[HPforGrownups] Voices and Magic

[Tasukibeth1 at cs.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 74994

In a message dated 8/2/2003 9:12:42 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
SnapesSlytherin at aol.com writes:


> 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?

I am guessing that many spells require the use of words (It's LeviOOOOsa!), 
but there are also spells that do not. Apperating does not seem to need any 
vocal commands, and Harry has done many, many spells without using magic words, 
such as regrowing his hair as a child, causing the glass at the zoo to vanish, 
causing aunt Marge's wine glass to break, and blowing up Aunt Marge. As for 
wizards who are born mute, that's an interesting quandry - does anyone have a 
theory?

And that also leaves me to wonder, do identical spells work in other 
languages? I assume that the French and Bulgarian students speak...uh...French and 
Bulgarian, but are wizarding commands in a language all their own? Are spells in 
Esperanto (j/k), or does the French version of Accio sound different than the 
British version of Accio?

Beth, who has digressed. Sorry


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