They had to change the title of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" to "Sorcerer's Stone" in the USA because Americans aren't educated well enough to know what a philosopher is, amirite?
no well actually what happened was america wanted independence so britain fought for a little while then decided america wasn't worth it and didn't want to be there anyway so went home. oh and i'm not british by the way, i just know what actually happened, other than what is taught exclusively in history classes in american high schools. and actually, that is a true story, they WERE worried that americans wouldn't understand the word philosopher so they simplified it to be published there.
You don't however know how to use a shift key. Or the fact that Americans identify philospher with thinker, and sorceror with alchemy and magic. It was changed so American's would identfy with it, not simplified because we're dumb.
Hold the fuck up , you said we Americans will be more towards our side when being taught but look a British saying they know what really happened. The only country that really knows is Sweden, becaue they are netraul
Then if you'd prefer a more authoritative source, both of the two most authoriative dictionaries (the US Webster's and the UK Oxford English) use almost identical definitions, with the primary one being that of 'a seeker after wisdom', which is exactly what Rowling intended to convery. Personally, I think she should have stuck to her guns and refused to let such a travesty be published.
I don't think that wikipedia isn't a good authority, I just think it's lazy to always have to turn to it. I agree with you that an author should have power over their own work, and the name probably shouldn't have been changed. I have never heard anyone say that "philosopher" has different meanings in the UK and US, so that argument really doesn't matter to me, although I do think there are actual reasons they changed the name other than the stereotypical "Dur hur! Those Americans are so stupid!" which is not exactly racist, but still highly offensive and frankly stupid in itself.
@952897 (BBALLCHITOWN): Also, the reason Germany lost was because Hitler tried to bomb Britain into submission but he failed so he attacked Russia, then he had two fronts and lost. England still sucks. By the way your welcome for jeans. Yah us Americans gave you that.
ANDDD the reason Russia doesn't "brag" about it is because it's a piece of shit country and fell apart and became about 15 diffrent countries than the one it was in the 1940's. Dumbass do your research before you try to argue with Americans.
Your also welcome for electricty, the cotton gin, the telephone, the steam engine, the assembly line, interchangeable weapon parts, open heart surgery, the light bulb, and Google. Would you like me to continue?
wow you guys still try to take credit for making the internet? It was the fucking swiss.. I guess america just loves to take what's not theirs coughbushcough
Actually, the first open heart surgery (a heart transplant) was performed by Dr. Chris Barnard at the Groote Schuure hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Not America. I know this because that's where I was born :)
I was going to post something about how this is such a petty argument as to be honest nothing was lost through translation but then I read your moon comment. Amusing as it was I was compelled to remind you that you only got to the moon thanks to the Nazi's so well done on profiteering off the deaths of millions. Nice one America, real proud moment.
Oh, that old line, huh... yeah by the way that's BULLSHIT. Russia more than anybody were responsible for defeating the nazis but you never hear them bring that up, know why? Because they're not douche bags. Germany would in all likelihood have lost anyway it would just have taken more time.
Haha... Russia was getting absolutely massacred, actually. Although, On the same note: Russia had no battle plan what so ever, they would just push with great numbers; While Germany just defended certain posts. At the end of the War Germany had under 4.4million military casualties, where as Russia had somewhere estimated in the 9.5million casualties. Russia wouldn't have made it with America I'm afraid.
They still had more to do with winning the war than the US (even if you don't think so portraying it like "America saved the day" is completely idiotic since there is absolutely no way of knowing what would have otherwise happened and because you could say that without a lot of other countries we could've lost the war as well. Without Russia it's just as likely that we would have lost the war) It was Russian troops that advanced to Berlin and caused Hitler to kill himself.
Germany's luck was already turning before America got involved, but I'm sure someone who says "owned" when talking about a war is truly an expert on history.
It is so in the UK as well - that doesn't change that the primary meaning of the word (as I've stated above) is 'seeker of wisdom'. The fact that there is a different meaning in casual usage changes neither the primary meaning or the fact that any word can have more than one definition.
