Harry Potter is Funny: Translating Humour and Character Voice.

Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer)Articlepeer-review

Abstract

In 2003 the highlight of the International Federation of Translators conference was their UNESCO Literary Translators Committee Round Table devoted to the translators of J.K. Rowling’s work as contributors to her popularity. This round table raised several issues, in particular cultural boundaries and contractual constraints set by Warner Bros. A major concern seemed to be the pressure for speed translation. The phenomenon of online translation has become a threat for publishing companies. Pirate translations are produced much faster, as they are done by several unqualified translators. Their quality often leaves a lot to be desired, but a text offered as a translation is readily acknowledged as accurate (Toury, 1995: 26). Harry Potter (hereafter HP) fans are eager to read the new book and the abundance of these online translations has made readers aware of the process of translation and critical of the translator’s decisions, as Klaus Fritz, the German translator, has declared. Máire Nic Mhaoláin, the Irish translator, explained when I interviewed her: ‘An older girl from secondary school […] was very positive but she did have a few negative points […]. She didn’t like the fact that Hagrid spoke perfect grammatical Irish’.
Original languageEnglish (Ireland)
Pages (from-to)17-23
JournalBulletin Of Spanish Studies
VolumeVida hispanica Spring 2012
Issue number45
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2012

Authors (Note for portal: view the doc link for the full list of authors)

  • Authors
  • Pilar Alderete - Diez

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