Rosmerta - First or Last name

[Marcelle]

No: HPFGUIDX 128712

> Sherry now:
> 
> I don't have my braille books handy and it's too crazy to look up 
one particular section in an audio book, but do any adults call 
Rosemerta "Madam"?  Could the title be more of a respect thing for 
the children to use?  When my best friends boys were very small they 
called me "Miss Sherry", because their parents wanted them to use 
some kind of respectful title when addressing adults.  They didn't 
like the way kids were going around calling any and all adults by 
their first names and wanted them to learn some respect for older 
people.  now, the kids call me Aunt Sherry, but it's the same 
principle except that I'm considered a member of the family and they 
gave me a family title.  

> However, as we see in the Potter books, the kids routinely call 
adults some sort of formal title.  Here in the states, it's become 
old-fashioned for kids to refer to adults by titles like Mr. or Mrs. 
in many cases.  Yet in the Potter world, Harry always refers to the 
Weasley parents as Mr. or Mrs., just to name one example.  So, i 
always thought the words Madam Rosemerta were sort of a courtesy 
used mostly by the hoards of school children.
> 
> Sherry

celletiger here:
Titles are about respect/good manners, IMHO.  
DD has to remind Harry to say "Professor" Snape. Harry doesn't 
respect Snape.  In contrast, I'd bet that the students always say 
*Professor* McGonnogal, b/c they respect her.  HRH say "Hagrid" b/c 
he is their friend. I think they say Madame Rosmerta b/c its 
courteous. 

I'm from the Southern US, and in my culture, positivley *every* 
female that is at least one generation older than *you* and not 
family or a pseudo-aunt is refered to as "Miss First Name" no matter 
their married status or career status.  "Miss First Name" to us down 
here is simply courteous. Friends from different parts of the 
country tell me they think this is strange.  And from the original 
post on this topic, apparently, Sherry and I are in the minority in 
thinking that it's just good manners and not disrespectful that 
Rosmerta isn't called by her last name.  Madame, or Miss Rosmerta 
(as a first name) seems perfectly normal to me.  

celletiger, aka Aunt Celle or Miss Marcelle, but certainly NOT Mrs. 
My Last Name