independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > General Discussion > JK Rowling reveals that American wizards don't use the word muggle
« Previous topic  Next topic »
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 11/05/15 10:05pm

Hudson

avatar

JK Rowling reveals that American wizards don't use the word muggle

(Jaap Buitendijk)

American wizards have a completely different word for “Muggle.”

Next year’s Harry Potter prequel film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set in 1926 New York, where the wizarding community uses another term entirely for people without magical powers.

In shifting the franchise away from the U.K., author J.K. Rowling — who also wrote the movie’s screenplay — is poised to introduce several new words into the Potterverse lexicon, and the most significant might be what Stateside wizards say instead of Muggle: “No-Maj” (pronounced “no madge,” as in “no magic”).


GALLERY:
8 magical first photos from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them


The blunt-sounding, hyphenated U.S. shorthand is used frequently by American wizards in the film, where English magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) comes to New York and has all sorts of adventures.

As noted many times over the years, one of Rowling’s greatest creative gifts is her ability to concoct marvelous new words and terms — from character names (Dolores Umbridge, Severus Snape …), to spells (Sectumsempra …), to creatures (lethifold …), to places (The Room of Requirement …). But “Muggle” has a special honor: It’s the first completely new magical word (not a character or place) introduced in Rowling’s first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (when Mr. Dursley overhears, “Even Muggles like yourself should be celebrating …”). It’s also almost certainly the one that’s the most widely known. In fact, The Oxford English dictionary added “muggle” in 2003 to mean “A person who is not conversant with a particular activity or skill.”

UPDATE: Fantastic Beasts, the bas...e revealed

The ultra-mysterious Fantastic Beasts is EW’s cover story this week, where we’re offering a behind-the-scenes (and spoiler-free) look at the film and interviews with producers and cast. Check out the cover here, get your copy here (say it with me: Accio EW!) and see our photo gallery. For ongoing Fantastic Beasts scoop, follow @jameshibberd.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 11/06/15 2:27am

XxAxX

avatar

Hudson said:

(Jaap Buitendijk)

American wizards have a completely different word for “Muggle.”

Next year’s Harry Potter prequel film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set in 1926 New York, where the wizarding community uses another term entirely for people without magical powers.

In shifting the franchise away from the U.K., author J.K. Rowling — who also wrote the movie’s screenplay — is poised to introduce several new words into the Potterverse lexicon, and the most significant might be what Stateside wizards say instead of Muggle: “No-Maj” (pronounced “no madge,” as in “no magic”).


GALLERY:
8 magical first photos from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them


The blunt-sounding, hyphenated U.S. shorthand is used frequently by American wizards in the film, where English magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) comes to New York and has all sorts of adventures.

As noted many times over the years, one of Rowling’s greatest creative gifts is her ability to concoct marvelous new words and terms — from character names (Dolores Umbridge, Severus Snape …), to spells (Sectumsempra …), to creatures (lethifold …), to places (The Room of Requirement …). But “Muggle” has a special honor: It’s the first completely new magical word (not a character or place) introduced in Rowling’s first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (when Mr. Dursley overhears, “Even Muggles like yourself should be celebrating …”). It’s also almost certainly the one that’s the most widely known. In fact, The Oxford English dictionary added “muggle” in 2003 to mean “A person who is not conversant with a particular activity or skill.”

UPDATE: Fantastic Beasts, the bas...e revealed

The ultra-mysterious Fantastic Beasts is EW’s cover story this week, where we’re offering a behind-the-scenes (and spoiler-free) look at the film and interviews with producers and cast. Check out the cover here, get your copy here (say it with me: Accio EW!) and see our photo gallery. For ongoing Fantastic Beasts scoop, follow @jameshibberd.

.

.

.

.

.

i love j.k.rowling to bits, and the harry potter books are among my very favs. but let's set this particular record straight:

the term "muggle" was used by n.k. stouffer in her 1984 book entitled The Legend of Rah and the Muggles (ISBN 1-58989-400-6) and Larry Potter and His Best Friend Lilly. in ms. stouffer's activities book, the main character's name is larry potter. little larry potter is also a dark haired lad who wears spectacles.

[Edited 11/6/15 2:31am]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 11/06/15 8:26am

LittlePurpleYo
da

XxAxX said:

Hudson said:

(Jaap Buitendijk)

American wizards have a completely different word for “Muggle.”

Next year’s Harry Potter prequel film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set in 1926 New York, where the wizarding community uses another term entirely for people without magical powers.

In shifting the franchise away from the U.K., author J.K. Rowling — who also wrote the movie’s screenplay — is poised to introduce several new words into the Potterverse lexicon, and the most significant might be what Stateside wizards say instead of Muggle: “No-Maj” (pronounced “no madge,” as in “no magic”).


GALLERY:
8 magical first photos from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them


The blunt-sounding, hyphenated U.S. shorthand is used frequently by American wizards in the film, where English magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) comes to New York and has all sorts of adventures.

As noted many times over the years, one of Rowling’s greatest creative gifts is her ability to concoct marvelous new words and terms — from character names (Dolores Umbridge, Severus Snape …), to spells (Sectumsempra …), to creatures (lethifold …), to places (The Room of Requirement …). But “Muggle” has a special honor: It’s the first completely new magical word (not a character or place) introduced in Rowling’s first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (when Mr. Dursley overhears, “Even Muggles like yourself should be celebrating …”). It’s also almost certainly the one that’s the most widely known. In fact, The Oxford English dictionary added “muggle” in 2003 to mean “A person who is not conversant with a particular activity or skill.”