They did this because they thought american's would better relate to "Sorcerer's" rather than "Philosopher's." The language(as well as culture) varies and most Americans don't use the word philosopher.
I'm offended!
That's racist! Hitler reference
Some of my best friends are American so I obviously know what I'm talking about!
Stop feeding the troll!
....
Ok, I summed it up, the debate is over.
No, and why bother posting this shit? no one thinks you are cool for it, no one will like you better because of it. why be mean? and i am an American, so england can suck it.
Well yeah, but my point is, if there are so many decent people in America, why bother making fun of the whole country? Of course, there are flaws... But every country has them.
Two things to say here:
1. Wasn't this one of the comments the POTD about voldemort being a unicorn?
2. Expect a comment war everytime two countries are compared to each other
Yeah, some articles on Wiki get trolled and random shit added, but generally the most popular ones (and anything do with Harry Potter would be one of them) are constantly sourced and referanced.
Obviously teachers won't let you use them for research resouces, but it's not really "anybody can add anything" like people think.
Usually I can laugh at these jokes even though I'm an american. This isn't funny though because you actually believe the stereotype. You stupid people in America but you can find them in England and anywhere else as well.
Exactly, I usually get a good laugh out of the stereotypes, and also I am blonde, and a girl, so i am use to these stereotypical things (blonde jokes, and the whole "get back in the kitchen" thing), but it is just old and annoying now, and honestly, how could you possibly think it is true, you are so right, Nicole, thank you.
I know like they used to be funny and now they're just really annoying. What's worse is if you express that you don't like the joke you're overly defensive.
yeah, like if one person even says that it is rude or whatever, people get all defensive and say "cant you take one little joke?" even though it happens too often to just be one joke at all.
The publishers thought the "Philosopher's" wouldn't appeal to US kids much. Apperently Rowling regreted the decision, but at that point was just pleased that they were planned on publishing her book, so went along with it.
When they say philosopher's stone, I can't think of Harry Potter, I think of Fullmetal Alchemist. I'm kind of glad they changed it just so I can keep things straight.
That's not necessary. I'm really sick of these American stereotypes. We know what a philosopher is. If you would do some research then you would know that the publisher decided to change it to Sorcerer's Stone because they thought it sounded more exciting and magical. It had nothing to do with intelligence.
My goodness. Both America and England (in alphabetical order, putting America first has no meaning other than the fact that it starts with A) are both awesome. Harry potter is awesome. Can't we leave it at that?
OP, you're the uneducated one. 'Philosopher' in America means something different than in England, just like 'chips' mean something different, too. Do your research first and THEN you can judge.
No, it does not - both the US Webster's Dictionary and the UK Oxford English Dictionary agree that the primary definition of 'philosopher' is 'a seeker after wisdom'. I suggest that your research should include learning how to use a dictionary.
I also think it's sad how one minute Americans love British people and think theyre cool and stuff, but it just takes one troll to make everyone hate them. I mean I've been reading the posts and anything that's anti-Brit has a thumbs up and anything anti-American is thumbs down. I mean aren't we kind of stereotyping Brits now too? Putting them all in the same boat as the poster of this?
I am practically exploding with too many steriotypes!! Just because I am smart does not mean I am a nerd. Just because I am an American does not mean I am stupid, lazy, or fat!! Just because I am catholic, does not mean I have to wear a crucifix on any clothes I wear. Just because I am twelve, doesn't mean I can't handle anything!! People need to get a grip on what goes through their minds!!!!!!
And all I have to say on the topic is that it's simply language differences. like how the UK word trainers would just be a trainer (like a profession) in the US, but the word theyre actually saying means sneakers in the US.
the UK word philosopher means a thinker to american people, but since JKRs 'philosopher' doesn't mean a thinker, they had to change it to sorcerer. That's all.
