harry potter (i always wanna type happy rotter) fans r/o/p
- Thread starter orodwen
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moonrevel
Well-known member
Are you referring to the fact that it says "Philosopher's Stone" instead of "Sorcerer's Stone?" If you are, this is one of my favorite stories relating to Harry Potter, so I will tell it.
The original title of the book in the UK was "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." Thinking that we fragile Americans would not appreciate it because we don't find philosophy interesting (for whatever reason...though legend identifies the stone which could make the elixir of life as a philosopher's stone) or particularly exciting, they made the American title something Americans would be more interested in, namely sorcery. Any scene in the movie which mentioned the stone had to be shot twice: once for the UK version saying "philosopher's" and once for the US saying "sorcerer's."
The original title of the book in the UK was "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." Thinking that we fragile Americans would not appreciate it because we don't find philosophy interesting (for whatever reason...though legend identifies the stone which could make the elixir of life as a philosopher's stone) or particularly exciting, they made the American title something Americans would be more interested in, namely sorcery. Any scene in the movie which mentioned the stone had to be shot twice: once for the UK version saying "philosopher's" and once for the US saying "sorcerer's."
mspixieears
Well-known member
I always wondered, why the hell IS that? That the US gets a different title and the rest of the world gets the 'real' title? Is it to do with copyright laws?
A few of my HP-liking friends had a theory that it was because the US readers couldn't pronounce 'philosopher', all in good fun of course! But if anyone does have a proper answer, I'd like to know.
A few of my HP-liking friends had a theory that it was because the US readers couldn't pronounce 'philosopher', all in good fun of course! But if anyone does have a proper answer, I'd like to know.
moonrevel
Well-known member
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They just really thought that we wouldn't be impressed by philosophy enough to appreciate the title. That sounds dumb, but that's pretty much what it boiled down to. I guess the rest of the world would be awed by the use of philosophy and Americans would be like "To hell with that philosophy crap!" I don't know about other countries (but I am pretty sure it's different, at least in continental Europe), but here most young kids (particularly in public schools) don't really learn about or read any philosophy save for one class which they find to be torture in college. Not that they learn about sorcery either, but they at least know what that is! I know I'm making a gross generalization about Americans (but I am one, so it's okay!), but I would have to agree that if you gave a little kid here a book with the word "philosopher" in the title, they'd probably look at you like you're from Mars.
| Originally Posted by mspixieears I always wondered, why the hell IS that? That the US gets a different title and the rest of the world gets the 'real' title? Is it to do with copyright laws? A few of my HP-liking friends had a theory that it was because the US readers couldn't pronounce 'philosopher', all in good fun of course! But if anyone does have a proper answer, I'd like to know. |
They just really thought that we wouldn't be impressed by philosophy enough to appreciate the title. That sounds dumb, but that's pretty much what it boiled down to. I guess the rest of the world would be awed by the use of philosophy and Americans would be like "To hell with that philosophy crap!" I don't know about other countries (but I am pretty sure it's different, at least in continental Europe), but here most young kids (particularly in public schools) don't really learn about or read any philosophy save for one class which they find to be torture in college. Not that they learn about sorcery either, but they at least know what that is! I know I'm making a gross generalization about Americans (but I am one, so it's okay!), but I would have to agree that if you gave a little kid here a book with the word "philosopher" in the title, they'd probably look at you like you're from Mars.
orodwen
Well-known member
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funny thing is, i'm born & raised american & say "mum".
i've always said i've been raised in the wrong country....won't know for sure until i get to experience life away from the US but that's a tagent for another day.
| Originally Posted by persey In the first book, a lot of the "English" was translated into "American," the worst example being that Harry referred to Lily as his "Mom." Ouch! At least they stopped doing that in the later books. |
funny thing is, i'm born & raised american & say "mum".
orodwen
Well-known member
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thanks.
i wish they hadn't done that (changed the wording, etc.) but i appreciate you filling me in on that tidbit.
| Originally Posted by moonrevel Are you referring to the fact that it says "Philosopher's Stone" instead of "Sorcerer's Stone?" If you are, this is one of my favorite stories relating to Harry Potter, so I will tell it.
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thanks.
