The Harry Potter Generation

What will it mean to be part of the HP generation?  These are the children who have grown up with Harry Potter, the lore, the spells, the bravery, and the friendships.  In these days when teens may be struggling with what true friendship means, they can look to Harry & his friends who stuck by him even when it was boring, unpleasant, or downright dangerous.  How will JK Rowling’s story shape a generation?

One way I can think of is language.  Will HP spells become the new slang?  How about these?

Accio=come here, Imperio’d=brain washed, Confundus’d=confused on purpose, Fidelius=faithful friend, Levicorp=to get going, Lumos=turn on the lights, lighten up, Muffliato=shut up, Nox=turn off lights, no one home, Patronum=help coming, a person who helps, Prior Incantato=tell the truth, tell what happened earlier,  Protego=to protect someone, Sonorus=yell, use a microphone, Riddikulus=get out of here, I don’t believe it, Scourify=to clean up, as in covering one’s tracks, Serpensortia=throw something unexpected at someone,  Stupefy=to stun someone as with news, Aguamenti=throw water on someone, literally or emotionally, Alohomora=open up!,  Anti-jinx=to undo something bad, Apparate=to disappear, or to appear suddenly, Broom=transportation, usually car.

I know this sounds insane, but I’ve been right about stuff like this before. It will be an interesting social experiment to see if this happens, or what other effects there might be on the Harry Potter generation.

Cara Wallace, 7/27/07

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