The Tintin app from Moulinsart is starting to sell English copies. Not all of them, and this message explains why:



They are translating the books. I have no idea why - the English translations have always been regarded as being very good, and, importantly, the translators had a close working relationship with Herge. There are a couple of books which refer back to each other, which could be cleaned up, but apart from that, it seems a bit of a pointless task to me.

Make the language more appropriate to modern young readers?


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modern Internet kids cant speak English atall, they speak worse than text speak or this l33t rubbish, typically you find them on reddit and steam forums etc, with stupid slang and words that make no sense, post 90s trash

I don't know. The app has a couple of pages from Tintin in the Congo, and in the original translation (which isn't that old), one of the Thompsons says "Seems to be a young reporter going to Africa"

In the new translation, it's changed to "Apparently it's a young reporter off to Africa"

So not a major rewording, feels like it's being done for the sake of it. I don't think the language is that out if date to warrant "upgrading".

It's snappier from their perspective I spose, and that's where da kidz are at, daddio!

My only thought is that somewhere along the way, the English translations are not licensed for electronic distribution. Even if Tintin in the Congo IS (that is a relatively new translation anyway), it could well be the only one.

Apparently, it's Michael Farr doing the new translations (he's the go-to bloke whenever Tintin is talked about in the TV). So, hopefully, the translations will be sympathetic to the originals.