[HPforGrownups] OT: Latin (was boggart)

Lumen Dei lumen_dei at freeler.nl
Sun May 13 15:19:23 UTC 2001


No: HPFGUIDX 18672

Since I don't want to fill anyone's box with something they might not deem of interest, I will only give the first paragraphs of a reflection I wrote for my HP website.  Yes, her Latin/French usage is wonderful.  Although it can throw you a bit as when she combines the two language in "Morsmordre!" 

  
EXPECTO PATRONUM!

By now everyone has discovered the meaning of the incantation, "Expecto Patronum". Flawless Latin for "I expect a patron." A defender, a helper, a protector. But is that correct? There is another step to take in uncovering the meaning of the incantation. Any decent Latin dictionary will tell you that the root of patronus is pater--father. The real cry Rowling places on Harry's lips is : I expect a father. And while we might slip by with translating "I expect a patron" into "Expecto patronum" (and I only say 'might'), you would never get away with translating "Expecto patronum" as "I expect a patron." Expectare in Latin is far more intense. It is to long for, to desire, to hope for, to lean out the windows as your eyes scour the horizon. Which rather fits the scene--when encircled by dementors, one does tend to feel rather strongly about the idea of assistance!

Expecto patronus. "I yearn for a father" is really the heart of the second book, The Chamber of Secrets, or so it seems to me. There is a search going on in the book Indeed in all three books. Harry is rightly named "the seeker." The search for one's father, and most important, what happens when he isn't there.....

www.geocities.com/lumen_dei/patronus.html

Lumen Dei
Harry Potter's Philosopher's Shop  -- "Have Wand, Will Wave"
www.geocities.com/lumen_dei


  Graig told us:

  > Well, patronus (long mark on the a and the o) is straightforward
  > Latin, second declension, meaning "protector, defender, patron".

  I think this site might interest very many of us, since Latin is a 
  part of HP books:

  www.yle.fi/fbc/latini

  It's Finnish radio that sends Nuntii Latini-program via satellite all 
  over the world. Five minutes of latest news in latin once a week. I 
  think they started sending programs in the Net too lately. They also 
  answer questions about latin and from archives you can read news few 
  months back.

  I have studied latin only a year, but it is delightful to understand 
  what charms mean and where the names come from. I have also enjoyed 
  very much of your discussion about names and their origins. I just 
  thought if anybody is interested about collecting HP names in finnish 
  I could look them up.

  Jenny
  zenonah at yahoo.com



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