Then look at this place: "Behind the Leaky Cauldron, a magical street, Diagon Alley, invisible to Muggles"... The word "magical" is a bit too general. Since this is the first time Diagon Alley has appeared, could we perhaps briefly mention its special features?
Liu Rumeng looked at it, talked about it, and drew circles on it with her pen.
The more carefully she looked at it, the more question marks and areas that needed adjustment she marked appeared.
The edges of these few sheets of paper were soon covered with her neat handwriting annotations.
After revising for more than ten minutes, Liu Rumeng put down the manuscript and looked at Lin Huowang, saying very seriously:
"Awang, I must say, this story is really, really captivating! The idea is brilliant!"
However… darling, your written English expression… is sometimes unclear, and the grammar and vocabulary don't quite suit the reading habits of English readers. Writing the manuscript directly in English like this might not be as effective.
Look here... here... and here... I understand the meaning, but it just doesn't feel authentic enough, not 'magical' enough.
Translation, especially literary translation, is not just about literal translation, but more importantly, about conveying the mood and the feel of the language.
The essence of your story lies in its magical atmosphere and British accent; if your word choice and sentence structure weren't precise and authentic, it would lose much of its charm.
Lin Huowang nodded humbly upon hearing this, and said with a smile, "That's why I need my dear Mengmeng to help me polish and revise like this!"
"This kind of revision is too inefficient, and I often struggle to find the accurate wording for you. Here's what I'm saying! Don't try to write it all in English yourself. It's inefficient, and the results aren't necessarily good. Just write it in Chinese!"
Write down your ideas, plot, and dialogue in Chinese, in the way that feels most comfortable to you! The more detailed the better! Then, I'll be responsible for translating it into a first draft in English!
Upon hearing this, Lin Huowang exclaimed, "Great idea! Mengmeng, then this Harry Potter novel can be considered a collaborative work between the two of us!"
"It would be an honor! However... although I learned English from my mother, my foundation is decent, and I have no problem with daily communication and handling documents."
But when it comes to literary translation, especially in creating this authentic British fantasy style, I'm not entirely confident.
"I've never lived in the UK for an extended period, and I'm afraid I won't be able to grasp the slang, the cultural background, and that unique accent," Liu Rumeng said with some concern.
"So what you mean is?"
"Find my mom! Since arriving in Hong Kong, she's been studying British newspapers, popular magazines, and novels in depth. She's far more familiar with the current cultural context and language habits of Britain than I am!"
She's a true language expert and understands British culture. I'll translate the first draft, then give it to my mom for polishing and revisions! She'll definitely be able to bring out the magic and British accent perfectly in the story!
Lin Huowang also felt this was the best solution and immediately agreed, saying, "Okay! Let's do it this way! Two approaches at once! In a few days, I'm going to London with Governor Murray MacLehose to discuss the acquisition of Rover and other car factories. This novel is one of the 'secret weapons' I'm taking to London."
"A secret weapon?" Liu Rumeng asked, puzzled.
"Yes. To give those Westerners, who are inherently arrogant, a little cultural shock."
Let them see that Easterners can also write Western fantasy stories that they'll admire. And this is more than just a novel.
This is also a key part of a massive future plan. The influence of culture is sometimes more profound than that of money and guns.
Therefore, I need to hurry. In the next few days, I will try my best to write out the core plot and important settings of the first volume.
Let's call the first volume *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*. Once you get the Chinese manuscript, start translating immediately, then give it to Mom for polishing as soon as possible. We need to prepare the first English draft of the first volume before I leave.”
Liu Rumeng sensed the importance in her husband's words, and she nodded earnestly in return: "Understood! Don't worry, my mother and I will do our best. This story... I think it will definitely blow the British away!"
Looking at the stack of newly started manuscripts on her desk, she could almost see the boy with round glasses and a lightning bolt scar on his forehead, riding a broomstick and flying over the spires of Hogwarts Castle.
This magical legend, originating from an Eastern concept but destined to sweep the entire Western world, quietly unfolded on this otherwise ordinary, quiet night.
Lin Huowang also has great confidence in the novel "Harry Potter". It should be noted that before his rebirth, "Harry Potter" was the world's most famous and influential phenomenon-level literary IP, with its influence spanning multiple fields such as literature, film and television, business, and education, and its sales have set a record in publishing history.
Putting aside everything else, the Harry Potter books alone have sold over 500 million copies, and when you add in the sales of various ebooks and audiobooks, the total revenue reaches a staggering $8 billion.
This is something that is probably unmatched by any other novel; the sales revenue of a single novel is much higher than the market value of many listed companies.
Needless to say, the Harry Potter movies were huge hits worldwide, and all sorts of merchandise sold like hotcakes, sparking a global magic craze and becoming a shared memory for countless people during their teenage years.
Now, Lin Huowang is about to go to Britain for negotiations, and he plans to give this Harry Potter book as a gift to the British public. He plans to serialize it in The Times, which should be quite good.
Let's use Harry Potter to give the British people a little shock!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
