Names wordplay and flowers

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 160796

LG wrote:
> > > This one might be old news, but I just realized it. For the 
> > > spell Expecto Patronum--James' animagus figure was a stag, so 
> > > when Harry thinks happy thoughts while needing a protector 
> > > against dementors, he "expects (expecto) his father 
> > > (patronum)." I'm not sure he realizes it's his father's 
> > > help/force, but it seems so to me. 
 
Lynda wrote:
> > Not only do I agree, but through the years, I've been surprised 
> > that people haven't seemed to pick up on this idea more. I 
> > haven't even seen any discussion threads on it. <snip>
 
Carol responds:
> "Expecto Patronum" does *not* mean "I expect my father." That would 
> be "Exspecto meum patrem," if memory serves. (Father is "pater," not
> "patronus," and the verb meaning "expect" has an unexspected, erm,
> unexpected "s.") 
> 
> "Patronus" actually means "protector, defender, patron; esp. an
> advocate in a court of law."
<snip>
> That Harry's Patronus is his father's animagus form simply means 
> that, at that point in his life, his protector is his father or the
> essence/spirit of his father, just as Dumbledore's protector is a
> Phoenix (and Hermione's is an otter).


SSSusan:
Well, with all due respect, I really don't think any of us can *know* 
what JKR "simply meant" when she created one of her spell names or 
artifact names or character names.  I mean, I don't want to sound 
like a spoilsport about it, but I am not sure JKR takes the etymology 
*that* seriously all the time.  

Does anyone know what I mean?  

In my own personal opinion, I definitely think JKR *attends* to 
etymology, I think she is quite knowledgable about etymology, but I 
also think she likes to PLAY.  And I think if she likes the sound of 
something -- such as Diagon Alley -- then she uses it, whether it's 
got some etymological root it fits precisely or it just SOUNDS cool.

Simply because "Expecto Patronum" is not literally the way one would 
write out "I expect my father" does not mean that she wasn't having 
FUN with the words *sounding* like or being similar to "expect" 
and "pater" for father.  It could also have been the wonderful double-
fun of having "patronus" literally meaning "protector" *and* being 
similar to "pater" meaning father.  Who knows??  None of us, I don't 
think. 

"Pensieve" is another one of those which I don't particularly care if 
she intended to represent "pensive" or "sieve."  To me, it's a great 
*combination* of the two:  the pensieve is used when one ponders -- 
is pensive about something -- *and* it can be used to sort or sift 
through -- to sieve -- one's thoughts.  Does it have to be that one 
is right?  How 'bout Jo actually thought of both, chuckled at her 
creativity, and stuck 'em together into her new hybrid word?

I guess I don't think there's anything inappropriate or wrong in 
toying around with the words and terms JKR has used or created or 
slapped together in funky ways that don't quite translate but still 
*sound* like something or are close enough that she might have been 
having some fun with them. Even if those don't go perfectly with the 
apparent etymology.  :)

Just one person's two knuts.

Siriusly Snapey Susan