Where are the Scots? Was Interim Report Re: HP on Audio: Dale v. Fry Taste Test

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 17860

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "ender_w" <ender_w at m...> wrote:
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Haggridd 
>   To: HPforGrownups at y... 
>   Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2001 11:03 PM
>   Subject: [HPforGrownups] Interim Report Re: HP on Audio: Dale v. 
Fry Taste Test
> 
> 
>   --- In HPforGrownups at y..., catherine at c... wrote:
>   > 
>   > I love his Prof Mcgonagall.  For me, has given it the right 
amount  
>     of sharpness - and he hasn't fallen into the trap of giving her 
a 
>   > Scottish accent which would probably sound too comical, and 
would 
>   > give her less dignity than she deserves.  The sections in CoS 
and 
>   > GoF, when she is portrayed as softening slightly are also well
>   done, IMO.
>   > 
>    To my American ears, MacGonagall's Scots voice by Dale is
>   appropriate, and in no way comical.
> 
> 
>   I was wondering about that comment.  Why would a Scottish accent 
be considered comical?  Is that a bit of local prejudice?  I also 
find it interesting that Rowling, who lives in Scotland and has set 
Hogwarts in Scotland, has given us no overtly scottish characters, 
aside from, possibly, McGonagall and MacNair...unless I'm missing 
something (and I'm sure you'll all let me know if I am :)
>   Other than that we have a rather diverse group of characters of 
African, Irish, Eastern and Asian descent. Where are the Scots?  And 
what about the Welsh, for that matter?
> 
>   Ender 

Clarification:  I don't think that the Scottish accent is 
funny/comical.  In fact, I really like it - it is very expressive and 
can sound quite soft and musical.  But, when most actors attempt it, 
it becomes overblown and OTT - or they slip in and out of it too 
much.  I am not saying that Stephen Fry would do the same thing, but 
it is possible.  

The other reason why I prefer Prof McGonagall accentless is that no 
where in canon does she sound as though she does have a Scottish 
accent.  I am probably going to be shot down now by everyone who 
lives in Scotland/is Scottish (and I am part - I have relatives in 
Glasgow) but most people I know from Scotland don't merely speak with 
a Scottish accent, but there are also certain words of dialect they 
will use - however slightly.  There is no indication of this at all 
in JKR's McGonagall.  After all - just because her name is Scottish 
doesn't mean she was brought up in Scotland, does it?

Catherine
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]