Re: Harry Potter in other languages

Bettina Price a écrit :
Dear all,

So I haven't been translating much over the last couple of years, but of course I can't stay away from languages entirely and have therefore started to do a French course. To ease myself along, I have started buying books in French that I already know in other languages that aren't too difficult, and ended up with the first couple of Harry Potters.
They were no problem to read as such. The only problems I've got is that I can't help second-guessing the translator. I thought turning the Sorting Hat into the Choixpeau was inspired, but I don't understand at all why he turned Snape into 'Rogue', Filch into 'Rusard' and Miss Norris into 'Miss Teigne'. I get the literal meanings of the words (I think), but I don't quite see the point.
And I really don't understand why the Snitch got turned into the Vif d'or - is there a pun I'm missing?


You need a fan of Harry Potter to answer your questions,
in the meantime, do you know this website?

http://www.cnrtl.fr/lexicographie/rogue

A "Rogue" is "une personne qui manifeste envers autrui
de la morgue, du dédain, du mépris". "Snape is
generally depicted as thoroughly cruel, unpleasant,
sarcastic, and bitter", sarcasm could explain it.

"Rusard" is a sly person, based on "rusé", you
need to be one to filch. (the ending "ard" is
often derogatory)

"Une teigne" is "une personne hargneuse et méchante",
doesn't that match Miss Norris character?

"Vif d'or", possibly because of "vif argent" (quicksilver)?

Bon courage with your French !


.

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