[HPforGrownups] Magic/Languages was:BIll Weasley as DADA?

[Christopher Nehren]

No: HPFGUIDX 115999


LisaMarie:
> This comment about the curses in other languages brings up a question in my 
> mind, but I am at a loss as to how to phrase it so that it can be understood by 
> folks outside of my own head.  Forgive me if it is too technical; I love to study 
> languages and therefore cannot help myself!
> 
> Magic and languages.  This makes me wonder: Are there language barriers 
> in the magical world?  I mean, I know that wizards/witches in other countries 
> speak other languages besides English Fleur and Krum), but what about the 
> language of magic itself?  Are the spells universal (read: accessible to users 
> of any language), or are they language-specific?  An example may help me 
> illustrate my question.  I'll use Bill Weasley.

The "language of magic" seems to be (for the most part, anyway) an
amalgamation of Latin, pseudo-Latin, and Aramaic. Consider all of the
different languages in just the areas surrounding Hogwarts: various
types of English, numerous Celtic and Gaelic dialects, and so forth --
even some Teutonic influences in the earlier forms of what I'll call
English for lack of a better term. All of these different people have
collaborated and devised the usage of mostly Latin and some Aramaic (as
seen so far, of course -- no one can predict what will come in books six
and seven) for the purpose of using magic. Why Latin / Aramaic? That's a
whole thread in and of itself, though I believe that it has something to
do with the "ceremonious" nature of those languages, both from a
real-world perspective and from a literary perspective. In this
perspective, Sanskrit would also serve well.

Of course, this raises the question of why Latin and Aramaic are used.
To me, this is a question of the very foundation and essence of magic in
the Potter world. We know of wandless, silent magic and its power (cf.
most especially the fight between Dumbledore and Voldemort in OotP).
Thus, I postulate that not only wands, but also spell words serve as
focal points for the caster. Some don't need them, but most do. It is
the employment of magical energy that matters -- not the words or the
wand behind said energy.

[examples snipped]

> Lisa, hoping she hasn't bored anyone to the point of tears 
> :)

Far from it, at least in my opinion.

Best regards,
Christopher Nehren

-- 
I abhor a system designed for the "user", if that word is a coded
pejorative meaning "stupid and unsophisticated".  -- Ken Thompson
-
Unix is user friendly. However, it isn't idiot friendly.