subtitles say "oh no, we must be flowing".

All I'm wondering is how do you get those translations? But it does make up for the humor.


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