Accents in the WW was Stan Shunpike's accent

[Ali]

No: HPFGUIDX 45557

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Sydney" <sydpad at y...> wrote:
  
> I haven't lived in England very long, but it's been long enough for 
> me to appreciate the exceptional bitterness of the class issue, 
> which in terms of psychic angst is closer to the race issue in the 
> US than to anything else. 

Hmn, I'm not sure that I can agree with that. Class is an issue in 
Britain, but I don't believe that for the majority of the population 
it carries with it "psychic angst". People like to be proud of 
their "working class roots". "Posh" accents are often ridiculed, and  
yet, regional accents are often diluted as careers take off. 
Historically we have been very "classist". This hasn't disappeared, 
but diluted yes. Class is now officially defined by socio-economic 
methods and the traditional classifications are becoming redundant.

Sydney goes on to say:-
  
> I've come across a number of posts regarding this young man's 
> education, and as far as I can tell the only evidence advanced 
> that he DIDN'T go to Hogwarts, is that of his broad London 
> cockney.  It is naturally assumed, that Hogwarts student's 
> accents would gravitate towards a Merlin's English Standard, so 
> in deviating from this, Stan is showing his muddy boots and 
> state schooling.
> 
SNIP:- Analysis of Stan's different speeches:-
 
> My feeling about Stan is that:
> 
> -- he's a wizard, so he went to Hogwarts.  Period.  Where he 
> aquired the ability, when he chooses, to speak MES (Merlin 
> English Standard)
> 
> -- he's London born, and till age 11, bred.  Hence, "nuffink".
> 
> -- I'll guess Muggle-born, because he a) didn't have the 
> connections to get a better job out of school (class DOES count, 
> after all), and b) was even more terrified than your avarage 
> wizard at the meniton of Voldemort: "Me 'eart's goin' that fast..."


I have a slightly different take on the accent issue.

If we are to take the Weasleys, Hagrid etc as the norm; wizards seem 
to have little contact with their Muggle neighbours. IMO the fact 
that their material possessions and use of technology pin them in the 
past confirms this. Wizards use Floo powder, broomsticks and 
apparition mean that they can easily socialise with other wizards in 
Britain at least.

Is it not a fact that our accents tend to conform to those we spend 
our time with? Why then do Hagrid and Stan appear to have notably 
different accents from the majority of wizards we come across? I can 
understand Muggle-borns arriving at Hogwarts with regional muggle 
accents. But, I am inclined to believe that their accents would soon 
conform to their WW-born counterparts - whether subconsciously or 
not. It is my belief that the WW would have it's own accent, 
segregated as they appear to be from the Muggle World. My 
interpretation of canon is however that they speak standard BBC 
English - Merlin English if you wish! Muggle-borns who seem to take 
to wizarding robes, fires and quills instead of the modern-muggle 
alternatives are not likely to "show" themselves by keeping a 
different accent.

Perhaps linguistic experts will disagree, but don't accents change 
and merge according to the company we keep? As an example, an 
Australian friend has recently returned to Sydney after a 3 year 
stint in Britain. Her accent has changed so much that she is now 
called "English Liz"

I am inclined to think that the different accents which JKR uses for 
Stan and Hagrid are given for comic, literary purpose only. They do 
however militate against her vision of a classless Hogwarts. We are 
given the impression that wizards in unprofessional roles have 
regional accents compared to the BBC accents of those who do not. If 
JKR portrayed students with strong regional accents, then I would 
have no trouble accepting Hagrid's "killins" etc. The fact that they 
don't, leads to the impression of class as an issue. This is contrary 
to the care taken to show us that milkmens children, manor-born 
children and poverty stricken children all have a rightful claim to a 
Hogwarts place.

BTW I'm deliberately blurring the distinction between Hogwarts 
specifically and the WW in general. My argument being that ex-pupils 
of Hogwarts would probably have a fairly standard accent. This might 
be an argument in favour of there being some kind of wizarding 
apprentise system or alternate education. However, I don't believe 
this to be the case. The places of Hagrid and Neville at Hogwarts 
would be hard to justify - on evidence to date, if there was a 
different system for them. Why would a near-squib (Neville) attend 
Hogwarts but say Stan not?*

*Perhaps this is an argument for Neville not showing his true 
abilities yet...

Ali

Who has a slight London accent which gets stronger when she is 
nervous or merry - but which also changes according to who she's 
talking to. 
> .