On the Translation Differences of Harry Potter in China

Since the publication of the first Harry Potter book in 1997, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series has been widely circulated in over 60 languages across the globe. In China, it has gone through numerous editions, receiving great acclaim both as a novel and as a film adaptation. The phenomenon even gave rise to a community of fans—known as "Harry Potter fans"—who don costumes from different Hogwarts houses, wield wands, recite special spells, and imagine themselves as part of the magical academy. They delve into the personalities of the characters within the books, such as the brave yet hesitant Harry, the clever and passionate Hermione, and the lovable, loyal Ron. Beyond the brilliance of the work itself, one cannot help but admire the translator's superb translation skills and literary prowess. In this essay, we will take the variations of Harry Potter in its Chinese editions as examples to analyze the remarkable aspects of its translation and explore how differing cultural contexts have influenced the portrayal of Harry Potter.

One character that leaves a strong impression is the "big guy" Hagrid. The original name "Hagrid" derives from an Old English word meaning "bad sleep," and Rowling describes him as someone whose love for alcohol leads to his insomnia. It is well known that literature in translation is influenced not only by political, economic, and cultural factors of the time but also by the specific characteristics of each country's culture. Translators often modify their translations to suit the realities of their home countries, reducing conflicts arising from cultural differences. While researching related knowledge online, I found that in the widespread dissemination of the Harry Potter series in mainland China, "local translators aim their content at children or young adults, without deliberately downplaying adult themes, while other publishers tend to favor more adult-oriented readings. Due to their differing translation policies, the market positioning of the translated texts varies." 

For instance, when comparing the translations of titles, the mainland version tends to focus on direct translations, such as "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," which directly names the theme of the entire novel. In contrast, another translation titled "Harry Potter: The Escaped Prisoner of Azkaban" adds adjectives to enhance the book's sense of mystery and pique readers' curiosity. Similarly, the phrase “Better people” is translated differently as "更强的人" (stronger people) and "更高竿的人" (higher caliber people), reflecting the cultural differences in understanding while maintaining the original meaning. This approach allows local readers to comprehend the text more readily, deepening their understanding of the original novel's themes and characters while maximizing the restoration of personality traits and significant plot points.

Some may feel that writing a good novel is no easy feat; authors pour their hearts and souls into perfecting each story, making them richer and more immersive for readers. However, for a work to be widely disseminated around the world, translators play an indispensable role, using a style distinct from the original to breathe new life into the characters for audiences in different countries.

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