good reading
I am presently reading the first Harry Potter book in Spanish. One, because I like the story and , two, because I figured it would be good practice. I was once told that a lot of translations of novels aren't very good. I'm afraid that my own Spanish skills aren't good enough to judge the quality of the Spanish that I am reading. Could any of you really fluent Spanish speakers who have read the Harry Potter series in Spanish give me your opinion of them? As well could you suggest any other good reading in Spanish? I am thinking fiction; on the lighter side.
7 Answers
I started with these books. I read 1-7 excepting 3. My local library stocked 4 of the titles. I think they were all Salamandra, but there were 3 different translators involved with the copies I read. Some used vosotros, others not.
I can't comment on the quality of the translations but I would say that as they are rather straightforward adventure stories there shouldn't be too much that would be open to misunderstanding -no clever use of words, irony, or hidden depths to the narrative. This is one reason that I think they are a good place to start reading Spanish. Also if you are familiar with the films and characters already you don't have to look up every word.
Here is their website:
Let me just look in the front cover...Barcelona. The vosotros throws me off. But not that big of a deal.
lazarus1907 said:
James Santiago said:
Really? Why would Rowling allow different translations? A translator must obtain permission to publish a translation, and I'm sure a book as popular and profitable as this would have tightly controlled translation rights, with the best literary translators in the world competing for the rights. The company Salamandra is apparently in charge of the official translations.
You're probably right. I keep forgetting how "important" J. K. Rowling is for most people. Do you know where is this Salamandra company based?
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Yes, Salamandra is the company who did the translating. As much as I had been warned about bad translations; according to this person, of anything not originally written is Spanish. I had figured the same thing; that a book this popular would be very professionally done. Any other suggestions for my reading list?
James Santiago said:
lazarus1907 said:
Read the Harry Potter series in Spanish translated by whom? They are likely to have been translated by many people for different publishing houses.
Really? Why would Rowling allow different translations? A translator must obtain permission to publish a translation, and I'm sure a book as popular and profitable as this would have tightly controlled translation rights, with the best literary translators in the world competing for the rights. The company Salamandra is apparently in charge of the official translations.
>
James Santiago said:
Really? Why would Rowling allow different translations? A translator must obtain permission to publish a translation, and I'm sure a book as popular and profitable as this would have tightly controlled translation rights, with the best literary translators in the world competing for the rights. The company Salamandra is apparently in charge of the official translations.
You're probably right. I keep forgetting how "important" J. K. Rowling is for most people. Do you know where is this Salamandra company based'
lazarus1907 said:
Read the Harry Potter series in Spanish translated by whom? They are likely to have been translated by many people for different publishing houses.
Really? Why would Rowling allow different translations? A translator must obtain permission to publish a translation, and I'm sure a book as popular and profitable as this would have tightly controlled translation rights, with the best literary translators in the world competing for the rights. The company Salamandra is apparently in charge of the official translations.
Read the Harry Potter series in Spanish translated by whom? They are likely to have been translated by many people for different publishing houses.
