honorifics

[Hollydaze]

No: HPFGUIDX 56207

I know this is four days late for thsi thread but I only noticed it last night and I didn't notice it in any of teh other posts.

Patricia Bullington-McGuire wrote: 
> 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.

JOdel said (in reply to Fox):
> Because we are depending on the perceptions of a Muggle-raised PoV character. 
> Have we ever heard Molly Weasley actually *called* Mrs. Weasley by anyone 
> other than Harry or the narriator? Have we ever heard Draco's mother *called* 
> Mrs Malfoy? I don't think so. That's Harry filling in the blanks acording to 
> the customs in which he was raised. 
> 
> The witches who are refered to as "Madam" such-and-such are the ones he has 
> *heard* refered to as such. I suspect that inside the wizarding world it is 
> Madam Malfoy and Madam Weasley, not Mrs.

JOdel may actually be right. I've just re-read the first few chapters of POA and noticed that on the Knight Bus a *Madam* Marsh is mentioned as getting off the bus. Ernie says "best go wake up Madam Marsh, Stan" (POA UK Hardback Pg 32) and then a "faintly green witch in a travelling cloak" follows Stan down the stairs and gets off. Madam Marsh isn't in a position of authority as far as we know. Although it could be argued that she is and Ernie and Stan know it but we don't - but that seems like pushing it a bit ;) 


HOLLYDAZE!!!

"No one's going to try and kill you until we've sorted a few things out," said Lupin.


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