Just how fond a friend you are is illustrated by the charming delusion expressed in your post! (That I *could* read HP to my kids in Russian). On a good day, I remember all of the letters and can read a very simple board book out loud. Not that I would - their nanny does that, with a far better accent!
I wish I could read HP in other languages so that I could compare translations. I have 2 of the books in Russian (PS and PoA), 1 in Spanish, German, Portuguese and Polish. Actually, for some reason I have 2 copies of PoA in Spanish. Not sure how that happened. Still, the only ones I can read are the French versions and even then my French is so rusty I need an English/French dictionary at hand.
I think russian translation is, well, how to put it? Very bad. I mean, they got better after book 4, but things like Neville taking Snape's place do not exactly show improvement.
Which is quite annoying to me, since I discovered that some of the books of my childhood and early youth were translated from English brilliantly.
Why they could not hire good translator is beyond me, especially since on Internet I saw russian translations of much better quality than the official one.
But I am telling you - new covers for russian edition are beatiful, so beatiful. I will do my best to restrain myself but when they hit new york stores, I know I may be tempted, seriously tempted.
I didn't have much of a choice on learning French, since it's required in school here. Still, most people I know who graduate from high school French can't read it very well, so I think I lucked out there.
Yes, it is quite annoying that they would produce bad translations, especially knowing that the books are popular and they'd make enough back to pay for the good translator!
New covers? They changed them or do you just mean for the later books?
Are you going to read them HP in russian next? ;)
On the other hand, don't ;))
Wait till better translation will be available and Neville will actually be teaching Herbology and not Potions.
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Always wanted to learn it and never got time.
I think russian translation is, well, how to put it? Very bad. I mean, they got better after book 4, but things like Neville taking Snape's place do not exactly show improvement.
Which is quite annoying to me, since I discovered that some of the books of my childhood and early youth were translated from English brilliantly.
Why they could not hire good translator is beyond me, especially since on Internet I saw russian translations of much better quality than the official one.
But I am telling you - new covers for russian edition are beatiful, so beatiful. I will do my best to restrain myself but when they hit new york stores, I know I may be tempted, seriously tempted.
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Yes, it is quite annoying that they would produce bad translations, especially knowing that the books are popular and they'd make enough back to pay for the good translator!
New covers? They changed them or do you just mean for the later books?
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http://www.snitchseeker.com/harry-potter-news/russian-adult-harry-potter-cover-art-55735/
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