Analysis of The Origins of The Words Used As Spells In The 'Harry Potter' Novels.

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ABSTRACT

Dalam analisis ini, penulis mencoba untuk memberikan satu bukti akan kekayaan bahasa. Bahasa, yang selama ini kita ketahui hanya sebagai media dalam komunikasi, ternyata mempunyai fungsi yang lebih dalam lagi bila dianalisis dengan penelitian yang serius. Dalam analisis ini, novel Harry Potter dipilih sebagai bahan penelitian karena penulis percaya bahwa dalam penulisan novel ini, kata-kata yang digunakan di dalamnya telah melewati beberapa pemikiran yang mendalam dari pengarangnya. Penulis mengambil sampel kata dari mantra yang ada di enam novel Harry Potter karya J.K. Rowling. Mantra-mantra ini berasal dari kata-kata bahasa Latin dan Yunani.

Mantra-mantra yang ada di novel Harry Potter menggunakan Bahasa Latin dan Yunani sebagai bahasa asal karena bahasa-bahasa ini digunakan pada era penyihir di Inggris. Penggunaannya diyakini menjadi salah satu faktor yang membuat sebuah cerita imajinatif terasa nyata.

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yang sama. Ilmu semantics dan etymology diterapkan pada proses di atas. Setelah melalui tahap ini, proses pembentukan kata pada mantra dapat dibedah. Di sinilah ilmu morphology akan diterapkan, karena mantra yang merupakan kata baru ini tercipta melalui suatu proses pembentukan kata.

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APPENDICES

Table 1 Spells Which Adopt Neologism Mechanism

No. Spell Word Origin + Meaning Use of the Spell

1. Aguamenti aqua (Latin) = water + mentio (Latin) = mind

Used to conjure a fountain of clear water from the caster's wand.

2. Deletrius deleo (Latin) = to destroy, eradicate

Used to erase the ghost images of spells revealed by Priori Incantato spell.

3. Densaugeo dens (Latin) = tooth + augeo (Latin) = to grow

Used to enlarge grotesquely the victim's teeth.

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5. Expecto

Used to conjure a Patronus, a silvery spirit shape, usually in the form of animal, which is the embodiment of the positive thoughts of the caster.

6. Expelliarmus expello (Latin) = to drive out + arma (Latin) = weapon

Used to fly out the opponent's weapon from his or her hand.

7. Finite finio (Latin) = settle, end, die, cease.

Used to stop a currently operating spell effect. 8. Imperio impero (Latin) = to

order, govern, command

9. Incendio incendo (Latin) = to set fire to

Used to start a fire.

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place + motionem (Latin) = motion

spell word Locomotor is followed by a target word, which is the object to be moved.

11. Lumos lumen (Latin) = light Used to create a narrow beam of light that shines from the wand tip

12. Obliviate oblivisci (Latin) = to forget

Used to turn the entire body of the victim rigid.

14. Portus porta (Latin) = gate, entrance.

Used to turn the target object into a Portkey.

15. Reparo reparare (Latin) = to repair

Used to repair objects, undo damage to an object

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visualize caster_{’s worst fear in}

a humorous form and will inspire the laughter that forms an effective defense against the creature.

17. Silencio silentiosus (Latin) = to be quiet

Used to silence the object of the spell.

18. Stupefy stupefacio (Latin) = to make senseless.

Used to make the target of the spell unconscious; this spell hurls a bolt of red light.

Table 2 Spells Which Adopt Borrowing Mechanism

No. Spell Word Origin + Meaning Use of the Spell

1. Accio accio (Latin) = to call or to summon

Used to summon an object to the caster

2. Anapneo anapneo (Greek) = to breathe

Used to clear the object’s

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3. Avis avis (Latin) = bird Used to call up a flock of small and chirping birds. 4. Crucio crucio (Latin) = to torture Used to inflict great pain on

the recipient of the curse 5. Diffindo diffindo (Latin) = to

divide or to split

Used to cut the target, or a specific area on the target 6. Evanesco evanesco (Latin) = to

disappear

Used to make something vanish

7. Nox nox (Latin) = night Used to turn off the light from a Lumos spell. 8. Oppugno oppugno (Latin) = to

attack, assault

Used to cause conjured creatures under the control of the caster to attack the target. 9. Protego protego (Latin) = to

defend

Used to create a magical barrier that will deflect hexes thrown at the caster.

10. Quietus quietus (Latin) = calm or quiet

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11. Sonorus sonorus (Latin) = loud Used to make the caster's voice carry over long distances.

