Languages
"Anyone can speak Troll. All you have to do is point and grunt.."
-- Fred Weasley
Judging by the fact that Barty Crouch Sr.
speaks over 200 languages, both Muggle and Magical, it seems likely that
there are magical ways for wizards to learn them.
Muggle Languages
English
Since Hogwarts is located in an
English-speaking country, everyone there speaks that language. A number of
dialects are evident, however, particularly from
Hagrid.
Seamus Finnigan speaks
with an Irish brogue.
Bulgarian
The Bulgarian Minister of Magic, Mr. Oblansk, acted as though he
couldn't speak English, only Bulgarian, letting Fudge stumble through
the entire day of the Quidditch World Cup trying to make himself
understood. After the match was over and Ireland won, Mr. Oblansk
said, in perfectly good English, "Well, we fought bravely."
Fudge was a little put out.
French
The students from Beauxbatons Academy spoke French. They managed
English very well, however. One wonders how well students from
Hogwarts would have fared had they been transported to
Beauxbatons; there is no
evidence of instruction in foreign languages at Hogwarts.
many other languages
Harry heard folks talking excitedly in other languages as they walked
through the campground at the Quidditch World Cup
(GF7)
Latin
the root language of many of the spell words
"I enjoy feeling that wizards would continue to use this
dead language in their everyday life."
-- J. K. Rowling
(Sch2)
"It just amused me, the idea that wizards would still be using Latin
as a living language, although it is, as scholars of Latin will know...
I take great liberties with the language for spells. I see it as a kind
of mutation that the wizards are using."
-- J.K. Rowling
(CBC)
Wizarding/Magical languages
Fairy
Fairies use
what sounds like a form of buzzing to communicate among themselves
(FB). Note that it is quite
possible that fairies, like bats, have hearing that can pick up
higher-pitched sounds than most humans can hear, so there may be more to
fairy communication than the casual listener would notice.
Giant
The giants speak their own language; some do not speak English, and
possibly do not speak any human language. However, enough surviving
giants speak English that a translator can be found if the giants
care to permit a visitor to communicate
(OP20).
Gobbledegook
goblin language
"bladvak"
means "axe" in Gobbledegook
(GF24)
Mermish
Merfolk language used above water;
Merfolk
speak human languages underwater. It sounds like horrible screeching
if heard in air.
Dumbledore can speak Mermish.
Parseltongue
is the language of snakes.
Troll
The Trolls' crude form of language consists of grunts (from the
viewpoint of a human listener, at any rate), although some can
be trained to speak a few words of English
(FB).
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