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Harry Potter in German, not Czech

Posted by jamie on from the foreign-key dept.

The official translation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix into German is scheduled to hit shelves on November 8. But at the Harry auf deutsch site (here's Google's English), a community has sprung up to perform a distributed translation. Every volunteer works on five pages, with the aid of a Potter-specific dictionary, and after turning in a German version, works on the prose to ensure it reads smoothly. In an unrelated effort, some schoolboys who did a Czech translation and posted it to a private website have been sued by Albatros, the Czech publishing house who will have the official translation out in February. Looks like Harry is crushing more than the Hulk.

Oh, and please don't post spoilers, it's still too early :)

15 of 304 comments (clear)

  1. Whats the bet... by BluRBD!E · · Score: 5, Funny

    That the story is...er...altered to some degree by that fanbase translation? "Ouch stoßen mich nicht dort! Meine Esel bereits Hurts!" besagtes Harry. "OH- Harry kannte ich Sie immer war ein GANZ spezieller Junge!" geächzter Professor Dumbledore. "Hey geben das Weibchen mir etwas von diesem voldemort liebend!" squeeked Professor Flitwick. ;) Never trust the fans!

  2. Sounds quite vulger to me... by Wacky_Wookie · · Score: 5, Funny

    I mean a Hairy Artist who works in clay sure don't sound like a childrens story to me.

    At least he uses open source web browsers...

    1. Re:Sounds quite vulger to me... by Surak · · Score: 3, Funny

      At least he uses open source web browsers...

      Maybe they should've changed the title to Harry Potter and the Order of the Mozilla FireBird(tm)?

      --
      My journal has hot /. gossip.
  3. Re:No, she doesn't. Everyone knows it's Ron. by more+fool+you · · Score: 2, Funny
    are you sirius???

  4. How unreasonable! by Prince_Ali · · Score: 4, Funny

    You mean the publishing company that Rowling gave the right to translate and publish her work is suing someone who is releasing that is translating and publishing her work? How could they do that! Copyrights are evil! blah blah blah! [/slashbot impression]

    --
    Slashdotter are stupid and biased.
  5. Karma whoring (Re:Whats the bet...) by BabyDave · · Score: 5, Funny

    Babelfish translation:

    Ouch do not push me there! My donkeys already Hurts!" mentioned Harry. "Oh Harry I could do you was always a WHOLE special boy!" geaechzter professor Dumbledore. "Hey give me the female somewhat from this volume that place loving!" squeeked professor Flitwick
    1. Re:Karma whoring (Re:Whats the bet...) by BluRBD!E · · Score: 5, Funny

      That's really disturbing...considering I used babelfish to create the german text in the first place...

    2. Re:Karma whoring (Re:Whats the bet...) by kubalaa · · Score: 3, Funny

      whew, I was worried my ability to understand German was really slipping.

      --

      "If you look 'round the table and can't tell who the sucker is, it's you." -- Quiz Show

  6. Re:Wanted: English to Chinese translator by mikeophile · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh God, I wish I could have made it through watching Titanic without understanding the dialogue.

  7. Could someone translate the webpage? by Ben+Jackson · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't speak navy-blue text on grainy, dark background image.

  8. That's okay.... by LittleGuy · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'll wait until they translate it into the original Klingon.

    --
    Mod Karma -1: I sed bad wurds. If I cep my mouf shut, I wud be at riyses.
  9. Re:Wanted: English to Chinese translator by jeremyp · · Score: 4, Funny

    Chinese is the language spoken from BIRTH by the most people

    Wow! When my nephew was born, he couldn't speak any languages at all. He's already two, and he's only just getting the hang of English. How come Chinese babies are all so brainy?

    --
    All I want is a secure system where it's easy to do anything I want. Is that too much to ask ~~ Randall Munroe
  10. The best part so far: by Dr.+Kinbote · · Score: 3, Funny

    Harry steckte seinen Zauberstab rasch in seine Hose zurück und versuchte möglichst unschuldig dreinzublicken.

  11. Redundant by FurryFeet · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...or even the Shannara books.

    You had already mentioned Middle Earth.

  12. I want the Swedish Chef version! nt by nxs212 · · Score: 2, Funny


    nt