# When translating works from British to American English, should the spellings be changed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 9, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092 "2010-07-09T13:33:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/41 "2010-07-11T03:26:56Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > I would hope we are smart enough to know what a lift is, no matter what colour it is. Not where I came from. And that example is an easy one. Never mind terms like “bonnet” and “boot.” The British meaning of “fanny” I only learned in recent years. As mentioned before, there is a Brit-owned bar named Fanny’s in the Soi Cowboy red-light district. All us Americans thought it meant one thing, the Brits knew it meant another. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/42 "2010-07-11T05:14:07Z")
I’m American, and I just now got that the Sorcerer’s Stone was supposes to be the Philosopher’s Stone. And, yes, I knew about that as a kid–through some sort of osmosis, I guess. (I have still never read the books. I avoided them when they were controversial here in the Bible Belt, and then just never got around to them.) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/43 "2010-07-11T06:29:03Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > The British meaning of “fanny” I only learned in recent years. As mentioned before, there is a Brit-owned bar named Fanny’s in the Soi Cowboy red-light district. All us Americans thought it meant one thing, the Brits knew it meant another. 😃 Reading this thread, I was curious to know what the British meaning of “fanny” was, and googling came upon [this website](http://www.effingpot.com/index.shtml) with a list of a bunch of Britishisms; interesting reading. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/44 "2010-07-11T13:11:28Z")
G K Chesterton, in his book _Chaucer_, discusses the translation problem – and that’s Chaucer’s English to modern English, not English to American. It’s always stuck with me. > [@](#): > > I believe in changing [the speech or spelling] as little as possible, and indeed only where the original is utterly unintelligible to an ordinary modern reader; or where (what is far worse) the accidental look of ugly unintelligible words makes a passage appear undignified, which in fact is full of dignity. … > > I think the very first line of _The Canterbury Tales_ presents the greatest difficulty of all. Many a modern reader may have been induced to try Chaucer, … and found “Whan that Aprille will his schowres swoote” a slight obstacle at the start. … I should be frankly inconsistent in dealing with the difficulties of that line. I should leave “Whan” (who would be such a fool as not to know that it meant “when”?) but I might in compassion alter “schowres” to “showers” lest the consonants be really misleading, and because the syllabification is just the same. I should put an accent on the second syllable of “Aprille” and the mark showing that the “e” is not mute. Finally, if I could not change “swoot” to “sweet” (because, curse it, it has to rhyme to root), I would put a foot=note to say that it is meant for sweet and pronounced more like “sooty.” He says that it is impossible to translate poetry (especially) from one language to another, but I think the same could be said of top-level prose. The change of a word changes the texture and flow. Applying his logic to translations from English to American, there is no need to change “colour” to “color” because anyone who can read can figure that out. There is a need to change “rubber” to “eraser” because of fear of misinterpretation. So, IMHO, translation needs to be handled carefully and delicately, not making changes unless the original would be misunderstood. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/45 "2010-07-12T01:20:40Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > It’s as if Scholastic changed all mentions of _centaurs_ to _horse-men_. Worse (IMHO). As you said, the concept of the powers of the Philosopher’s Stone predates HP so changing the name to something that doesn’t have the same meaning, but retaining the powers… they may have well called the centaurs “Wombles” and then still described them as chimerical human-horse hybrids, leading the reader to look like this: :rolleyes: 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/46 "2010-07-12T03:05:08Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > the Philosopher’s Stone predates HP FWIW, while I don’t think they really needed to change it, I think they were more concerned about it because it was the _TITLE_ than it’s use in the text itself. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/47 "2010-07-12T03:34:49Z")
> [@In\_Winnipeg](#): > > As usual, Canada is stuck in the middle on this. We use American terminology in a lot of cases – truck, elevator, parking lot, motorcycle, scotch tape, etc. (instead of lorry, lift, car park, motorbike, cellotape, etc.), but use British spellings – colour, labour, cheque, etc. (instead of color, labor, check). Well, in some cases. In others we use the American spelling, like “tire” instead of “tyre,” or “curb” instead of “kerb” - “airplane,” “aluminum,” and most words that end in “-ize.” And of course most American spellings are common and technically correct in Canada, at least according to the style guides. Indeed, that’s why I never understood why they changed the Potter books for the U.S. market. Canadians speak English that is 95% American; it is, one would assume, the terminology that would throw people off, not the spelling. No Canadian kid calls a sweater a jumper. So why did our kids seem to understand the Harry Potter books just fine? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/48 "2010-07-12T05:42:28Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > Maybe they just weren’t good off-the-top-of-your-head examples of what you were thinking of? No they weren’t, but unfortunately I haven’t had a chance to dig out my copy of the book to illustrate better what I’m talking about, other than English people tending sentences with _do_ and other words that Americans would end sooner. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/49 "2010-07-12T12:28:11Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > IIf somebody asks me “are you going to the movies later” and I was thinking about it but answer “I might”, whereas apparently in the UK it’s more likely answered “I might do” or “I might will”. Does anybody know what I’m referring to with this? They add a verb to the sentence where in U.S. English vernacular it’d probably not be there. It’s not ‘I might will’, it’s ‘I might well’, as in ‘I might well go to the cinema’, which is more likely to actually happen than if I just said ‘I might go to the cinema’. And ‘I might’ and ‘I might do’ are pretty much interchangeable. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/50 "2010-07-12T12:53:46Z")
