tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post4590415455276467754..comments2024-03-14T02:43:36.453-07:00Comments on Almost True: Sizzling sausages, tossers and trousers - Transatlantic translation.Keren Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13121027210783177857noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-2981745057117260872010-09-04T10:33:04.361-07:002010-09-04T10:33:04.361-07:00Honestly, I'm glad you didn't "Americ...Honestly, I'm glad you didn't "Americanise" it. That would be doing us American kids a disservice; they already let us be lazy in pretty much everything else, at least make us (them, I do it on my own) use our brains when reading a book that's still written in it's natural language!Sprintshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16042018290557186943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-44938838428354215922010-08-14T14:04:27.843-07:002010-08-14T14:04:27.843-07:00I have to admit that I'm a little bit flabberg...I have to admit that I'm a little bit flabbergasted that the reviewer took issue with the language. (Or that the reviewer somehow mistook Ashley to be Ellie's sister... I'm still trying to figure out how he made that mistake.) The idea that British works should be "translated" for American readers is, quite honestly, ridiculous. The exact same people asking for Americanized text would be mortified if the dialect was edited out of works by authors like Mark Twain. Although I'll admit that I didn't get every reference I certainly didn't see them as speed bumps. On the contrary, I think that the language lends authenticity to the story. <br /><br />Thanks for sharing this list. It was nice to see which ones I figured out through context clues and which ones I didn't get outright. My personal favorite: Naff. =)Bethhttp://haveyoureadit.blog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-24927113885574259912010-08-12T00:39:20.792-07:002010-08-12T00:39:20.792-07:00"Speed Bumps"???
Is it a race to finish ..."Speed Bumps"???<br />Is it a race to finish the book or what?<br />Honestly, some critics, reviewers, whatever really do feel the need to scrape out every crevice of negativity they can find.<br />Funny post Keren, nice one.R.R.Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17834582008567973188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-37388881291098540722010-08-10T05:00:44.243-07:002010-08-10T05:00:44.243-07:00Reading Linger and suddenly noticing the 'cris...Reading Linger and suddenly noticing the 'crisps' which should have been all-American chips made me think that the aim of good americanisation or anglicanisation is that it shouldn't be noticeable. I'm sure my eye skims over words like 'pavement' and 'chemist' in American books edited for the UK market, without even realising. But I think I'd prefer to read the original text and enjoy the differences.Keren Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13121027210783177857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-90148268242111885532010-08-10T04:49:16.622-07:002010-08-10T04:49:16.622-07:00Oh dear. I really feel like translating books real...Oh dear. I really feel like translating books really just emphasises how little publishers and so on think of teenagers. Especially American ones. Surely, it isn't that complicated within the context of the story?! <br /><br />..and I love your helpful list of translations there at the end. I could have used that 10 years ago!Michelle Fluttering Butterflieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08793681725475475156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-8132383330474660302010-08-09T13:30:07.954-07:002010-08-09T13:30:07.954-07:00OK, so now you've got me started... Different ...OK, so now you've got me started... Different words and phrases can be funny but what I find irritating is words that are almost the same. E.g. The Very Busy Spider has a pesty fly in it instead of pesky. Oranges have pits instead of pips. And an American would scarf down his food if he were very hungry instaed of scoff.<br /><br />P.S. I once said, 'don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs,' and the Americans present were visibly shocked. They didn't know what I meant but heard the word 'suck' and assumed it was very rude.Rachel Selbynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-53369340680517523162010-08-09T09:10:33.979-07:002010-08-09T09:10:33.979-07:00I think we would be more comfortable with American...I think we would be more comfortable with Americanism because we're subject to their culture more. I mean for goodness sake half the shows on TV are a product of America. So we are more apt to make translations. Asked my NY friend if I could use her mobile and she looks at me blankly would have been there all day if I didn't realize the mistake and said cell phone. Oh with trainers I think sneakers might be a better translation and the crisp, chips fries thing is just too funny.Toninoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-91172719088412057102010-08-08T20:42:49.485-07:002010-08-08T20:42:49.485-07:00Great list, and I have a few more translations, ha...Great list, and I have a few more translations, having been living in the US for eight years now, and been misunderstood constantly.