Differences between Swedish and English versions?

[kesshikidouwa]

I'm reading through the Japanese version of Låt den rätte komma in at the moment, and I've noticed some things are worded differently, for example in the English version, at the beginning when Håkan says "he was already lost", in the Japanese version it says "わたしはもう地獄に落ちている" (I've already descended into hell).

So has anybody read the book in both Swedish and English, and if so would you say there's many differences like this between the two?

I do intend to learn Swedish in a few years, but until I'm able to read it myself I'd like to know how close to the original the English version is.

[metoo]

Yes, there are differences, some of which actually make a difference

This has been discussed before, in various threads, but as far as I know there is no single place to find the differences.

[drakkar]

I recall one rather significant difference, discussed here, taking place when ELi is about to attack Oskar in the jungle gym, just after Oskar strokes Eli's chin:

In the English translation it is "Eli's eyes were flickering from side to side, as if searching for something she couldn't find".
In the original, it is (my translation),".. searching her memory for something she couldn't find."
The difference is quite significant, because in the Swedish edition we learns - early on in the story - that this is a very special event for Eli, that he cannot recall ever having received compassion/kindness like this before. In the English translation, the word "memory" is omitted, leaving some doubt about what Eli actually looked for and how special this event was to him.

..and a belated welcome, kesshikidouwa

[kesshikidouwa]

Yes, there are differences, some of which actually make a difference

This has been discussed before, in various threads, but as far as I know there is no single place to find the differences.

Ah, well it's enough to know that there are differences... until I'm able to read it in it's purest form ^^

In the mean time I'll have a look through the forum and see if I can find any more examples...

..and a belated welcome, kesshikidouwa

Thanks

[S_M]

Wow, I would love to get through the Japanese translation of the book... sad enough that my Japanese is not that good

But personally, I decided to read English version, because in the Russian version Eli's gender changes grammatically after it's discovered he's a boy... and I can't stand it for some reason.

[mackousko]

in the Russian version Eli's gender changes grammatically

Sounds horrible. Poor ELI.

[Wolfchild]

I'm planning on doing a side-by-side translation, as soon as I can get someone to buy me the Swedish version as eBook pdf. They don't want to sell it to people outside of Europe. I've already made myself an html verison of the English translation that I have annotated with the flaws in the translation (that I know of). I use it as a reference. I want to put the Swedish text right beside it, and then I'll work my way through the Google translation.

This reminds me, I have to contact my co-conspirator in Sweden...

[S_M]

I'm planning on doing a side-by-side translation, as soon as I can get someone to buy me the Swedish version as eBook pdf. They don't want to sell it to people outside of Europe. I've already made myself an html verison of the English translation that I have annotated with the flaws in the translation (that I know of). I use it as a reference. I want to put the Swedish text right beside it, and then I'll work my way through the Google translation.

Are you going to do it for the sake of language practice or... else?

[intrige]

I'm planning on doing a side-by-side translation, as soon as I can get someone to buy me the Swedish version as eBook pdf. They don't want to sell it to people outside of Europe. I've already made myself an html verison of the English translation that I have annotated with the flaws in the translation (that I know of). I use it as a reference. I want to put the Swedish text right beside it, and then I'll work my way through the Google translation.

This reminds me, I have to contact my co-conspirator in Sweden...

That is gona be some job! Man.. Good luck with that
When I get by grown-up bank card I'll buy the Swedish verson and the english verson Haven't got it yet..

[EEA]

I have the Spanish version of the book and I like the English version better.