Eva, there is a slight learning curve for using bit-torrents so I will just point you to http://www.dessent.net/btfaq/#where for info and I personally use Azureus program and isohunt.com to search for torrents. Warning though, stay on the righteous track when using this useful shairing network, ok ;)

@ Przemek

Our non-Polish brothers and sisters in Potter won’t know what the letters before Malfoy’s name mean. Maybe I’ll clear this up:

M. Draco Malfoy – Mianownik/Nominative case D. Dracona Malfoya – Dopełniacz/Genitive case or Possessive case C. Draconowi Malfoyowi – Celownik/Dative case B. Dracona Malfoya – Biernik/Accusative case N. Draconem Malfoyem – Narzędnik/Instrumental case Ms. Draconie Malfoyu – Miejscownik/Locative case W. Draconie Malfoyu! – Wołacz/Vocative case

I’m from Poland too. In our country books are really expensive. That’s why most of people borrow them from libary. I didn’t read HP in English but I’m going to try. HP and DH is great!

@ Professor Potter

The names of the characters are generally left as in orginal, but we have some cosmetic changes like: Cornelius Fugde became Korneliusz Knot ( Fudge for Knot – it was necessary for joke to work in first book), Lucius is Lucjusz, but Severus didn’t become Sewer (which is astounishing to me for all given names that come from Latin were translated into Polish – meaning: they got Polish suffixes like -usz). By the way the same goes for Occlumency – oklumencja and Legilimency – legilimencja.

On the other hand we have practically all Magical beings translated into Polish, for exemple: Blast-ended Skrewts – sklątki tylnowybuchowe, Crumple-Horned Snorkack – chrapak krętorogi, Bowtruckle – nieśmiałek

Fred and George’s inventions, wizard (and witches) related stuff as names of streets (Diagon Alley – ) underwent changes too.

But don’t worry – we’ve the touch of Britishness in the books. :)

Indeed we have. Those books are very British, even translated. HP books, Doctor Who… You British people know how to make something really great.

Aillinne – maybe we know each other? Have you ever been to magiczne.pl? If not, you’re officially welcomed :) You’ll find me there if you want to. “Brothers and sisters in Potter” should stay in contact ;)

@ Przemek

Thanks for invitation, but I’ve never been a part of Polish branch of HP fandom and this will remain so.

No, no, it’s not what you think. Magiczne.pl (in spite of its name) is not about HP. There’s one part of this forum dedicated to HP, but in general Magiczne is an unique place where people talk about everything and make friends. And I mean it – I’ve met great people there, obsessed with indie rock, Welsh language, World of Warcraft or whatever you can imagine. Give us a chance and visit magiczne.pl. It’s really not about HP anymore. It’s more like a place where friends can meet from time to time. Almost like a big family :)

Ha,ha now now Przemek , don’t go encourage the Brits by using the word “great” and British in one sentence! You know how easy it is to raise our egos higher than what is healthy for us ;-) JK Rowling is a great great storyteller. She just happens to be British and living on an Island that has the extraordinary audacity to call themselves Great Britain, which i suppose is one of our amusing traits. To balance things out I would say every country is Great in their own way…except for Great Britain who are great in every way :) Ok I’m kidding about that last par. No, really I am…

I’m from Poland and I bought polish edition of DH at the midnight 25th. Translation of that kind of book takes normaly about 6 months but our translator did it in 2,5 months! That’s a great job! I’ve also read english version twice but having your favourite book in your native language is awesome! It was worth of waiting! Greetings for all HP fans!!!

Professor Potter said:

“The character’s names are translated too??? But why? What about the British culture of the story – is that retained? I’m sure it is but thinking about it translators have got a tough job as they are not just translating language but also cultural nuances and jokes, right? But there also has to be a balance of what and what not to change/translate.”

I don’t know why they insist on translating character names – expecially in this country, where people can read english before they’re 10 yo. And I forgot to mentian that almost all other names are changed too – places, spells, you name it. But the british feel or culture is retained in the translated books, I think. I may be wrong, because I haven’t read them translated. :)

But I know the translators do a great job. They even get most of the jokes to function as originally intended, I hear. And they get something to say about copyright and republishing of the translated edition too, because the translated text is their artwork. So I have the greatest respect for them.

Then again, I think something will be lost in the translation. Personally, I want to experience the text in its original language if I can, to come nearer to understanding the author’s thoughts.

I’m the guy from Egypt. here the price of the translated is very good compare to the English one . And the names are not translated , however, my english is good and when u read the story in the original language is the best.

Could anybody now how to send anything to the site plz answer me

Hi. I know this article is from long time ago and probably no one reads the comments… But I just wanted to say that Polish people are not as dumb as they seem to other nations; I learned English, which is not that hard, after all. The matter is that everything depends on single unit; if I want to learn English, I do so. Please, do not hold your opinions about a nation on few people. Dumb people are everywhere.
Ok, about some comments; Poland is a Catholic country. Many weird old ladies that are completly brain washed call Harry Potter series "adventures of three young satanists". but I didn’t know that pope prohibited HP. I don’t think so…
Last thing; there are people in Poland who make 700-800 PLN per month. But it is not an average, Aillinne, and I don’t know how can you say such a thing. (Dobrze wiesz ze tak nie jest; punkt widzenia zalezy od punktu siedzenia – ale oficjalne dane to nie sa.) I guess you (you all, I mean) will profit when reading something about Poland on wikipedia.org, for example.

P.S. I read both original and translated versions of Deathly Hallows, and I loved them. Notwithstanding, I am sure that the movie will be, as usual, a disaster.