12. Tergeo tergeo (Latin) = to wipe off, to wipe dry, to clean.

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

The fascination for searching for the origin and the history of words creates eagerness for some people to do research. Most of the time, we use language purely as a means of communication, without thinking seriously about the individual word we utter or write. In my opinion, however, the origin of a word can give light to the cultural development in history because the knowledge of the origins of words can take us closer to its original meaning; moreover, with such knowledge, we will understand more about what the words carry from the history. By understanding this, we can feel a sense that the words are related to the history by its origin so that the plausibility of the book is felt even more.

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setting of place, for instance London city, the King’s Cross station in London, and Surrey, England. The sense of reality is also built through the use of words which seem meaningless but are actually meaningful if further analysed. The words can be related to the historical and cultural backgrounds that exist. For instance, when we analyse the word origins of the spells in the Harry Potter novels, we can see the cultural development in the English history. It is because the spells originate in the language used in the witch period in England, which spanned from 500 to 1000 AD. <wikipedia> Thus, knowing this will help the readers feel closer to the original meaning of the spell.

In creating the story, J. K. Rowling brilliantly relates the magical world she creates to the elements in the history so that the witch world seems real. As a result, the readers feel closer to the witch world. Linguistically speaking, Rowling is also great at inventing words that bring the elements from the historical and cultural backgrounds to make the readers strongly feel the plausibility of the story, when reading the novels.

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which ancestor language the words are derived, before analysing how they are used as spells in the novels.

In order to know what have influenced Rowling’s creativity in imposing her great imagination on the readers’ mind through the spells that she creates and which originate from the Latin and Greek languages in the Harry Potter, this topic is chosen. Hence, this thesis belongs to the semantic area of Linguistics, especially to the study of the history of word origins, English Etymology theories. Besides, it concerns the Morphological area. It deals with Semantics as it speaks about the meaning of both the words used in the spells and the origin of words. The theories of Etymology are applied in the analyses when it comes to relating the origin of the word with the English word used, in this case the spells. Finally, the morphological theory is needed to analyse Rowling’s brilliant way of forming the invented words used as spells.

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techniques. In literature, one of the strongest cultures influencing the literature of the High Middle Ages is Christianity. The greatest connection to Christianity was found in Latin literature, which was influenced by the vernacular languages in the literary cycle of the Matter of Rome. Another proof is the Latin heritage on mathematic and medicine terms used ever since.

The articles “Plain Text History” and “Early Middle Ages” further explain that from 500 to 1,000 AD the Roman Empire had already been divided into Greek-speaking and Latin-speaking regions. Even in the High Middle Ages, which is the period after the Early Middle Ages, and in the Late Middle Ages, which by convention ends around 1500, the Latin language was still used. It can be proved by a variety of cultures that influenced the literature during the High Middle Ages. One of the strongest influences was Christianity, which was obviously connected to the Latin literature.

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1.2 Statement of the Problem

The problems that I am going to analyse in my research are formulated as follows:

1. What are the words used as spells in the Harry Potter novels, which are related to the Latin and Greek languages?

2. What kind of etymological mechanism is adopted by each word?

3. How is the meaning of the Latin or Greek word, from which each spell originates, related to the meaning of the spell in the novels?

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The purposes of the research are as follows:

1. to show the words used as spells in the Harry Potter novels, which are related to the Latin and Greek languages.

2. to give a classification about the kind of etymological mechanism which is adopted by each word.

3. to show how the meaning of the Latin or Greek word, from which each spell originates, is related to the meaning of the spell in the novels.

1.4 Method of Research

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mechanism of how these words are used as spells. Finally, I relate the meaning of the origin words with the meaning of the spells in the novels. After I have finished with the analysis of the data, I come to the conclusion of the research.

1.5 Organisation of the Thesis

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CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSION

From the analysis of the origins of the spells in the first six of the Harry

Potter novels, I can draw a conclusion that Rowling is truly brilliant in making the

Harry Potter story. It also proves that in creating the Harry Potter novels, J. K.

Rowling must have made several serious and ingenious researches. The sense of

actuality of the story is felt through the use of words, specifically the spells, which

seem meaningless but which are actually meaningful if further analysed.

