Hogwarts Motto / Draco's name

[David Paterson]

No: HPFGUIDX 70391

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Susan Smith" 
<atroposgryffin at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "David Paterson" 
<david_p at i...> 
> wrote:
> <SNIP>
> 

>> Word by word, the motto translates:
>> 
>> DRACO - Dragon
>> DORMIENS - Sleeping
>> NUNQUAM - Never
>> TITILLANDUS - Tickle
>> 
>> That's a direct translation.  Putting into current order and 
adding 
>> an article, it would read "Never tickle a sleeping dragon".
>> 
>> One caveat is in order (ooh, it's Latin everywhere today!):
>> literal word for word translations are not necessarily correct
>> (regardless of the languages involved).  Idiomatic expressions
>> can't be taken word for word; instead, an equivalent expression
>> must be found.
>> 
>> Thus (in my long-winded way) I'm saying that both translations are 
>> probably correct.

> 
> Thank you very much!  But, does it tie in with Draco, or is it just 
> typical JKR red herring?

I don't think so - "Draco" is latin for Dragon; I doubt Helga, 
Rowena, Goderic and (drawing a blank on his first name) Slytherin sat 
down and wrote a motto anticipating a little prat who'd come along 
hundreds of years later.

That being said, many names in the series are suggestive of the 
character's traits.  Draco is an aggressive, fiery character; I'd say 
he lives up to his name.

David P

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