> [@from\_a\_to\_z](#): > > I say to give the kids footnotes straight off. The US edition of “Trainspotting” comes with a glossary at the back that I found incredibly amusing. The idea of Americans having to look up Subbuteo tickled me. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/51 "2010-07-12T13:24:07Z")
> [@Meurglys](#): > > It’s not ‘I might will’, it’s ‘I might well’, as in ‘I might well go to the cinema’, which is more likely to actually happen than if I just said ‘I might go to the cinema’… Oh well done! I couldn’t imagine anyone ever saying “I might will” but once you have pointed out what was meant … well, it’s suddenly obvious. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/52 "2010-07-12T13:52:23Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > If somebody asks me “are you going to the movies later” and I was thinking about it but answer “I might”, whereas apparently in the UK it’s more likely answered “I might do” or “I might will”. Does anybody know what I’m referring to with this? They add a verb to the sentence where in U.S. English vernacular it’d probably not be there. The phrasing that always makes me re-read the sentence will have the structure “Now we have a hit children’s literary series, let’s meddle with it a little.” In American English, you’ll say “Now _that_ . . .” etc. ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/53 "2010-07-12T16:30:27Z")
The topic from the opposite side: I once read a British edition of a Nero Wolfe novel, and was startled momentarily when someone referred to the “kerb.” It didn’t work at all well with the New York City ambience. As an American, reading British translations of French novels can be jarring as well. I was reading Collette’s _The Vagabond_, and was again taken out of the moment when some ruffians in the audience started talking trash to the dancing girls in British slang. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/54 "2010-07-12T17:32:10Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > The thing that took me the longest to figure out when reading something in British Engish was that WC was an acronym for Water Closet which meant toliet. I was wondering why people were treating Winston Churchill like that. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/55 "2010-07-12T21:52:12Z")
> [@Monstera\_deliciosa](#): > > The topic from the opposite side: I once read a British edition of a Nero Wolfe novel, and was startled momentarily when someone referred to the “kerb.” It didn’t work at all well with the New York City ambience. > > As an American, reading British translations of French novels can be jarring as well. I was reading Collette’s _The Vagabond_, and was again taken out of the moment when some ruffians in the audience started talking trash to the dancing girls in British slang. I recall the book I proofread where a British author had an American Southerner saying something along the lines of “Don’t y’all worry youh pretty li’l ol’ heads, I can fix that with some aluminium foil.” Neal Gaiman once wrote a _Sandman_ story that took place in a redneck bar. He got the slang and accents just perfect, until someone went up to the counter and asked for a _packet_ of cigarettes. (In the US, they always say “pack.” Always.) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/56 "2010-07-13T04:35:27Z")
> [@Sam\_A.Robrin](#): > > I recall the book I proofread where a British author had an American Southerner saying something along the lines of “Don’t y’all worry youh pretty li’l ol’ heads, I can fix that with some aluminium foil.” > Neal Gaiman once wrote a _Sandman_ story that took place in a redneck bar. He got the slang and accents just perfect, until someone went up to the counter and asked for a _packet_ of cigarettes. (In the US, they always say “pack.” Always.) Alex Garland blew it in _The Beach_ when he had two Americans make refernce to “candy floss” instead of “cotton candy.” ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/57 "2010-07-13T07:29:23Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Except that Rowling called the title McGuffin the _philosopher’s stone_ in reference to a concept that far predates her work. Changing the name to _sorceror’s stone_ is a pointless and insulting dumbing down. It’s as if Scholastic changed all mentions of _centaurs_ to _horse-men_. Think the kids noticed or cared? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/58 "2010-07-13T12:25:20Z")
_I_, noticed and cared. I’ve known what the _Philosopher’s stone_ was since I was the age of her target audience. And I learned what it was from a work of fiction like hers. The folks at Scholastic deprived their audience of a teachable moment. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/59 "2010-07-13T17:48:12Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > _I_, noticed and cared. I’ve known what the _Philosopher’s stone_ was since I was the age of her target audience. And I learned what it was from a work of fiction like hers. The folks at Scholastic deprived their audience of a teachable moment. First, that wasn’t my point–I don’t care that you noticed or cared. Secondly, if you’re reading Harry Potter for the educational value, you’re doing it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092/60 "2010-07-13T18:01:29Z")
**Barchetta** , are you saying that dumbing-down is fine if it’s for children? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-translating-works-from-british-to-american-english-should-the-spellings-be-changed/546092.md?page=4)