I happened upon the trailer to ‘Christopher Robin’ the other day; a film (as my reader knows) about the denizens of Ashdown Forest, just down the road from here – which I can see as I write.
So just imagine my mystification when I heard my little ursine friend speak! Wasn’t that a Transatlantic accent? Yes, of course, he is ‘spoken’ by Jim Cummings, who is Disney’s go-to voice for their animal animations.
But then, said I to m’self, said I: the Bear of Very Little Brain (and his friends) are well-known polyglots, talking to their readers all over the world. Even to Romans, in the 1960 best-seller. Salve, Pooh!
I still remember the opening lines of Winnie ille Pu as recited to us by our Latin teacher when the book was first published. I can still recite them as a party piece if anyone’s interested. Our teacher had a broad grin on her face because no one could guess what she was quoting.
Pls recite! I’ll check of course!
[Paw up] Ooh, Sir, please Sir, I can do those lines too. {Paw down]
Reading the ‘Asterix’ books in Latin was a revelation also. The authors/translators had an eye for the absurd with two centurions named Sendervictorius and Appianglorius and their commander Hotelterminus. I suppose you have to be of a certain age to appreciate it, as with Molesworth.
*Sigh*
OZ