I hope that made sense, it's a bit difficult getting my point across typing on an iPod touch haha. And before anyone trolls me, I'm both British and American- I've lived exactly half my life in each country and am a citizen of both.
It's not that we're not well educated enough, it's just that it's not a word we use here. It's the same thing as us calling it a trash can instead of a rubbish bin or a flashlight instead of a torch. While it is sad that they had to change it because they thought we would be too dim to even look it up, or just add a quick paragraph of explanation, there's no need to have a hissy fit. You're making Americans look bad.
it is nice to know that some americans hate the world and some of the world hates america back because techinically that means nobody is better than anyone else
it's mortifying because there are some teachers who hate what they do and kids who refuse to try. oh and the fact that our public schools can't pay for shit anymore.
The publisher believed American kids wouldn't understand the reference and think "Oh, philosopher, that book sounds totally dumb," so they changed "philosopher" to "sorcerer" so that more people would be interested in it.
This is why Canada is awesome, its just like USA but slightly better in every way it did this by taking all the good parts of both Great Britain and USA and left out the shitty parts
I knew I was right! There's an old video of me saying Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but I thought I was just translating literally from Portuguese...AHA!
I'm American, and I fully agree with you. I wish they had kept all the British slang words and such. It makes me mad to read "Mom" when I know it should be "Mum", or "kissing" instead of "Snogging". J.K. intended it to be read with the British words, and they should have kept it that way.
Did they really change those words? I'm American and I read the American versions growing up and I'm pretty sure it was still "mum" and "snogging" and other British terms that Americans usually don't say. Maybe they just changed some of it? I'm not trying to fight, I'm genuinely confused because as far as I know those words weren't changed at all.
In the first book, almost all of the British slang was changed, but they slowly got better and added more of it in. In the 6th one, she did use snogging, but in the first one, she used mom a lot. They all got progressively better as they went.
Someones still angry about the revolutionary war...
@949998 (Anonymous): I agree. They are just pissy because America can kick Englands ass anyday of the week. Fuck you OP.
agreed. england, america kicked your ass when we were just 13 colonies, even though you were the most powerful country in the world. deal with it.
no well actually what happened was america wanted independence so britain fought for a little while then decided america wasn't worth it and didn't want to be there anyway so went home. oh and i'm not british by the way, i just know what actually happened, other than what is taught exclusively in history classes in american high schools. and actually, that is a true story, they WERE worried that americans wouldn't understand the word philosopher so they simplified it to be published there.
No, America cornered Britain's big general on a peninsula and pounded his troops for days. Then Britain gave up.
Not only did we kick their ass in the revolutionary war, but the War of 1812 as well. You bombed our ships so we fucked you up. Deal with it.
You don't however know how to use a shift key. Or the fact that Americans identify philospher with thinker, and sorceror with alchemy and magic. It was changed so American's would identfy with it, not simplified because we're dumb.
Hold the fuck up , you said we Americans will be more towards our side when being taught but look a British saying they know what really happened. The only country that really knows is Sweden, becaue they are netraul
I think I love you.
ummmm, no. it's actually because philosopher has a different meaning in america than in england
No it doesn't, you're exactly the type of ignorant American that I'm talking about. Go educate yourself:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosopher
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosopher's_stone
You're really going to put up Wikipedia as your only source? Wow, people like you make me really hate Anonymous users.
Then if you'd prefer a more authoritative source, both of the two most authoriative dictionaries (the US Webster's and the UK Oxford English) use almost identical definitions, with the primary one being that of 'a seeker after wisdom', which is exactly what Rowling intended to convery. Personally, I think she should have stuck to her guns and refused to let such a travesty be published.
I don't think that wikipedia isn't a good authority, I just think it's lazy to always have to turn to it. I agree with you that an author should have power over their own work, and the name probably shouldn't have been changed. I have never heard anyone say that "philosopher" has different meanings in the UK and US, so that argument really doesn't matter to me, although I do think there are actual reasons they changed the name other than the stereotypical "Dur hur! Those Americans are so stupid!" which is not exactly racist, but still highly offensive and frankly stupid in itself.
