OoP - A "mate" question for the Brits

[bluesqueak]

No: HPFGUIDX 65467

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "darrin_burnett" 
<bard7696 at a...> wrote:
> Ok, did anyone else get really tired of Ron saying "mate" every 
other 
> sentence?
> 
> That's the first time I can recall Ron calling Harry "mate" and I 
> don't think -- though I could be wrong -- anyone else has ever 
> called him "mate." (Maybe Fred and George did, but I don't 
> remember.)

> My question for any British folks, is whether or not "mate" is 
> something guys don't say to each other until age 15 or 16.
> 
> I know, what with all the other stuff in the book, this is 
> relatively small, but I'm re-reading it now and it is really 
> annoying me. :)

It *is* annoying, especially in real life. Adolescent boys and young 
men where I am (East London) call each other 'mate' at practically 
the end of every sentence. It drives you crackers. 

JKR has actually caught it exactly - very much something that starts 
in adolescence, and it can start overnight and then spread to the 
entire gang. Suddenly these young teenagers are acting all macho and 
calling each other 'mate' at every opportunity. 

Ron quite possibly picked it up from Dean Thomas, who as a West Ham 
teenager would definitely use 'mate' all the time. 

Pip!Squeak