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SEPTEMBER 9, 2003 at 9:12 PM
Posted by JAMES
Source: GreeceNow via RupertGrint.net
British publishing house Bloomsbury recently announced plans to translate
the entire Harry Potter series into ancient Greek and Latin, fueled by their interest in luring more to study these classic languages and encouraging existing students to assert their learned skills.
Bloomsbury realizes that the translation will not top any best-seller list, but hopes to create a fun avenue for students to improve their fluency.
Emma Matthewson, Rowling's editor at Bloomsbury, told the Daily Telegraph: "We aren't under any illusions that Latin and Greek will be best-sellers but we think that it will mean much more fun lessons for anyone studying Latin and Greek."
Rowling, a former classics student herself is enthusiastic about the project and admits the books are littered with references to Greek mythology.
Fluffy, the three-headed dog that guards the philosopher's stone and can only be wooed with music, is inspired by Cerberus, wooed by Orpheus with his lyre so that he can enter the underworld.
Ancient Greek and Latin will join the list of 40 languages into which the books have been translated.
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Points: 363
Hedwig says:
That's very cool. I already bought the first edition of Philosophers Stone for my brother who speaks Latin.
Posted Sep 9, 2003 at 9:23 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1193
Godric11 says:
I think it's great how there is so much put into the Harry Potter series for everyone to enjoy.
Posted Sep 9, 2003 at 9:31 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 333
HarryPotterNutcase says:
Cool, if I actually spoke Latin or Greek I would check it out...but I can't :-P
Posted Sep 9, 2003 at 9:46 PM EST
Witch
Points: 712
harryroxmysocks says:
Thats so cool. I wish I could read them, but I cant.
Posted Sep 9, 2003 at 10:41 PM EST
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
Very very cool! Does anyone know if there are other "childrens" books out there published in 40 different languages? I have never heard of it before, but I could be wrong. Once again, HP transcends the bounds of modern word and becomes it's true self - a classic - written in a classic language!
Posted Sep 9, 2003 at 10:59 PM EST
Witch
Points: 742
TigerEyez says:
I can understand some french but not a lot. I love how she uses images like Fluffy to allude to famous myths and/or stories.
Posted Sep 9, 2003 at 11:13 PM EST
Witch
Points: 576
Chandra80D says:
Neat-o =)I wish I could speak a different language, but - oh well. I may buy it - just to have it.
On another note, is Emma a very popular name in Europe - I see it a lot.
Posted Sep 10, 2003 at 10:42 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1068
Penumbra says:
It´s great to read that Hp is being translated in so many language and that everyone will have the chance to read it. This highlights again the great impact that HP books have. Harry is globalized and of course he RULES!
Posted Sep 10, 2003 at 12:10 PM EST
Student
Points: 204
Bryak says:
As long as there are people out there to buy them, I see no problem with it. I will probably buy the Latin editions and finally put those 14 years of catholic education to some use.
Posted Sep 10, 2003 at 1:12 PM EST
Student
Points: 257
witch_hazel says:
Cool, that's good. I mean, well I didn't read the article properly but it's cool.
Posted Sep 10, 2003 at 1:58 PM EST
Student
Points: 272
Yvain says:
*happy dance* I must get my hands on the Latin editions! I think this could be a wonderful way to encourage people to study ancient languages and classical cultures. Studying them, in turn, gives one a greater appreciation, and deeper understanding, of English, or whatever language one speaks. I learned more about grammar in my two years of Latin classes than I did in my whole life's worth of English classes.
Posted Sep 10, 2003 at 2:45 PM EST
Witch
Points: 917
Slytherin_Punk says:
Cool. I really wish they would have british editions here in the usa cause i would really like to read it the way JKR writes it.
Posted Sep 10, 2003 at 4:45 PM EST
Metamorphmagus
Points: 37946
tonks black says:
thats cool. I didnt even know there was 40 languages.
Posted Sep 10, 2003 at 5:03 PM EST
Head House Elf
Points: 2756
Dobby says:
Slytherin_Punk- i completely agree! I would also like to see the way JK writes it! O well, I may just get one in Spanish!
Posted Sep 10, 2003 at 5:21 PM EST
Witch
Points: 574
Tonks007 says:
I think thats xcool to bad i dont read greek or latin.
Posted Sep 10, 2003 at 5:37 PM EST
Witch
Points: 750
siriusgurl says:
Wow cool, too bad I'm too dense to ever learn latin or greek....
Posted Sep 10, 2003 at 5:53 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1826
snapelupinfan says:
I saw the Latin edition in a shop last week and looked at it. Well, I have to admit that it is obviously too long ago that I had to do some Latin-German translations! Very sad! But maybe these editions can be used in school...though I think the kids will get the translation out of their native language editions.
Posted Sep 10, 2003 at 5:59 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 603
Padfoot7 says:
Harry Potter and the revival of Renaissance Humanism! Hurrah!
Posted Sep 10, 2003 at 6:39 PM EST
Points: 7828
Rococoed says:
The revival of dead languages through Potter is an intriuging thing, but I thought Potter had been translated into fifty-five languages, as stated in a long ago article.
Posted Sep 10, 2003 at 7:28 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1990
HarrysGran says:
Pity, I already posted a comment on this yesterday, and then the connection broke. Dreadful, couldn't potter nothing yesterday.
I would love to get the Latin version. Though it's been ages ago since I studied it. But at school I would have loved it, better than Cesar's de bello gallico. I'm pretty curious how much I will understand nowadays, but I fear it won't be much.
Posted Sep 11, 2003 at 9:04 AM EST
Witch
Points: 684
Malakite says:
That is a FANTASTIC idea! And everyone should have already known that JK Rowling based a lot of her writing on mythology. She loosly used a lot of different characters and creatures - she HAD to! If she wanted to make it seem plausible, anyway. It doesn't surprise me at all that she was a student of the classics. It would have surprised me if she hadn't been.....
If you are going to use Harry Potter for something, use it to promote good things..... Like learning, reading, learning other languages.....
Posted Sep 12, 2003 at 11:23 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1645
morgana witch says:
Cool. My mom speaks Latin, maybe I'll get it for her. Or I could add it to my colletion of foreign Harry Potter books!
Posted Sep 12, 2003 at 4:27 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 463
Madam Hooch says:
I might try to read it in Greek! A new language I can learn. Who knows, it might be understandable! (you just have to learn the new alphabet!)
Posted Sep 16, 2003 at 7:41 AM EST
Witch
Points: 574
Tonks007 says:
Thats really cool i am takeing latin so maybe ill get the book to see if i can ready it moslikly not but oh well.
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 3:01 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1106
Ima Quidditch Fan says:
Now it is really a classic!
Posted Sep 29, 2003 at 11:54 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1086
DRU587 says:
Thats so awesome that they are translating them into ancient Greek and Latin. I can't speak either but if Ic ould I would so get one. It would be really entertaining. I've tried to read the french hp's before but it was too difficult. oh well.
Posted Jul 3, 2004 at 1:20 PM EST
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