Rosmerta - First or Last name

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 128635

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Lea" <ajroald at y...> wrote:
> Had an interesting conversation with another HP friend of mine about 
> Madam Rosmerta.  I've always thought that Rosmerta was her last name, 
> and was surprised to find out others think it is her first name. So, 
> I'm wondering what your opinions are?
> 
> My reasoning for believing this to be her last name:
> 
> Madam Pomfrey (Poppy Pomfrey),  Madam Pince (Irma Pince), .... So why 
> would Madam Rosmerta be different and be a first name?

bboyminn:

I think Rosmerta is her first name. I was hoping more people from
Britian would respond to confirm, but I don't think this intermediate
from of address is that uncommon. Indeed that is exactly what it is,
an intermediate form of address that shows both respect and an
informal familiarity.

For example, it wouldn't be uncommon for a servant who is on very
comfortable terms with the young son of his employer, to refer to the
son as  Master 'first name' as in Master William, Master Harry,
etc.... Again, showing both respect and comfortable familiarity. I've
seen this often in literature and movies/TV. One would assume that for
a girl in the same situation, she would be referred to as Miss 'first
name'.

Given that Rosmerta is in the hospitality business, she and her
customers would want to be on very friendly terms, but even with that
friendliness, they would not actually be social friends. Madame
Rosmerta is a business woman, which deserves respect, but since she is
in the business of 'serving' people, that softens her position by
demanding some deferential respect from her. So they reach an unspoken
social compromise, resulting in the combination of a formal title and
the friendly familiar first name.

In Fudge's case, he is the Minister of Magic, presumably the hightest
office in the land, that puts him in a position where he has little
need to be deferential to anyone. Which is why he is comfortable
calling Rosmerta by just her first name. Indeed, it is probable a
social plus for Rosmerta to be address in such a comfortable and
familiar way by the Minister. I suspect few common people are on first
name basis with the Minister.

So what we are seeing her is a not unprecedented example of a blend of
the formal and the familiar.

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn