Occam's Razor: Oops, I may have cut myself!

[jkusalavagemd]

No: HPFGUIDX 42794

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "porphyria_ash" <porphyria at m...> wrote:
> I'd just like to remind everyone that Avada Kedavra derives from 
the 
> *Aramaic.* (Speaking of giving other language families their due.) 
I 
> shall quote from Steve's invaluable lexicon:
> 
> <<
> Avada Kedavra
> Aramaic: "adhadda kedhabhra" - "let the thing be destroyed".  
> NOTE: Abracadabra is a cabbalistic charm in Judaic mythology that 
is 
> supposed to bring healing powers. One of its sources is believed to 
> be from Aramaic avada kedavra, another is the Phoenician alphabet 
(a-
> bra-ca-dabra).  
> >>
> 
> http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/spells_a.html#avada%20kedavra 

I am continually impressed by new evidence of JKR's meticulous 
research in her writing, but, as much as I would like to believe that 
she consciously alluded to this "adhadda Kedhabhra" spell, I wonder 
if coincidence has reared its head.  I am no scholar of Aramaic, but 
the transliteration of the spell provided is "close, but no cigar."  
If a correct transliteration were as close as the one in the above 
NOTE, I would enthusiastically agree that JKR had used it as a 
source.  I find more compelling the explanation of "Abra cadabra" as 
the charm from the Kaballah, which meaning is the opposite of the 
intent of the AV Unforgivable Curse.  For me, at least, this rings of 
coincidence, not intent.  Who, other than JKR, knows the truth of 
it?  The richness of her prose allows for both our opinions, and the 
enjoyment of arguing either side.  Thank you for the information on 
the Kabbalah and the Aramaic.  Whether is explains the AV curse or 
not, I am the richer for it.

Haggridd