Not that my high school and early college Latin is up to the task, but I am enjoying almost-reading HP/SS in Latin, especially what appear to be references to classical literature (e.g., Hagrid’s wand “in partes duas divisum est” and puns that may or may not exist (e.g., though I understand “Petasus Distribuens,” I keep reading it as “Distributor Cap” as well). So–
Okay, I can’t parse “hamaxostichus” using my Lewis Elementary Latin Dictionary. Etymology, please?
It’s time to come out of the closet, my nerdish friends. What are you enjoying in Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis?
I’m slowly reading *Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis * at the moment, in between work, exams, choir practice etc.
I haven’t come across *hamaxostichus * yet, but my Latin dictionary includes the verb hamaxo, hamaxare, meaning “to yoke to a wagon”, so this may help with the etymology.
I got a copy in Welsh for my husband and one in Korean for me, which I started reading but gave up in disgust about halfway through. The translation was pretty bad in places.
Not really on topic, but I was both startled and amused to see how many different languages the local library system has some of the Harry Potter books in, when I was trying to figure out which library I should try next for the english version of Goblet of Fire.
I was also amused reading the translated titles.
Was it really? I’ve been thinking of getting the Korean-language one for Mr. karomon, but was turned off by the fact that the individual books are split up into seperate volumes, each costing the same amount of money, or more, as the complete English-language edition. So, in effect, I’d be paying for three or four books per book. That’s just excessive.
Thank you! It’s actually on the cover illustration, and is part of the name of the Hogwarts Express (hamaxostichus rapidus hogvartensis). (Though in my undergraduate Latin training, I’d have been enjoined to write “hoguartensis” instead.)
Baker, I don’t know if your local shop or corporate bookmart will have it, but Amazon does.
**Shoshana ** - No wonder I hadn’t come across hamaxostichus. I leapt straight into the first chapter and obviously didn’t look closely at the cover. In the context of the Hogwarts Express it actually makes sense.
I have a question about the Harry Potter in Latin. What do they do when they have word like television, radio, or car since there are nt Latin words for these things?
Modern scholars of Latin have come up with terms for these using various Latin roots. I believe that much of comes from one man’s Modern Latin dictionary, but I don’t remember the specifics. No doubt someone else will chime in soon.
I could have sworn that Cecil did a column about this, but can’t find it.
Or a diminuitive of Henry, which is rendered in Latin as Henricus – but iirc Harry Potter is actually just named Harry and not Harold or Henry, so it may be a moot point.
I should find a copy of this – I just finished my summer Latin class and although my Latin has improved considerably I’d like to keep it up…
Okay, now that I’ve dispensed with that minor interruption known as “Working for a Living,” I can return to issues of consequence, such as the Names of New Things in Latin. Citations are from HP&PS (Bloomsbury paperback, “adult” cover, 1998 edition but reprinted in 2000 or later) and HP&PL (Bloomsbury hardback, 2003) respectively.
Mr Dursley was the director of a firm called Grunnings, which made drills. (7) Dominus Dursley praeerat societati nomine Grunnings, quae terebras fecit. (1)
It seemed to be a silver cigarette lighter. (12) visum est esse ignitabulum nicotianum ex argento factum. (7)
Twelve times he clicked the Put-Outer… (12) duodeciens Exstinctore crepitum fecit… (7)
He got into his car… (8) in autocinetum ascendit… (2)
And where did you get that motorbike? (16) et unde illam birotulam automatariam nactus es? (11)
I have one myself above my left knee which is a perfect map of the London Underground. (17) ipse cicatricem habeo super genu sinistrum quae mera est charta Ferriviae Subterraneae Londoniensis. (12)
But please, don’t let’s go to chapter 2, with all of Dudley’s birthday presents.
