Voices and Magic

[subrosax99]

No: HPFGUIDX 74996

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Tasukibeth1 at c... wrote:
> In a message dated 8/2/2003 9:12:42 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
> SnapesSlytherin at a... 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


Great questions! I cannot even begin to imagine what would happen to 
a witch or wizard who was born mute. Something like a squib maybe? I 
suppose they could still do things like potions or herbology. I could 
be wrong, but I don't recall any instance where magical commands were 
needed for a potion.
As for the magical commands, I suspect they are the same no matter 
what the spoken language of the individual wizard. They are probably 
codified in one language, similar to the way Latin is used in 
scientific nomenclature.


Allyson