Weasley accents/regional clues

[jeffl1965]

No: HPFGUIDX 81895

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "a_reader2003" 
<carolynwhite2 at a...> wrote:

> 
> 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.
> 

   Jeff:

    Ah, very true!! I'd forgotten about the food!! I don't often pay 
attention to those details, unless it's a food that I either am 
unfamiliar with or just sounds disgusting. :) But it is true about 
the regions, just like I've always heard fish and chips used, but now 
in some novels and tv, they say fish and crisps. They also don't 
always wrap'em in newspaper anymore. Sad to see that. The greasier, 
the better. :) That was very enlightening about the sausage, as I'd 
always seen it used as a comic ploy to gross the kids out. I wish I 
could quote where all I'd seen it used, but I can't. 



> 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 !!).


   Jeff:

   Is it possible that they took a portkey first? Since Arthur has to 
go to work in London, wouldn't there be one nearby that would take 
him somewhere in London, then they could take a taxi to the station? 
I know he could take a broom or use floo powder, but I don't recall 
any mention of that.




  Jeff