Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has been translated into a multitude of languages, from Urdu and Arabic to Latin and Mandarin Chinese. For the longest time, the total number of acknowledged translations was stuck at 79 languages. I learned only last week, though, that the eightieth language threshold had been breached in 2017 when a Low Scots version of Stone was published, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stane by Matthew Fitt, Itchy Koo Press.
Here’s a taste of what it’s like, courtesy of Brian Basore, the HogPro All-Pro who alerted me to the existence of this new version:
A little more after the jump. What do you think? How many of you plan to purchase a copy for reading aloud on the next long car trip you’re planning with a Potter-phile or Scots expatriot?
Wow! Thon’s very cool! A wad love tae buy a copy an read it juist for the fun o’t!
If JKR writes the entries at Pottermore, then JKR broke the Scots language barrier before Matthew Fitt did. Under “Dugald McPhail” at Pottermore she has McPhail, a Minister of Magic, in answer to the question why the British Prime Ministers do not meet with the Minister of Magic at the Ministry of Magic, say “Their puir wee braines couldnae cope wi’ it.” Also in Pottermore is “Creaothcann”, a dangerous Scottish form of Quiddich still being played though it has been illegal since 1263. Speaking of rough Scottish sports, in 2014 JKR wrote a story connecting the Scottish Rugby Union with the Wizard World; the story is about a squib, Angus Buchannon, who makes good as a Rugby player, writes his autobiography entitled My Life As A Squib, and so brings Muggles and Wizards closer together.
I read somewhere that “Dumbiedykes”, Fitt’s name for Dumbledore, is also the name of the area in Edinburgh where JKR wrote all but the first three chapters of the Harry Potter books. Fitt’s translation was published in Edinburgh.
There are no official audio books as for the regular HP books, but the Kilted Biker has taken pity on us non-Scots speakers by reading Philosopher’s Stane aloud on You Tube. He’s read Chaipter Ane, and promises more to come.
There is of course no way to *know* if this was in JKR’s literary compost heap while she was writing Harry Potter, but “carline” is the word for “witch” in Philosopher’s Stane; “carline” opens a veritable cornucopia when ‘Corn Dolly’, ‘Corn-Mother’, and ‘last sheaf’ are searched online in connection with Harvest traditions of Europe and the UK.