Meaning/Translation of "stopper death"

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 168249

---  "Geoff Bannister" <gbannister10 at ...> wrote:
>
> ---  "zanooda2" <zanooda2@> wrote:
> >
> > ---  "Miles" <miles@> wrote:
> > 
> > <snip>
> >  
> > > As far as I recall it, in every discussion up to 
> > > now "stopper death" was interpreted as 'to stop 
> > > death' or 'to put a stop to death'. ... the German
> > > version of the film, and they translated it "den 
> > > Tod verkorken" - that's "to cork death".
> > > 
> > > ... this translation/understanding seems to be 
> > > reasonable. To brew a potion, to bottle it - and 
> > > to put a stopper into the bottle.
> > 
> >  
> > zanooda:
> > 
> > ... I won't even try to discuss what  meanings the 
> > word "stopper" can have, but I can tell you that 
> > it was translated the same way into Russian. ...
> <snip>
> 
> Geoff:
> Th definition in my dictionary is:
> "Stopper noun 1) a plug for sealing a hole 2) a person 
> or thing that stops; verb seal with a stopper."
> 
> ..., Snape is most certainly using it as a verb. It 
> is one of a series of verbs used, all used 
> metaphorically.....
> 
> "...to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death..."
> (PS "The Potions Master"p.102 UK edition)
>

bboyminn:

"Metaphorically" is the key. Snape is speaking, not 
literally, but in symbols. People are always confused
about 'stopper death', but no one every question the
likelihood of literally 'bottling fame, or 'brewing
glory'. He may be able to brew potions that are 
related to or affecting 'fame' or 'glory', but unlikely
to be taken literally.

So, since Snape is speaking symbolically, there is a 
difference between what he says and what he means.

Literally, 'stopper death' means 'put a cork in it',
but symbolically, what does that mean? So, as far as
the translations in question, they did get it right,
but again, do those translation transfer the subtle
subtext and hidden meaning behind Snape's statement.
I think they reasonable do, though not knowing the 
languages in question, I can't say there was or wasn't
a better way to do it.

Some assume 'stopper death' means to contain death in 
a bottle as in a poison. He can contain a substance in
a bottle that can cause death.

The other interpretation  is that Snape can contain a 
substance in a bottle that will restrain death. To
contain it in the sense of holding it back or 
restraining it or keeping death at bay. In other words,
a means of preventing eminent death.

So, 'stopper death' can mean to cause death or to
prevent death. Personally, I think it means that,
within certain limits, this magic potion can hold off
or prevent eminent death. Again, within limits.

So, the translations certainly seem to have understood
what Snape said, but without knowing the various 
languages intimately, I can't say whether the did the
best job of transferring Snape's underlying meaning.

For what it's worth.

Steve/bboyminn