Divided by a common language?

[erastes]

My weekly post on Jessewave’s Blog is up – this week I’m discussing the differences between English and American English, and why I would prefer not to have to be edited into American.

http://reviewsbyjessewave.blogspot.com/2009/05/may-i-borrow-your-rubber.html

Lots of comments so come over and join the lively discussion!

Comments

[morgan-lowri.livejournal.com]

I prefer to not have English books translated into American. It sounds strange and unnatural when I read it. I grew up reading classic literature, so I don't have a problem doing the mental translation most of the time, and there's always google when I do have a slight hitch.

I also know that this is something authors frequently fight, even more well-known authors like JK Rowling and Terry Pratchett, who apparently went round and round with one editor on why cacky=/=poop. So, why do the translation at all? I know what I'm getting into when I order a British novel, and I assume that other readers do too, else British authors would not be so wildly popular over here.