Standing in line at Powell’s Books I heard the following:
“Is this the British or the American version?”
“The American,” said the Powell’s Lady and handed back the Harry Potter book. When it was my turn to pay for Sasquatch by Roland Smith (great grade book for any kid around 7 or 8) I asked about the difference between the American and British versions of the Harry Potter books and was told that the American versions have substituted the British lexicon with words used in the US. So, here in America, Harry and friends run around wearing their sweaters while in the original version they wear jumpers.
Why do we underestimate our readers? Are we wasting an opportunity to broaden language and cultural horizons in American children?
¿Judías verdes, ejotes, vainitas o chauchas?
Depende del país de origen. Dada la variedad de culturas que forman los países de habla hispana tenemos, especialmente en el área de alimentos, una variedad enorme de vocablos que representan exactamente lo mismo. He ahí el dilema. Al escribir libros bilingues, ¿qué palabra usar? ¿Debemos ser fieles al lugar donde ocurre la historia? o como autora, ¿debo usar mis regionalismos? Mmmm.
Acabo de escribir un cuento acerca de una chompa…