[HPforGrownups] Re: the term "professor" and titles in general (was: Snape's hair and status)

[robert haberfield]

No: HPFGUIDX 58597



Odile Falaise <odilefalaise at yahoo.com> wrote:
Patti muddied the cross-Atlantic waters a little more
by writing:
<<<in the US "Professor" is often more a title than
indication of rank. For 
instance in most US universities, the title "Doctor"
is more 
prestigious than "Professor", as Professor can be used
to address a 
teacher at the university level who does not have a
Ph.D. Most 
faculty members (who have Ph.D's) are addressed as
Doctor. >>> <snip>

And now I [Odile] am going to make the waters even
murkier:

Back to res Harrius Pottericus, why is it that some
female teachers are addressed as "Madame" (Madame
Pomfrey, Madame Hooch) and some are addressed as
"Professor" (Professor McGonagall)?  I know that this
is (probably) movie contamination, but I always
wondered about it because in film version of CoS,
Dumbledore addresses Sprout as both Madame and
Professor.  They're not interchangeable, are they?  Is
"Madame" an honorific?

And while I'm at it, why is Voldemort a "Lord," yet
the seemingly aristocratic Malfoy is "Mister"?  Or is
that movie contamination as well?


Robert (in the UK)

You are getting into very murky water with this line of thought.  We call Doctors (medical) Doctor, but we call Surgeons (Higher rank) Mr. (Mister).  Talking too a University Lecturer we would call him Sir (nothing to do with a Knighthood), talking about him we would say Professor, only provided he had a Ph.D., otherwise he will be Mr.

As for Madame, it can be used to refer to "almost" any either married or older women, it is in no way derogetory.

So Mr. L. Malfoy is only a Mr., Lord V. is a name and not a title. Are Mamames Pomfrey and Hooch Ph.D's., IMO no.

I do nt know if I have made things any clearer?

Robert 



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