[HPforGrownups] Re: honorifics

[Patricia Bullington-McGuire]

No: HPFGUIDX 55771

On Mon, 21 Apr 2003, The Fox wrote:

> I stand by my earlier theory -- that "Madam" is used by witches whose 
> marital status is irrelevant to the discussion requiring their names.

Possibly, but it also seems to be used primarily by women who are in
positions of authority.  Madam Hooch, Madam Pomfrey and Madam Pince are
all important people at the school and children are expected to obey them,
even if they are not full professors.  Madam Rosmerta's position doesn't
seem as lofty (perhaps that's why she seems to use her first name with
'Madam'), but she is the proprietor of her own establishment and is the
head honcho within those doors.  Or, calling a glorified barmaid 'Madam'
may be a friendly joke and/or term of affection, informally elevating her
to a position of authority that she doesn't technically qualify for.

----
Patricia Bullington-McGuire	<patricia at obscure.org>

The brilliant Cerebron, attacking the problem analytically, discovered
three distinct kinds of dragon: the mythical, the chimerical, and the
purely hypothetical.  They were all, one might say, nonexistent, but each
nonexisted in an entirely different way ... 
                -- Stanislaw Lem, "Cyberiad"