Article

This is an original article as printed in the Guardian Weekly which is suitable for advanced comprehension classes and groups. It was written by Katie Allen.

Untranslated Harry Potter breaks language barriers

Muggle and quidditch are quickly becoming part of German schoolchidren's English vocabulary thanks to huge sales of the original language Harry Potter book.

Publisher Bloomsbury revealed that its English-language version of the boy wizard's final tale has sold as many copies overseas as in Britain. In Germany alone 1m copies were sold in August. Pre-orders in China were more than 200% higher than those for the previous book.

As well as being popular among children learning English, the untranslated Harry Potters have seen a huge demand from impatient fans.

"Half of Harry Potter sales were export sales," said Bloomsbury chairman Nigel Newton. "Readers don't want to wait while it gets translated."

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has smashed records in Britain with sales nearing 4m since its worldwide launch on July 21.

Overseas demand is also stronger than ever. Bloomsbury revealed that export sales for Harry Potter seven were already a third higher than for Harry Potter six, with particularly strong demand from Germany, China, Japan, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Brazil.

The success of JK Rowling's books abroad has given Bloomsbury confidence that its star performer will generate revenues for a while to come. Investors have been anxious about life after Harry for the publisher.

Newton stressed upcoming books by other authors and new online projects meant that there were many reasons to be cheerful. He also insisted that the Harry Potter era is nowhere near over.

"The main thing to remember is that Harry Potter will be a big book for many years," he said. "The world loves British children's classics and they last for decades."

As for whether he can make sure Bloomsbury is the home of the next Rowling - who came to the publisher after eight rejections and was paid a $5,000 advance - Newton said his group would continue to play on its strengths as an independent company.

"Diana the goddess of hunting is our logo. She is hunting for new talent. That is our main mission."

Glossary

advance

(noun) money paid to someone before they have finished a piece of work or provided an agreed service.

rejection

(noun) the act of not accepting somebody's book, film idea or job application

publisher

(noun) a company that prepares and prints books, newspapers or magazines

Questions

The questions below are divided into three groups - before, during and after reading the above article.

Before reading

How much do you know about JK Rowling and the Harry Potter books? Work with a partner and answer the questions below. You can find the words in red in the glossary.

1. How many books are there in the Harry Potter series?
   1. four
   2. five
   3. six
   4. seven
2. How much was the advance that JK Rowling received for the first book?
   1. $100
   2. $5,000
   3. $50,000
   4. $500.00
3. How many different rejections did the first book receive before it was accepted by the publisher Bloomsbury?
   1. two
   2. eight
   3. 15
   4. 34
4. What is the name of the game played on broomsticks that Harry plays at school?
   1. quidditch
   2. quaffle
   3. snitch
   4. divination
5. What is the name used in the Harry Potter books for a person without any magic powers?
   1. boggart
   2. dementor
   3. muggle
   4. mudblood

Before reading the whole article, quickly look at paragraphs 1, 6 and 10. You will find the words that are the answers to the questions. For more information on Harry Potter vocabulary look at the on-line glossary.

While reading

Read the first six paragraphs of the article. Put yes (Y), no (N) or don't know (?) next to the sentences below. The English-language version of the new Harry Potter book ...

1. has sold more copies in Britain than overseas.
2. sold a million copies in Germany in a month.
3. has sold large quantities worldwide because people don't want to wait for the translation.
4. has been bought by large numbers of teenagers in Japan.
5. was launched throughout the world on July 21.
6. has had export sales which are a third lower than the previous book.
7. has been the fastest-selling book in world history
8. has sold well in countries such as China, Japan and France.

Nigel Newton is the chairman of Bloomsbury Publishing. Read the rest of the article. Which of the statements below do you think he might say?

1. "The age of Harry Potter is sadly coming to an end."
2. "The company will benefit financially from Harry Potter for years to come."
3. "We are concerned about the future now that Harry Potter is finished."
4. "Classic British children's books always sell around the world."
5. "We're going to focus on JK Rowling and any new books that she writes."
6. "We're searching for new writers."

After reading

Synonyms are words with the same or a very similar meaning. Look back at the article and find synonyms for these words. Put them in the grid below. Find the word related to Harry Potter that runs down through all the words.

1. writer
2. worried
3. enormous
4. global
5. epoch
6. happy
7. shareholder
8. abroad

Activity - News in Brief

Write a short summary of the article for the News in Brief section of a British newspaper using the steps below. Look at the World Roundup section of the Guardian Weekly for examples.

1. Work with a partner and decide on the key ideas in the article.
2. Underline and note down useful vocabulary related to those ideas.
3. Write a short article of between 60 and 75 words: maximum three sentences.
4. Add a four or five word headline.