Hermione's rhetorical questions

[cantoramy <cantor@vgernet.net>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52187

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "David <dfrankiswork at n...>" 
<dfrankiswork at n...> wrote:
> Amy Z pondered: <<<<< Hermione has a habit of ending sentences 
with 
> an interrogative (hey, does anyone know what this grammatical 
> structure is called?):
> > 
> > "His *slave*, you mean!" said Hermione, her voice rising 
> > shrilly.  "Because he didn't *pay* Winky, did he?" (10)
> > 
> > "Double Divination this afternoon," Harry groaned . . . .
> >   "You should have given it up like me, shouldn't you?" said 
> Hermione 
> > briskly.  (13)
> > 
> > "What are they doing here?" said Harry in surprise.
> >   "They organized the Triwizard Tournament, didn't they?" said 
> > Hermione. (16)
> > 
> > Etc. etc.  While innocent in many cases, in many others, and as 
a 
> > cumulative effect, this phrasing has an air of "isn't it 
obvious?" 
> > that can get on the nerves of even one's best friends.  And yes, 
> they 
> > love her anyway.  And so do I.>>>>>>>>
> 
> Penny commented:
> 
> > Actually, correct me if I'm wrong, Brits, but I think this is 
just 
> Brit-speak (ending sentences with "isn't it obvious" questions of 
> that nature).  Hermione is actually not the only character to do 
> this, though perhaps it does fall into her dialogue more 
frequently 
> than others.  
> 
> Me now:
> 
> I'd say that habit is regional (London) and to a considerable 
extent 
> class-based (working).  Hermione doesn't fit the pattern in any 
> other way, IMO.  It's difficult to comment on the examples Amy 
gives 
> without going back and reading the context, but I'd agree with Amy 
> about the cumulative effect.  There are all sorts of reasons for 
> ending a statement with a rhetorical question, yes, but IMO no 
> unusual idiom here.
> 
> It have just realised the irony that in the kitchen scene Hermione 
> speaks up for Elfish freedom by telling the House-elves what they 
> ought to think, while Ron who favours their repression expresses 
> respectful appreciation for their services.
> 
> David, on to Ginny next


Answering with a question?  LOL!  

First person:  "Jewish people always respond with a question."
Second person:  "We do?" [this joke is older than dirt;)]

Seriously, Hermione sounds just like my mother used to (and 
sometimes still does) and probably sounds like me when I speak to my 
kids.  Yes, she is book-smart, well-read, and self-assured.  It 
always seems to surprise her when Harry and Ron are unsure of their 
futures.  She probably has everything all figured out and knows 
exactly what she shall be and where she shall live when she had 
graduated from Hogwarts, and cannot understand why nobody else has 
his or her life all planned.  She isn't thought of as a know-it-all 
for nothing, you know!  But people like their friends in spite of 
their faults, don't they?

cantoramy