UPDATE: Fantastic Beasts, the bas...e revealed

The ultra-mysterious Fantastic Beasts is EW’s cover story this week, where we’re offering a behind-the-scenes (and spoiler-free) look at the film and interviews with producers and cast. Check out the cover here, get your copy here (say it with me: Accio EW!) and see our photo gallery. For ongoing Fantastic Beasts scoop, follow @jameshibberd.

.

.

.

.

.

i love j.k.rowling to bits, and the harry potter books are among my very favs. but let's set this particular record straight:

the term "muggle" was used by n.k. stouffer in her 1984 book entitled The Legend of Rah and the Muggles (ISBN 1-58989-400-6) and Larry Potter and His Best Friend Lilly. in ms. stouffer's activities book, the main character's name is larry potter. little larry potter is also a dark haired lad who wears spectacles.

[Edited 11/6/15 2:31am]

Shush! We mustn't let reality intrude on a multi-billion dollar industry!

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 11/06/15 9:27am

Lianachan

avatar

I've never read any of her books, or even seen any of the films, and after the shameful way she conducted herself during the Scottish independence referendum I doubt I'm ever going to.

"Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge"" ~ Isaac Asimov
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 11/06/15 11:34am

babynoz

Lianachan said:

I've never read any of her books, or even seen any of the films, and after the shameful way she conducted herself during the Scottish independence referendum I doubt I'm ever going to.



Wha hoppen? eek

Prince, in you I found a kindred spirit...Rest In Paradise.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 11/06/15 11:37am

babynoz

XxAxX said:

.

.

.

.

.

i love j.k.rowling to bits, and the harry potter books are among my very favs. but let's set this particular record straight:

the term "muggle" was used by n.k. stouffer in her 1984 book entitled The Legend of Rah and the Muggles (ISBN 1-58989-400-6) and Larry Potter and His Best Friend Lilly. in ms. stouffer's activities book, the main character's name is larry potter. little larry potter is also a dark haired lad who wears spectacles.

[Edited 11/6/15 2:31am]



sad

Prince, in you I found a kindred spirit...Rest In Paradise.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 11/07/15 3:09am

XxAxX

avatar

babynoz said:

XxAxX said:

.

.

.

.

.

i love j.k.rowling to bits, and the harry potter books are among my very favs. but let's set this particular record straight:

the term "muggle" was used by n.k. stouffer in her 1984 book entitled The Legend of Rah and the Muggles (ISBN 1-58989-400-6) and Larry Potter and His Best Friend Lilly. in ms. stouffer's activities book, the main character's name is larry potter. little larry potter is also a dark haired lad who wears spectacles.

[Edited 11/6/15 2:31am]



sad

.

i know, i was disappointed too. the good news is j.k.'s actual plots and stories bear no resemblance whatsoever to n.k.'s stories, aside from just bits and pieces, embellishing touches.

.

still, imagine how n.k. must feel. she lost her infringement lawsuit and appeal and her family's publishing business (ande publishing) went bankrupt.

.

i've never met j.k. but i imagine her to be a good person? still though, you'd think she would toss n.k. a bone or something. just to be courteous? acknowledge that she was at least inspired by or some such. i mean c'mon: larry and lilly potter and muggles?

.

the outcome of the suit was the court found that n.k. had behaved in 'bad faith' by doctoring some of her exhibits to make the plagiarism appear more widespread; ultimately j.k.'s lawyers took her down with the quickness, as they were no doubt well paid to do.

.

i hope j.k.is as kind as her stories would suggest, but i suppose we'd get a different point of view if we asked n.k. some writers just have that sharkish name in lights kinda drive, that need to be recognized! me! fame! and somewhere along the way i think some of them sacrifice on the altar of i'll do anything and simply forget to be good people.

.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 11/07/15 3:12am

XxAxX

avatar

LittlePurpleYoda said:

XxAxX said:

.

.

.

.

.

i love j.k.rowling to bits, and the harry potter books are among my very favs. but let's set this particular record straight:

the term "muggle" was used by n.k. stouffer in her 1984 book entitled The Legend of Rah and the Muggles (ISBN 1-58989-400-6) and Larry Potter and His Best Friend Lilly. in ms. stouffer's activities book, the main character's name is larry potter. little larry potter is also a dark haired lad who wears spectacles.

[Edited 11/6/15 2:31am]

Shush! We mustn't let reality intrude on a multi-billion dollar industry!

.

exactly. neutral but for all that, the books are very entertaining

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 11/07/15 5:51am

hausofmoi7

avatar

JK Rowling supports aparthied and doesnt believe that the equality of Palestinians is relevant or important enough to warrant protest. She arrogantly preached practising equality in the face of those faced by injustice.

Excuse me while I go listen to the classic artistry of the "Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" which I always loved and right now is sounding just as urgent, vital and relevant as it did the first time it blew my mind.

.

[Edited 11/7/15 6:02am]

“It means finding the very human narrative of a man navigating between idealism and pragmatism, faith and politics, non- violence, the pitfalls of acclaim as the perils of rejection” - Lesley Hazleton on the first Muslim, the prophet.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > General Discussion > JK Rowling reveals that American wizards don't use the word muggle