British People: Having bad teeth since the 10th century
Americans: using their teeth too much since the 20th.
British people: Having a better education than Americans since forever.
OH, I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over the sound of being on the MOON.
that comment literally just made my year.
theres no sound on the moon idiot
I love you.
You deserve a freaking medal for that one.
ok youre awesome! that was the best comeback EVER you should get an award
@952897 (BBALLCHITOWN): Also, the reason Germany lost was because Hitler tried to bomb Britain into submission but he failed so he attacked Russia, then he had two fronts and lost. England still sucks. By the way your welcome for jeans. Yah us Americans gave you that.
ANDDD the reason Russia doesn't "brag" about it is because it's a piece of shit country and fell apart and became about 15 diffrent countries than the one it was in the 1940's. Dumbass do your research before you try to argue with Americans.
Your also welcome for electricty, the cotton gin, the telephone, the steam engine, the assembly line, interchangeable weapon parts, open heart surgery, the light bulb, and Google. Would you like me to continue?
We also invented the internet. This website would not be here if it wasn't for an American.
wow you guys still try to take credit for making the internet? It was the fucking swiss.. I guess america just loves to take what's not theirs coughbushcough
Actually, the first open heart surgery (a heart transplant) was performed by Dr. Chris Barnard at the Groote Schuure hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Not America. I know this because that's where I was born :)
I don't get it. Please explain.
I dont understand....
America´s broke and will be pulling its pants down and bending over for Europe in need of money soon anyway, patience
you know it was all a hoax, right?
theres no sound on the moon
I was going to post something about how this is such a petty argument as to be honest nothing was lost through translation but then I read your moon comment. Amusing as it was I was compelled to remind you that you only got to the moon thanks to the Nazi's so well done on profiteering off the deaths of millions. Nice one America, real proud moment.
But then again all of Europe would be speaking German if it wasn't for america so...
Oh, that old line, huh... yeah by the way that's BULLSHIT. Russia more than anybody were responsible for defeating the nazis but you never hear them bring that up, know why? Because they're not douche bags. Germany would in all likelihood have lost anyway it would just have taken more time.
Haha... Russia was getting absolutely massacred, actually. Although, On the same note: Russia had no battle plan what so ever, they would just push with great numbers; While Germany just defended certain posts. At the end of the War Germany had under 4.4million military casualties, where as Russia had somewhere estimated in the 9.5million casualties. Russia wouldn't have made it with America I'm afraid.
They still had more to do with winning the war than the US (even if you don't think so portraying it like "America saved the day" is completely idiotic since there is absolutely no way of knowing what would have otherwise happened and because you could say that without a lot of other countries we could've lost the war as well. Without Russia it's just as likely that we would have lost the war) It was Russian troops that advanced to Berlin and caused Hitler to kill himself.
England asked for our help during the war dumbass. Without us you would be getting fucked up the asshole by MP-40's and sour krauts.
Germany's luck was already turning before America got involved, but I'm sure someone who says "owned" when talking about a war is truly an expert on history.
This isn't really related.
Or because in America, a philosopher is a person who studies philosophy while a sorcerer is a magician or wizard.
It is so in the UK as well - that doesn't change that the primary meaning of the word (as I've stated above) is 'seeker of wisdom'. The fact that there is a different meaning in casual usage changes neither the primary meaning or the fact that any word can have more than one definition.
They did this because they thought american's would better relate to "Sorcerer's" rather than "Philosopher's." The language(as well as culture) varies and most Americans don't use the word philosopher.
Just be thankful an American publisher had the sense to publish the series.
Because sorcerer is a cooler word.
I'm offended!
That's racist!
Hitler reference
Some of my best friends are American so I obviously know what I'm talking about!
Stop feeding the troll!
....
Ok, I summed it up, the debate is over.
Goddamn I love you.
If only Guinea Pig marriage were possible.
