Polkowski offered a creative solution to this problem, and enclosed a glossary of complex names and other terms at the end of his translation. Severus does not invoke severity, Longbottom is not funny, etc. Most of these names do carry some information, which ends up lost in the Polish version. The Polish translator of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Andrzej Polkowski, followed these guidelines, not translating the names of the main characters Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Voldemort, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Neville Longbottom, Argus Filch, and Draco Malfoy. If they are too foreign-sounding, his argument goes, they will pose too much of an obstacle for anyone to be interested in the book.
Most importantly, the names have to be “readable” and easy to remember. A set of guidelines for this situation proposed by Lincoln Fernandes in “Translation of Names in Children’s Fantasy Literature” suggests that names with a “fundamental role in creating comic effect and portraying characters’ personality traits” should be localized, while those that don’t carry the same weight can remain as they are.
Most translators of the series followed a mix of the two approaches. However, it can be argued that part of the charm and draw of the books is their “Britishness,” which would be lost in translation. Rowling’s liberal use of puns, connotation, acronyms, and other devices deliver information and laughs to the reader, but pose a huge problem for translators – leave the names as they are, so readers can participate in the global conversation about their favorite series (as of 2014, there are 680,000 pieces of Harry Potter fan fiction on ) or try to trans-create them into the target languages to convey as much of the nuance and color of the original as possible? If the names were translated, it would be easier for readers to relate to the characters. The unique trouble with the Harry Potter series is that many of the place and character names are invested with meaning. Translation of proper names in literature does not have any set rules, although in the majority of cases names are usually left as they are in the original. Translators face distinct challenges, and in the case of the Harry Potter series, must solve them with a captive worldwide audience. It takes a large amount of skill and research to undertake the task of translating fantasy literature while retaining the author’s original intent, a process known as transcreation. The books have been translated into over 70 languages, including Ancient Greek. The unique and clever proper nouns she invented for her characters and their world have since become part of the English speaker’s household vocabulary (“Muggle” was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2003). Rowling first got millions of children (and adults) rabidly interested in reading about the adventures of a young wizard. Doesn’t have quite the same ring to it? A rose by any other name might smell the same, but is Harry Potter by any other name as magical?Ģ0 years ago, J.K. So without further ado, I now present these 25 fan theories to you, for your reading enjoyment.Lithuanian Haris Poteris and his Dutch best friends Hermelien Griffel and Ron Wemel attend a French school for magic called Poudlard (“bacon lice”), get in trouble with the Dutch Severus Sneep, and receive medical attention from an Italian Madama Poppy Chips. So, I scoured the internet and used my immense Harry Potter knowledge and my eye for fan theories to pick out the greatest fan theories that were eventually confirmed/approved by J.K. There is nothing better than knowing that you were right! The best moment in the lives of any lifelong fan is when your favorite fan theory gets confirmed/accepted as canon by the author.
And sometimes, if we’re really lucky, these theories make their way across the world and end up getting noticed by the author themselves. They propose ideas, make connections, and develop these glorious and in-depth theories that add something special to a beloved body of work. These champions of the art of the fanatic are able to fill in the dots, close up plot holes, and make astounding connections that no one else (not even the author) ever considered before. But sometimes your average, every day readers notice or think of something that the author never did. Don’t get me wrong, Jo did an amazing job creating an intricate, fulfilling, and beautiful world.
Rowling has created for us, I have to say that sometimes I find myself being drawn to the things that fans, amateurs, and everyday folks, like you and me, have to say about the world more interesting than the established canon.