The first six of the Harry Potter novels prove to contain spells, the origins

of which can be analysed. This constant use of spells is an important element in a

story of the wizards’ world. The spells in the Harry Potter novels are equally

crucial as the spells in the witch period in the Early Middle Ages. This, I believe,

reflects the fact that Rowling aims at creating the magical sense of the Early

Middle Ages. The spells in those ages, which are said to have had the powers to

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to raise storms or to move objects, are similar to the ones in the Harry Potter

novels. The magical sense of the Early Middle Ages is also created through the use

of words originating in the Latin and Greek languages, as the spells in the Harry

Potter novels. As we know these two languages are the languages used during the

witches’ period in the Early Middle Ages. This is a highly creative work as the

readers will feel the sense of the reality of the English history.

Rowling’s creativity in imposing her great imagination on the reader’s

mind through the spells that she creates and which originate from the Latin and

Greek languages is closely related to the cleverness and extraordinary talent of

hers in mastering the Latin and Greek languages. It makes sense when we figure

out that Rowling studied French and Classics at the University of Exeter. Rowling

is familiar with Latin and Greek because both of them are the Classical Languages

which were used as the international means of communication in the Middle Ages.

The percentage of the use of the Latin language as the origin of the words

used as the spells in six of the Harry Potter novels that I analyse is 90 %, which is

much greater than that of the Greek language. In my opinion, it is because Latin

has influenced the English language since before the Old English era, while Greek

has influenced the English language only since the Modern English era. I think it

means that the Latin language has a greater influence than the Greek language, as

the Latin language had already started influencing the English language long

before the Greek language did. When we relate this fact to the other fact about the

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were used, we can see clearly how cleverly Rowling creates both the multiple

effects of actuality and the great imaginations throughout the novels.

Rowling’s brilliant ways in forming the spells as new invented words have

so far used two basic mechanisms, namely neologism mechanism and borrowing

mechanisms. The percentage of the use of the neologism mechanism is 60% and

the borrowing mechanism is 40%, which shows that they are more or less used in

the same portion. Both mechanisms clearly show Rowling’s luminous

inventiveness in dealing with word formations. It becomes one of the factors that

prove that she has made the spells through several important and clever researches.

In this thesis, the spells become one of the elements that can help us

understand the English history. In searching the word origins of the spells, the

facts in the history that are strongly related to the meaning of the spells can be

found and appreciated. Through the spells, the English history of the Early Middle

Ages in 500 to 1,000 AD is revealed. In my opinion, the way of Rowling

embodies history as part of the story is interesting. This approach is a positive

appraisal of the history as part of human life.

Through this thesis, we can also appreciate the development of language.

We can see how a language has its own history, how the meanings have developed

and how the forms have improved. We can also see how cultures or customs

which are popular at a particular age can have an effect on the language used and

how languages have influenced each other in various ages. The vocabulary of a

particular language can get wider through the passing of time as the effect of the

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also lose some of its words when there are old-fashioned words in a particular era.

This is also seen in this analysis, in which the use of the Latin and Greek

languages in the Early Middle Ages, the period when witches were admired,

affects the use of the Latin and Greek languages as the origins of the spells in

Harry Potter novels, which are also about witches, but which are only written

recently. It shows that language is living. In my opinion, knowing this will make

language learners and language users realise the richness of language.

Out of the three methods in Etymology, I find that in searching the origin

of the spells the comparative method is applicable for all data in the analysis. By

this systematic comparison of the spells and their related languages, I can detect

which words are derived and which are borrowed from the ancestor language. This

method has proved to be effective in finding out the origin of words. This method

is helpful when it is supported with suitable sources, such as the Dictionary of

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

References

Hurford, James and Brendan Heasley. Semantics: a coursebook. Cambridge:

Cambridge University Press, 1984.

McArthur, Tom. ed. The Oxford Companion to the English Language. New York:

Oxford University Press, 1992.

O’Kill, Brian. Dictionary of Word Origin. Glasgow: Wm. Collins, 1984.

Prent, Adisubrata and J.S. Poerwadarminta. Dictionary of the Latin Language.

Yogyakarta: Kanisius, 1969.

Rowling, J. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. London: Bloomsbury

Publishing Plc, 1998.

---, Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 1998.

---, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. London: Bloomsbury Publishing

Plc, 1999.

---, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc,

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---, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. London: Bloomsbury Publishing

Plc, 2003.

---, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc,

2005.

Internet Sites

http://courses.cs.vt.edu/cs3604/lib/Ethics/etymology.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Middle_Ages

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_English_language

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Middle_Ages

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monasticism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft

http://www.answers.com/topic/morphology

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9053803/morphology

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9110293/semantics

http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=2945&Histo

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49 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0746830/bio

http://www.krysstal.com/english.html

http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/site/comments/methods_of_word_formatio

n/

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