No, and why bother posting this shit? no one thinks you are cool for it, no one will like you better because of it. why be mean? and i am an American, so england can suck it.
I'm not mad at England for this, just the OP.
Well yeah, but my point is, if there are so many decent people in America, why bother making fun of the whole country? Of course, there are flaws... But every country has them.
Two things to say here:
1. Wasn't this one of the comments the POTD about voldemort being a unicorn?
2. Expect a comment war everytime two countries are compared to each other
hear, hear. And comment at your own risk.
Being ignorant is using Wikipedia and thinking it's a reliable source.
Not really.
Yeah, some articles on Wiki get trolled and random shit added, but generally the most popular ones (and anything do with Harry Potter would be one of them) are constantly sourced and referanced.
Obviously teachers won't let you use them for research resouces, but it's not really "anybody can add anything" like people think.
Yes, but you really should be able to find a good source without being lazy and turning to Wikipedia.
Usually I can laugh at these jokes even though I'm an american. This isn't funny though because you actually believe the stereotype. You stupid people in America but you can find them in England and anywhere else as well.
Exactly, I usually get a good laugh out of the stereotypes, and also I am blonde, and a girl, so i am use to these stereotypical things (blonde jokes, and the whole "get back in the kitchen" thing), but it is just old and annoying now, and honestly, how could you possibly think it is true, you are so right, Nicole, thank you.
I know like they used to be funny and now they're just really annoying. What's worse is if you express that you don't like the joke you're overly defensive.
yeah, like if one person even says that it is rude or whatever, people get all defensive and say "cant you take one little joke?" even though it happens too often to just be one joke at all.
INB4 "I hate these stereotype jokes! I am a smart americun!"
americunt*
Britchass
nice one ;) no need for the 'ch' though..
yeah I mean *Britass
The publishers thought the "Philosopher's" wouldn't appeal to US kids much. Apperently Rowling regreted the decision, but at that point was just pleased that they were planned on publishing her book, so went along with it.
When they say philosopher's stone, I can't think of Harry Potter, I think of Fullmetal Alchemist. I'm kind of glad they changed it just so I can keep things straight.
That's not necessary. I'm really sick of these American stereotypes. We know what a philosopher is. If you would do some research then you would know that the publisher decided to change it to Sorcerer's Stone because they thought it sounded more exciting and magical. It had nothing to do with intelligence.
Stupid spongebob
It has nothing to do with intelligence, but perhaps just our short attention-spans.
My goodness. Both America and England (in alphabetical order, putting America first has no meaning other than the fact that it starts with A) are both awesome. Harry potter is awesome. Can't we leave it at that?
Really? No. They just have different meanings in Britain and in America. Just like all these words...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li...h:_A%E2%80%93L
You just pwned the OP.
Hahaha. Good. >_>
OP, you're the uneducated one. 'Philosopher' in America means something different than in England, just like 'chips' mean something different, too. Do your research first and THEN you can judge.
No, it does not - both the US Webster's Dictionary and the UK Oxford English Dictionary agree that the primary definition of 'philosopher' is 'a seeker after wisdom'. I suggest that your research should include learning how to use a dictionary.
i hear Philosopher more than i hear Sorcerer haha
Um...
I'm American,
I like Harry Potter.
If I was British,
I'd still like Harry Potter.
Does the title of one book even matter when compared to the actual art inside of the book?
it sounds better as sorcerers stone anyway
I also think it's sad how one minute Americans love British people and think theyre cool and stuff, but it just takes one troll to make everyone hate them. I mean I've been reading the posts and anything that's anti-Brit has a thumbs up and anything anti-American is thumbs down. I mean aren't we kind of stereotyping Brits now too? Putting them all in the same boat as the poster of this?
Though in my opinion it is anyone that votes YYA is responsible to because it is feeding the troll, keeping it alive
Well that was a bit unnecessary...