<br /><br />Council estate= 'the projects'. Never singular. Unless you substitute 'the ghetto' which I would argue is different.<br />Semi-detached house= duplex<br />Rubbish tip= dump<br />Yes, fringe = bangs, and moves therefore from singular to plural. She has a fringe= she has bangs.<br /><br />I agree in principle that you shouldn't have to Americanis(/z)e, but in practice if you want to be understood (and sell lots of books!), it might be a good idea....Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05676986688599411947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-89936112033521516012010-08-08T16:30:20.762-07:002010-08-08T16:30:20.762-07:00@Fish I'm British and even I don't unders...@Fish I'm British and even I don't understand some of your references..<br />@Rachel American parents at the school my children went to in Amsterdam used to be surprised that we Brits would praise our children for being 'sensible.' We cracked up when they told their kids 'good job!' all the time...Keren Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13121027210783177857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-3786980374355436212010-08-07T14:15:55.197-07:002010-08-07T14:15:55.197-07:00I once mentioned to an American that my Dad used t...I once mentioned to an American that my Dad used to knock me up at 7 a.m. on a school morning... I don't think even we would say that now? <br /><br />My American friends also used to fall about laughing when I referred to the slightest positive thing as brilliant. However, when I offered to make coffee, that was awesome!<br /><br />NB. Never compliment an American's abode by calling it homely. Apparently this refers to people who you consider matronly or dumpy (as if we'd be so rude to say so!).<br /><br />I could go on...rachel selbynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-67713894928529211662010-08-07T06:46:43.873-07:002010-08-07T06:46:43.873-07:00Awesome post. Craig David - ha, forgot about him. ...Awesome post. Craig David - ha, forgot about him. I think you're right not to worry about it too much. Having a sense of place is so important. I get a lot of Americans sending me emails saying they love my blog even though they don't understand some of the references. <br /><a href="http://plentymorefishoutofwater.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">*Plentymorefishoutofwater - One Man's Dating Diary*</a>Plentymorefishoutofwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13082519518524749450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-86817892696778949352010-08-07T03:48:56.205-07:002010-08-07T03:48:56.205-07:00Aah...I'm reading Linger by Maggie Stiefvater ...Aah...I'm reading Linger by Maggie Stiefvater and I've just found a reference to bags of crisps. In Minnesota. They must have been anglicised.<br />The silly thing is that these 'crisps' appear to be Doritos, which are called tortilla chips in the UK. Not crisps.Keren Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13121027210783177857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-28077427117771124342010-08-06T23:04:11.322-07:002010-08-06T23:04:11.322-07:00I say zed too. I'm Canadian. Everything I know...I say zed too. I'm Canadian. Everything I know about British culture I've learned from Coronation Street! They fry sausages in a frying pan in the US. We fry Canadian back bacon in a frying pan ;-jJan Markleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317561950719847803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-76824263721082889242010-08-06T15:20:56.750-07:002010-08-06T15:20:56.750-07:00I knew it! Thanks Anne, and hurray for Middle Amer...I knew it! Thanks Anne, and hurray for Middle America.Keren Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13121027210783177857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-68292921956946918662010-08-06T09:35:54.462-07:002010-08-06T09:35:54.462-07:00"Kissing Ashley makes Ty's body sizzle li..."Kissing Ashley makes Ty's body sizzle like sausages in a pan, for instance.’"<br /><br />I apologize for this example, which reflects a provincial outlook on the part of the reviewe, who may not have ever lived outisde a major city or anywhere west of the Alleghenies/east of the Rockies.<br /><br />There's an entire brand of American link sausages called Little Sizzlers. They're not a niche product; they're made by Hormel! We have them every Thanksgiving for breakfast, and yes, they sizzle in the frying pan. It is an extremely apt reference and anybody who grew up in Middle America would get it.<br /><br />Cheez.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-43865662481399112062010-08-06T09:28:38.669-07:002010-08-06T09:28:38.669-07:00..or even anglicised..or even anglicisedKeren Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13121027210783177857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-90751932745235755942010-08-06T09:27:55.265-07:002010-08-06T09:27:55.265-07:00Thanks Anne!
