The Titles of Magical Books in Harry Potter

 

A Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry

 

Chinese (Mainland)	近代巫术发展研究 Jìndài wūshù fāzhǎn yánjiū	近代 jìndaì= 'modern'. 巫术 wūshù = 'wizard crafts'. 发展 fāzhǎn = 'development'. 研究 yánjiū = 'study, research'.	Study in Developments in Modern Wizardry
Chinese (Taiwan)	巫術最新發展研究 Wūshù zuìxīn fāzhǎn yánjiū	巫術 wūshù = 'wizard crafts'. 最新 zuìxīn= 'latest'. 發展 fāzhǎn = 'development'. 研究 yánjiū = 'study, research'.	Study in the Latest Developments in Wizardry
Japanese	魔法界における最近の進歩に関する研究 Mahō-kai ni okeru saikin no shinpo ni kansuru kenkyū	魔法 mahō = 'magic'. 界 -kai = 'circles/world'. における ni okeru = 'in'. 最近 saikin = 'recent'. の no = connecting particle 進歩 shinpo = 'advance'. に関する ni kansuru = 'regarding'. 研究 kenkyū = 'study, research'.	Study on Recent Advances in Magical Circles
Vietnamese	Một nghiên cứu về những phát triển gần đây trong pháp thuật	một = 'a'. nghiên cứu (研究) = 'study, research'. về = 'concerning' những = plural marker phát triển (發展) = 'development' gần đây = 'recent, late'. trong = 'in'. pháp thuật (法術) = 'magic'.	A Study on Recent Developments in Magic

A very academic-sounding title, translated that way into the three languages.

The Chinese versions are simple, concise and straightforward.

On the other hand, the Japanese is clumsy and verbose as Japanese academic book titles often are. The title is best analysed from the end to the beginning.

関する kansuru is a verb meaning 'to be related'. Literally に関する研究 ni kansuru kenkyū means 'research that concerns / is related to'.
おける okeru is a verb meaning 'to be placed'. Literally, における進歩 ni okeru shinpo means 'advances that are in'.

Owing to these constructions, the Japanese is far more wordy than the Chinese.

The Vietnamese is wordy for another reason: both the 'a' in 'a study' and the plural marker in 'developments' are translated. This is due to the direct influence of European languages.

Category: Wizardry