English
English is a West Germanic language that originated in early medieval England and has since become one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It evolved from a mixture of Old English, brought to Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers, and influences from Old Norse and Norman French. The Norman Conquest of 1066 introduced a large number of French words into English, significantly shaping its vocabulary. Over time, English absorbed elements from Latin, Greek, and other European languages, creating a rich and varied lexicon. It became the dominant language of the British Isles and expanded globally through the British Empire’s colonization. English is now the primary language of international business, science, aviation, and diplomacy. It is known for its irregular spelling and complex grammar, which reflect its diverse linguistic roots. The Great Vowel Shift in the 15th and 16th centuries changed the pronunciation of many English words, contributing to the differences between spelling and speech.
Today, English has multiple dialects, including British, American, Australian, and Canadian English. It is also the foundation for various creoles and pidgins spoken around the world.
Asterix speaks English
The Asterix series has been widely translated into English, with the first translations appearing in 1969. Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge were the most influential translators, known for their clever adaptation of the humor, wordplay, and puns in the original French versions. They localized many of the jokes and cultural references to make them more accessible to English-speaking audiences while maintaining the original spirit of the stories. Character names were often adjusted to reflect their traits and add humor — for example, Assurancetourix (the bard) became Cacofonix in English, referencing his terrible singing. The translators also preserved the essence of the Latin and historical references that are central to the series’ humor. Their work is widely praised for balancing accuracy with creative liberty, helping Asterix become a beloved series in English-speaking countries.
In recent years the publisher Dalen, as small publisher in West Wales, has released quite a few albums in languages other than English that are spoken in Great Britain and Ireland. Welsh, Gaelic, Irish and Scots albums are still widely available. Collectors are looking forward to a Cornish release.
Little Fred and Big Ed
Before the widely known English translations by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge, Asterix was first introduced to British readers in the early 1960s through a serialized version in Valiant magazine. In this adaptation, Asterix and Obelix were portrayed as Britons resisting Roman occupation rather than Gauls, and their names were changed to Little Fred and Big Ed to appeal to British audiences. This version was short-lived and less faithful to the original spirit of the series, but it marked the first attempt to introduce Asterix to the English-speaking world.
Placing Asterix and Obelix in a different setting than Gaul, or the area they visit in the originals, is something the German Mundart releases seem to do quite often as well.
Dogmatix
Since 2025 Papercutz has started releasing English translations of Dogmatix and the Indomitables. We can finally enjoy the adventures of Dogmatix and his friends in English.
Nanette McGuiness is credited for translating Volume 1. She is responsible for many recent US English translations.
It is unknown if there will be UK English translations of the Dogmatix stories as well.