Question: Baruffio and the buffalo

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 90194

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Brian" <bcbgx6 at y...> wrote:

Brian:
> I think, at least in my American edition, that there's a mistake 
> here.  The spell for levitation is "Wingardium Leviosa" and the 
> movement that accompanies it is "swish and flick."  There is no "f" 
> in "Wingardium Leviosa."  JKR could have had "swish and flick" on 
her 
> mind when she wrote the lines.  Or she could mean that if one 
> says "fwish and slick" while swishing and flicking the wand, as 
could 
> happen if one is really struggling to get the movement down 
> (saying "swish and flick" all the while), one could end up with a 
> buffalo on his/her chest.  

"'Now don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practising!' 
squeaked Professor Flitwick, perched on top of his pile of books as 
usual. 'Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the 
magic words properly is very important too - never forget Wizard 
Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor 
with a buffalo on his chest.'"

(PS "Hallowe'en" p.126 UK edition)

Geoff:
I read this as a /general/ comment from Flitwick about speaking 
clearly, not just the Wingardium Leviosa spell.

Even Harry learns that, if you don't speak clearly, things can go 
wrong, although he didn't finish up with a herbivore on him.....

"With a roar, the fire turned emerald green and rose higher than Fred 
who stepped right into it, shouted 'Diagon Alley' and vanished.
'You must speak clearly, dear,' Mrs.Weasley told Harry as George 
dipped his hand into the flowerpot. 'And mind you get out at the 
right grate...'"

(COS "At Flourish and Blotts" p,41 UK edition)

The moral of this is, if you are casting a spell or travelling by 
Floo, don't stuff your mouth full of bacon butty before you say 
anything....

I now need an excuse to use "morphophonologically" in a sentence.... 

Geoff