Would love to hear about other writer...Thanks Anne!<br />Would love to hear about other writers' experiences of being Americanised or not.Keren Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13121027210783177857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-72138782351207200672010-08-06T06:03:41.764-07:002010-08-06T06:03:41.764-07:00Hi Keren. Stopping by again just to let you know I...Hi Keren. Stopping by again just to let you know I put an award for you on my blog.Anne M Leonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04547591113801578453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-33118708049063133692010-08-06T05:24:33.595-07:002010-08-06T05:24:33.595-07:00Heaven preserve us from Mid-Atlanticisms!
I can s...Heaven preserve us from Mid-Atlanticisms!<br /><br />I can see why the reviewer mentioned this, but I really don't see how Americanising a book set so convincingly in London would have worked. Anyway, it's never a bad idea to remind the young (or anyone else for that matter) that people do things differently elsewhere, that there <i>is</i> an elsewhere. I'm sure US readers can cope.Thomas Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12987047131104943571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-31908173563517724442010-08-06T03:07:08.818-07:002010-08-06T03:07:08.818-07:00The Hitchhiker's Guide books were fully Britis...The Hitchhiker's Guide books were fully British. I enjoyed reading them as a kid in Minnesota; when I moved to London later and had learned British English and its references I re-read them and enjoyed them that much more.<br /><br />"Philosopher's Stone" to "Sorcerer's Stone" is the worst offender!Dan Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-44038447775919448062010-08-05T15:00:40.980-07:002010-08-05T15:00:40.980-07:00I've just commented on the wrong page of this ...I've just commented on the wrong page of this blog, having to sign out of one and into another Google account confused me :-(<br />I like the very British feel of When I Was Joe, American spellings and phrases would have been very out of place, just 'wrong' and would have altered the feel of the book.Anne Fayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09995124999158583323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-47620832432705925962010-08-05T14:22:25.495-07:002010-08-05T14:22:25.495-07:00Really interesting post. Is this an issue that onl...Really interesting post. Is this an issue that only affects British books going to America? I can't think of any American written books that I've read that have been "Britished". As a teenager I used to love all of the linguistic differences in the American high school based books that I was reading.Jennihttp://junipersjungle.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-31935523337382277082010-08-05T13:33:06.893-07:002010-08-05T13:33:06.893-07:00Hah, love this, and all the editorializing (with a...Hah, love this, and all the editorializing (with a zee!) along with it! =)<br /><br />Though I agree with you--I hate the idea of books being "translated" for kids, especially books that have such a British feel such as yours.<br /><br />Few further thoughts...<br /><br />Yep, fringe is bangs. Fringe is one of those British words that still confuses me every time I see it.<br /><br />An American wouldn't say they're going to the toilet; it's rude. They always say bathroom (or powder room if over 50), and it's up to the listener to decide what they're going to do in there.<br /><br />Narked is confusing because in American English a narc is a Narcotics Officer (ie, someone who might arrest you for drug possession). Also, you can narc on someone.<br /><br />Underwear or panties. Panties being much more girly and lacy, of course.<br /><br />Naff is one of my favorite British words.<br /><br />I might print this list out and stick it on my fridge for further reference. =)Anne M Leonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04547591113801578453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616410914770011438.post-88086017605438043062010-08-05T12:55:14.699-07:002010-08-05T12:55:14.699-07:00Yes....well said, young lady. I accept all America...Yes....well said, young lady. I accept all Americanisms, when reading books set/written in the US of A, it is part and parcel of reading an Americanised novel. I do not feel I have to question any of it, so why is our style of living and writing being brought into question? Acceptance and vive la difference, as they say in the West Midlands, UK.Trish Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15129434101383026393noreply@blogger.com