Weasley accents/regional clues

[a_reader2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 81867

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Ali" <Ali at z...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jeffl1965" <jeffl1965 at h...> 
> wrote in a discussion about the Weasleys having "Cockney" accents:
> (big snip)
>
> My reading of the Potterverse is that Ron has a vaguely Southern 
> accent. He seems to speak with *more* of an accent then Harry. The 
> movie characters also seem to follow this interpretation.
(snip)
> 
> Ali

Comment from CW:

OTH, there is a scene where he is eating at a feast and he is 
described as reaching for some 'black pudding' in preference to some 
other 'foreign' food on offer. I can't quite remember which book this 
is (maybe the feast in GoF when the Beauxbatons delegation first 
arrive). Anyway, the point of mentioning this particular food is that 
it is a highly traditional sausage from Northern England, made mainly 
from fresh blood, fat and spices (I'm told its delicious, but can't 
face trying it myself !). I think the actual origin is Manchester or 
Newcastle (no doubt other listies will swoop in to correct me here !).

In the UK, this sausage is routinely used as a comic cliche to 
identify people from the North. It is supposed to indicate earthy, 
working class, unpretentious tastes, and as such in the books it 
indicates how different Ron is in style and background to eg 
Hermione, who having a typical middle class southern background knows 
and likes French food such as bouillebaisse.

Also, on the Devon location, I've pointed out before (and so have 
others) that it would be difficult for Muggle taxis to drive to Kings 
Cross from Devon in the few hours described in GoF (they leave about 
8.30 am maybe, and get there in time for the 11am train). It would 
take more like 4-5 hours, and that's assuming the London traffic was 
not too bad (and it always is - trust me, I live in London !!).