Word Magic : Defining Harry Potter's World in New Terms

Abstract

Since 1997, Harry Potter has captivated wizards and Muggles alike. A large part of the series' appeal is Rowling's language and ability to create a world that completely immerses readers into the depths of their imagination through the use of neologisms. Though some words are borrowed, many of Rowling's neologisms are her own creation and each word has meaning and consequence to Harry and his story. In this thesis, I examine the effect and importance of the "magical" words, the neologisms, in the Harry Potter series, how both Harry and the reader encounter these words, and how they affect the overall experience for both Harry and the reader.