Snape's Title (was: Snape the Control Freak)

[alhewison]

No: HPFGUIDX 37716

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Edblanning at a... wrote:

> This point of Snape's title has been brought up before and I just 
wanted to 
> put a British perspective on it, as I think the titles have 
different 
> implications on either side of the Atlantic.
> 
> Master (or Mistress) is a normal term for a teacher over here, Form 
Master, 
> Maths Master, etc. It doesn't carry any implications for us of 
particular 
> skill or rank. Professor is a different matter though and IRL, is 
normally 
> used only for the head of a university department. The only 
departure from 
> this rule that I am aware of is at the Music Colleges, where the 
teachers 
> *are* known as professors. I think that this is an archaic usage 
(cf 
> Charlotte Bronte's _The Professor_). In HP, it seems to be being 
used as a 
> wizarding title for a teacher, simply, I would suggest, because it 
*is* 
> archaic, like quills and parchment.
> 
I also thought that JKR uses the term "professor" rather than Mr, Mrs 
Miss etc. This way she doesn't have to give any indication about the 
female teachers marital status. Given that she has said that this 
will be important later, but she's not ready to tell us yet.(Sorry I 
can't remember what interview that was from). 

Ali

(Who has only read the books 12 times in the past 3 years, so is 
obviously lagging way behind the likes of UncMark!)