http://www.greece.gr/CULTURE/Literature/harrypottertobepublishedinancientgreek.stm
[size=150](/αρριος πόττερ καὶ φιλόσοφου λίθος
Something I don’t understand is why they would take the trouble and expense to translate Harry Potter into Latin and Ancient Greek. (Is this Ancient Greek or modern Greek?) Are there enough people reading in these languages to make it worth their efforts?
Yes, it’s ancient Greek.
There are several reasons to do something like this, not the least of which is the opportunity for Latin teachers to have a text that is fun and popular for use in the classroom.
The books are also fairly classical in content, so classicists enjoy them.
And of course we just like translating popular fiction into classical languages (latin in particular)–Dr Seuss, for example, or Winnie the Pooh, or Paddington Bear.
All though I can’t imagen any Latin or Greek teacher actually using this book in class…
You must also remember it’s not like the book will only sell in one country, but in all countries, so they must have worked out it would be worth translating.
As I already have it in modern Greek I don’t think I’ll bother getting it in ancient Greek, I’ve got enough to do with translating Homer anyway… 
[quote author=Emma_85 link=board=6;threadid=756;start=0#7518 date=1065037043]
All though I can’t imagen any Latin or Greek teacher actually using this book in class…
[/quote]
I’ve heard a number of latin teachers say that they would like to try the book in class, and they are hoping that it will help get more kids interested in the classical languages. 
Sarcasm I can just imagine the Latin teachers at my school reading Harry Potter with the class. They are all really huge fans of the book and of modern literature… /sarcasm
But honestly I agree with my teachers. If someone wants to read Harry Potter in Latin they should do so in their spare time. Latin is not just learning the language, but also the culture and history of Rome, and you’re not going to learn much about the Roman Empire by discussing Harry Potter.
I also don’t like the idea of luring young kids into learning the language with the promise that the texts will all be about wizards and really fun.
En plus, pour lire harry potter on doit apprendre toute la grammaire etc. les choses qui soient ennuyeuses aux enfants.
[quote author=Emma_85 link=board=6;threadid=756;start=0#7530 date=1065039805]
But honestly I agree with my teachers. If someone wants to read Harry Potter in Latin they should do so in their spare time. Latin is not just learning the language, but also the culture and history of Rome, and you’re not going to learn much about the Roman Empire by discussing Harry Potter.
I also don’t like the idea of luring young kids into learning the language with the promise that the texts will all be about wizards and really fun.
[/quote]
That is an opinion with which not everyone agrees. You have to understand that in north american school systems it is very difficult to keep students and even schools interested in the classical languages, and the few latin programs left in the schools are continually in danger of being shut down. Therefore any way we can get kids to want to learn latin is a plus… they can move on to classical authors after they have learned the basics, and fun books like Harry Potter and Dr. Seuss are simply extra motivation for the children to continue on in the language.
[quote author=Emma_85 link=board=6;threadid=756;start=0#7530 date=1065039805]
I also don’t like the idea of into learning the language with the promise that the texts will all be about wizards and really fun.
[/quote]
Oi! One of the reasons I’m sticking with the Latin (I usually get bored with hobbies after a few weeks) is to read Harrius in the original Latin. Because it’s fun. I’ve seen the movie, so I can pick up Harrius and sort of understand bits of it, and the more I read, the more I want to learn, so I can read more. I enjoy it.
The same cannot be said of the practice sentences in my Wheelock. If that was all I was going to read for the next year or so, I doubt whether I would last the distance.
Each to their own, and all that.
I wouldn’t abhor any ancient greek translation if it’s translated properly by the best who has deep understanding in the language. I would love to get Peanuts cartoon strip in ancient greek, or Homer Simpson would also be nice.
I must admit I don’t see the point for English-speaking kids. If they’re HP fans they’ll be reading it in English. Why read it in Latin or Greek as well? On the other hand, if they’re not English speakers they might as well read it in a Latin or Greek translation as in any other translation.
I also don’t like the idea of luring young kids into learning the language with the promise that the texts will all be about wizards and really fun.
Start them off with Apuleius. ;D
Well, if they took the trouble to publish it, I’m sure it must have been worth their time. : But like Bingley, I don’t see the point.
The point is a fun and interesting practice reader… same reason I like Ursus Nomine Paddington.
People are always complaining that there aren’t enough readers out there… 
I’m not exactly sure how you would go around teaching kids the basics of Latin with Harrius Potter. I mean, if they translated it properly then it will of course be easier than most original texts, but at the same time you’ll need to be quite good at Latin to read it. Nothing for absolute 10-year-old beginners. And if they’re good enough at Latin to read it, then they may as well read an easy original text.
Anyway, it’s not like kids in America would learn that much Latin by reading it in Latin. What would the homework be? Translate page 34, please… and off they go and copy down the translation out of their English copy.
Now Phil, you’re learning Latin, because you want to, you’re reading Harrius Potter in your own time because it’s fun and you want to improve yourself, and I don’t think that’s a bad idea, nor do I think it’s was a waste of time to translate it into Latin or anything like that, it’s not really much use for using in class.
After having being ‘lured’ into going to the Latin school (…it’ll be so much fun… bla bla…) I think I can say that it won’t really help much. I hate Latin because of it. It’s not fun at all. Now they didn’t do that with Greek - I was determined not to take Greek actually. I thought they would come into the classes and tell us what a wonderful subject it is and how much fun it would be and all that… but because I had the zombie Latin teacher that didn’t happen. He just told us all not to take Greek, as in his opinion we would all do really badly (especially Emma, who doesn’t understand what a dative is. Oh, don’t look at me like that, Emma… I’m sure you’re very talented - just not at Latin).
Now that’s when I decided to take Greek, and it’s also why others in my year took Greek - they wanted to do something challenging.
If you told kids in the US that Latin’s difficult then you’d get the ones looking for a challenge taking it and they’d make an effort, but if you tell them it’s just a piece of cake… well… just won’t work for most.
My Greek textbook nearly only used original text (which was sometimes very annoying), so it is possible… the texts in my Latin book were also quite fun, but they didn’t prepare me properly like the Greek ones did.
Homer Simpson? Good idea. Perharps “South Park in Hellas” would be useful for learning Aristophanes or Suetonius’ grammar work(though lost)… ;D
Every individual has its own reason wherefore latin must be learned
I think education in europe must take a different mindset from ours in north america. The idea is to make learning interesting and fun–and if using translated versions of english books will do that, then they are useful in or out of the class.
Telling north american students that something is “challenging” is the best way to ensure that nobody chooses it… except for the few exceptional students… and those aren’t enough to keep the funds flowing.
Posted by: klewlis
I think education in europe must take a different mindset from ours in north america. The idea is to make learning interesting and fun–
Uh… yes, very different. The idea here at least is that you learn something. You just can’t make learning fun and interesting all of the time for everyone and more importantly it doesn’t work. I know that, as a friend of mine went to an American private school last year and finished High school there. She says they didn’t teach her a single thing there, but that it was fun, much more fun than school is now as she’s struggling to catch up with everything she missed last year.
the american public is much happier to be entertained than to be educated, and the powers that be like to keep it that way as well.
in canada, we just don’t care.
I’m not saying these are good things. I’m just saying that’s how they are.
I love a good challenge, but it always turns out to be really easy in school. So I chose Latin, thinking it to be the hardest language ever! But there is german, armenian, finnish, swedish, ancient greek, aramaic, arabic and the list goes on.