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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 :)

5 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...

  3. 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...

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

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