Voices and Magic

[SnapesSlytherin at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 74988

Can people who cannot speak (is "mute" an okay term to use?  I'm not sure and 
I don't like to offend people (unless it's a Snape thread and then I can't 
help myself!)) still do magic?  

I know that the Silenced Death Eater can (OoP US Hardback Page 792): 
"*Silencio*!" cried Hermione, and the man's voice was extinguished. (END QUOTE)

But was that only because he had had a voice to begin with?  We're told in 
PS/SS:
(SS US "Adult" Paperback Page 212) "Now, don't forget that nice wrist 
movement we've been practicing!" squeaked Professor Flitwick, perched on top of his 
pile of books as usual.  "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick.  *And 
saying the magic words properly is very important, too* - never forget the Wizard 
Bararuffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a 
buffalo on his chest." (Emphasis my own.  END QUOTE.)

Now, I suppose this could be taken to mean that amatuer wizards need to say 
the words to get the spell to work, while advanced ones could just think it.  
But if this is the case, then how do those who are not able to speak learn in 
the first place?  Can they be magic?  Well, that sound stupid...of course they 
can be magic I suppose.  I guess my real question is: Do you need to be able 
to speak to *practice* magic?

~*~*~Oryomai~*~*~
--Who apologizes profusely for the word definition post, she meant to only 
send that to one person but is an idiot and didn't change the e-mail.  I'm so 
sorry!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]