Use of names

[Milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 18725

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Haggridd" <jkusalavagemd at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amy Z" <aiz24 at h...> wrote:
> > David wrote:
> > 
> > > One of the ways that JKR shows the different characters of the 
> > > different teachers is in their use of first names.  So, for 
> example, 
> > > McGonagall uses 'Mr Potter', 'Miss Grainger', etc most of the 
> time. 
> >  
> > > Snape often just says 'Potter' or 'Longbottom'.  Notice too 
> Dobby's 
> > > rather inexpert grasp of names.
> > 
> > > 
> > > Dumbledore almost without exception uses first names for 
everyone 
> > > (though there are exceptions).  It is he who lets us first know 
> what 
> > > these names are in many cases.  So I think calling 
Moody 'Alastor' 
> > is 
> > > what I'd expect, even after a fairly slight acqaintance.  He 
does, 
> > > however, refer to other teachers as 'Professor...' when talking 
to 
> > > Harry, even correcting him in PS/SS when Harry refers 
to 'Snape' 
> > > without title.
> > > 
> > <snip>
> > 
> 
> 
> I believe that Dumbledore uses first names for two reasons: first, 
he 
> is in a superior or an equal position to everyone we have yet 
> encountered, including the Minister of Magic.  Using the familiar 
> address reinforces this.  Second, he uses first names to defuse 
> situations where passions are running too high, a sort of verbal 
> reminder that "we are all on the same side here."  His use of the 
> familiar form of address is in distinction to his use of 
appropriate 
> honorific when referring to a person, especially in the presence of 
a 
> student.  As you have said, Albus dumbledore is most courteous.
> 
> > 
> > -Dumbledore calls students by their first names one-on-one (cf 
any 
> > conversation with Harry), but when speaking to them in front of 
> > others, may use their first names or call them "Mr. Potter and 
Miss 
> > Granger" (cf PA ch 21).  In large gatherings he almost always 
uses 
> the 
> > latter (cf "I am =not= joking, Mr. Weasley," at opening feast in 
> GF). 
> >  Dumbledore, in whatever situation, seems to be the model of 
> > courtesy (I get this from lots of Dumbledorean 
adverbs: "politely," 
> > "courteously,") so this familiarity does not seem to me to be 
> > rudeness.
> > 
> > 
> > -I'm interested in why those who call Voldemort by his name do 
so.  
> > Sirius and Remus do--Harry comments internally on the latter (PA 
> > 8)--but we get no explanation of why they are the only people 
> besides 
> > Dumbledore and Harry who don't do the You Know Who thing.  The 
> > implication is that they are less fearful and/or understand that 
> > creating a layer of mystery around the name just increases fear, 
but 
> I 
> > wonder whether it indicates that they're a part of a circle close 
to 
> > Dumbledore, have gotten the same talk he gave Harry, or what.  
> > 
> 
> Do you mean a circle such as the "Order of the Phoenix?"
> > 
> > 
> > Amy Z
> > who, like your typical USAmerican, prefers for everyone to call 
her 
> by 
> > her first name (as long as they permit her to do the same--don't 
you 
> > hate when doctors call you Joe but expect you to call them Dr. 
> Jones? 
> >  even if they're years younger than you?) but admits to a 
fondness 
> for 
> > the NY Times' old-fashioned practice of affixing a title to every 
> name
> > 
> Amy-- if I may so address you-- I am a physician and I run into the 
> situation you describe innumerable times.  It is my observation 
that 
> some patients prefer formality in their relationship with their 
> doctors.  These I address as "Mrs. or Miss So-and-So", or I take 
> refuge in the Southern practice of calling everybody "Ma'am" 
> irrespective of age or marital status.  You may have inferred from 
the 
> above that my practice is in Obstetrics & Gynecology.  There are 
those 
> who want some informality in the interaction and these I address 
> informally.  I quite agree with you that I never insist upon my 
> patients' calling me "Doctor" while addressing them by first name 
or 
> nickname.


Dumbledore has use the title "Mr." and "Miss" when referring to 
students in the books. In SS/PS he says that the toilet seat was sent 
by Messrs. Fred and George Weasley (or something to that effect). He 
does correct Harry for addressing Snape as "Snape". With the other 
adults, Dumbledore uses their given names in an informal situation. 
CoS, he calls Snape 'Severus' when Harry and Ron are in Snapes office 
after they whomped the Whomping Willow. Going by really strict (Emily 
Post, Letitia Baldridge, Amy Vanderbuilt type) etiquette, an adult 
can address another adult by his given name if they are close 
acquaintances. Children must address adults as Mr, Miss, etc.

IIRC, Snape addresses the male students by the surname and the female 
students as "Miss ______".

Slightly OT, I knew a pediatrician who used to address ALL his 
patients as "Mr." or "Miss." The children and their parents didn't 
mind this at all. 

:-)Milz