I love it when people use historical events that are completely unrelated to the situation to back up their argument. ;D
cough American Revolution cough
I am practically exploding with too many steriotypes!! Just because I am smart does not mean I am a nerd. Just because I am an American does not mean I am stupid, lazy, or fat!! Just because I am catholic, does not mean I have to wear a crucifix on any clothes I wear. Just because I am twelve, doesn't mean I can't handle anything!! People need to get a grip on what goes through their minds!!!!!!
*I'm 12 and what is this
YES.
And all I have to say on the topic is that it's simply language differences. like how the UK word trainers would just be a trainer (like a profession) in the US, but the word theyre actually saying means sneakers in the US.
the UK word philosopher means a thinker to american people, but since JKRs 'philosopher' doesn't mean a thinker, they had to change it to sorcerer. That's all.
I hope that made sense, it's a bit difficult getting my point across typing on an iPod touch haha. And before anyone trolls me, I'm both British and American- I've lived exactly half my life in each country and am a citizen of both.
But, what accent do you have?
Meh, an icky trans-Atlantic one.
In America, we use sorcerer as "wizard" and philosopher as "thinker", so it wouldn't make much sense in America if it was the "thinker's" stone.
It's not that we're not well educated enough, it's just that it's not a word we use here. It's the same thing as us calling it a trash can instead of a rubbish bin or a flashlight instead of a torch. While it is sad that they had to change it because they thought we would be too dim to even look it up, or just add a quick paragraph of explanation, there's no need to have a hissy fit. You're making Americans look bad.
The only thing more annoying than an ignorant American is an ignorant foreigner. Way to be a dumbass and not American.
Technically should've been The Alchemist's Stone. Nicholas Flamel was an Alchemist xD
it is nice to know that some americans hate the world and some of the world hates america back because techinically that means nobody is better than anyone else
it's mortifying because there are some teachers who hate what they do and kids who refuse to try. oh and the fact that our public schools can't pay for shit anymore.
*clicked
well, i'm australian, and here it is called the philosopher's stone... then again we did originate from british colonies lol!
So did America dumbass.
my bad :P
Psh it's okay, I'm heated from the argument that's going on a few comments up haha.
THIS is why I prefer amirite to mlia :) People here are friendly
why thank you kind sir:) and MLIA is for retarded 10 year olds hahha
What's a philosopher?
No, the aliteration just makes it sound better. That, and the Philosopher's Stone is supposedly real, so "Sorcerer's Stone" seems more magical.
The publisher believed American kids wouldn't understand the reference and think "Oh, philosopher, that book sounds totally dumb," so they changed "philosopher" to "sorcerer" so that more people would be interested in it.
This is just funny... I love it
What if america and the U.K. were to go to war again hmmmmm
(cl=): We would absouletly kick Englands ass. Even if they tried to bomb us with everything they had.
This is why Canada is awesome, its just like USA but slightly better in every way it did this by taking all the good parts of both Great Britain and USA and left out the shitty parts
Hey canada Americans and British can both decide to say GTFO CANADA THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU
Watch what you say 'bout canadians, eh.
I knew I was right! There's an old video of me saying Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but I thought I was just translating literally from Portuguese...AHA!
I'm American, and I fully agree with you. I wish they had kept all the British slang words and such. It makes me mad to read "Mom" when I know it should be "Mum", or "kissing" instead of "Snogging". J.K. intended it to be read with the British words, and they should have kept it that way.
Did they really change those words? I'm American and I read the American versions growing up and I'm pretty sure it was still "mum" and "snogging" and other British terms that Americans usually don't say. Maybe they just changed some of it? I'm not trying to fight, I'm genuinely confused because as far as I know those words weren't changed at all.
In the first book, almost all of the British slang was changed, but they slowly got better and added more of it in. In the 6th one, she did use snogging, but in the first one, she used mom a lot. They all got progressively better as they went.
They didn't change mum or snogging... they did change "torch" to "flashlight" in the first chapter of PoA, though.
They didn't change either of those things.
fuck you! america uber alles BITCHES
Don't make Americans look ignorant.