[HPforGrownups] Silent magic?

[Tammy Rizzo]

No: HPFGUIDX 110242

vidar_fe wrote:

>Already in the first book we were told how important it is to 
>pronounce the spells in the exactly right way (everybody remembers 
>Win-GAR-dium Levi-O-sa? :-)). But then, if you look in Fantastic 
>Beasts, in the description of Lethifolds, there is a description of a 
>lethifold attack. In this description the unlucky victim uses three 
>different spells, the Stupefying Charm, the Impediment Hex and the 
>Patronus Charm, without uttering one singel word. We know for sure 
>that he didn`t speak because the Lethifold covered his mouth, trying 
>to suffocate him. How is this possible?
>
>Sorry if this already has been throughoutly discussed. I`m new on 
>this list, and don`t quite have the time to look through all 
>prprevious postings. :-)
>
>By the way: English is not my native language, so please bear with 
>any misspellings.
>
>  
>

My take on this is that, while the student wizard is learning the spells 
and charms and what-not, he must use every single step in sequence, 
including the absolute correct pronunciation.  This is to help train the 
wizard's magic to respond properly to a series of cues.  Once he has 
mastered the basics of any particular spell, then, over time, as he 
grows stronger and more confident, he can start to take 'shortcuts' with 
certain spells, dropping steps here and there, as long as his mental 
state is such that the cues he gives triggers the proper magic.

I see it much like when you're starting maths like algebra, when you are 
docked points for not showing every single step along the way to the 
solution on your school papers, even though, as you get older, your mind 
can breeze through certain steps or take shortcuts, and still arrive at 
the correct answer.

Dumbledore is notorious for not using what we'd call 'spells'.  He just 
waves his wand and there's a chair, or a dining hall full of sleeping 
bags, or what ever.  There aren't many wizards around as old and 
accomplished and skilled as he is, though -- most other wizards or 
witches would need to use the full spell and special wand movement, to 
accomplish what he does with hardly a flick.  It all boils down to 
practice and exprience, I feel.

-- 

***
Tammy Rizzo
ms-tamany at rcn.com