[HPforGrownups] HP books (British), languages, blokes and journals

[Neil Ward]

No: HPFGUIDX 6692

> Rita wrote: "I've heard that the British are almost equally pathetic about
> learning languages. Perhaps there is something about the English language
> such that learning English as a first language does permanent damage to
the
> language learning areas of the brain?"

Simon replied:

>...A large part of the problem, IMO,
> is that too many people (I am very much included in this) are happy to let
> the foreigner speak English, and sometimes even expect them to do so,
rather
> than make any effort to learn their language.

***

There is also the fact that English is often the language of choice for
communication - especially for the young and well-travelled - so there is
less need for English speakers to learn other languages.  When visiting
friends in Germany I found it frustrating that virtually everyone I
encountered preferred to fine tune their already-fluent English rather than
listen to me stumbling through German.  When I did speak German, I
encountered looks ranging from 'bored but tolerant' to 'barely suppressed
amusement' (especially when I accidentally told someone I was a nun).

There doesn't seem to be much in the way of language tuition at Hogwarts.
Most British schools would teach French as a second language from age 11/12
and offer other languages to older students, but our gang appear to have
avoided that (and several other standard subjects) by virtue of having a
curriculum of magical subjects to get through.  I don't recall anyone
attempting to speak French to the Beauxbatons visitors in GoF, for example,
although the accents of the foreign students were highlighted and even
ridiculed.

How do British witches and wizards deal with foreign languages if they don't
learn them?  Is there a spell that acts like the Universal Translator in
"Star Trek"?   Is there an accelerated-learning spell, which gives the
caster linguistic prowess?  If they don't bother to learn foreign languages,
how do they deal with foreign-language spell books?  Shouldn't they learn
classical languages, at least, to gain an understanding of the meanings of
spell words?

Bis spaeter!

Neil

_____________________________________

Flying-Ford-Anglia

"Ron, full of turkey and cake and with nothing
mysterious to bother him, fell asleep almost
as soon as he'd drawn the curtains of his
four-poster."

[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]