Harry Potter: Muggle = No-Maj?

[Mojochi]

It may be known to some that in future installments of stories in the Harry Potter universe, the chiefly British slang word for a magically powerless individual, termed a "Muggle", will not be universally used when in fact the series finds itself set in America. The local term for a person of that nature will be a "No-Maj" (Which has struck something of an internal dissent amongst some fans)

I'm not particularly in favor of the term myself, because... & correct me I'm wrong, I was under the impression that the term muggle was, at its root, a derogatory slur, & though "No-maj" does reflect the American tendency to dumb down the English language, I feel it's a paltry attempt at what I would consider our nearly ingenious ability to colorfully do so, especially where slurs are concerned. To our credit, Americans are nothing if not able to insult people flamboyantly

In that vein, as an American, well versed in the exorbitantly euphemistic nature of my culture, I'd like to offer some of my own, what I believe to be more appropriate, suggestions. (Feel free to add your own)

Dumcasters

Numbspells

WizHards

Nitwitches

Majerks

Spelliots

Imbespells

 

[Gaith]

correct me I'm wrong, I was under the impression that the term muggle was, at its root, a derogatory slur

You're wrong.

 

[Nerys Myk]

It may be known to some that in future installments of stories in the Harry Potter universe, the chiefly British slang word for a magically powerless individual, termed a "Muggle", will not be universally used when in fact the series finds itself set in America. The local term for a person of that nature will be a "No-Maj" (Which has struck something of an internal dissent amongst some fans)

What?

 

[RoJoHen]

Indeed. What?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Just read an article in EW on Fantastical Beasts and Where To Find Them. My question has been answered. "No-Maj" doesn't sound very American to me or authentic.

 

[Gaith]

Indeed. What?

Google is your friend. Or Bing. Not sure if Altavista's around anymore.

 

[stardream]

If my sources are correct No-Maj is supposed to be a shorthand for 'No Magic'.

I have no problem with it.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

If you want a likely American term: Magtards.

 

[Mage]

Is the word muggle a slur? No. Could I see it becoming one if the magical world was ever fully exposed and the normal world would become aware of the term? Sure.

As for No-Maj not sounding American enough..... I'm Dutch. I'm quite proficient in the English language, and the differences between British English and American English. Yes, I truly believe that a word as No-Maj is very believable. It sounds exactly as something American popular culture would think of.

 

[Nerys Myk]

If my sources are correct No-Maj is supposed to be a shorthand for 'No Magic'.

I have no problem with it.

Might be why is doen't sound American to me.

 

[theenglish]

Muggle seems to be very much a slur, at least when said by certain characters in the books.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Mublood is worse.

 

[theenglish]

Mublood is worse.

But that is very much a racial slur and only a racial slur. Muggle is a regularly used word that can be used negatively in conversation. We have plenty of those words we already use in English.

 

[Mojochi]

Muggle seems to be very much a slur, at least when said by certain characters in the books.

That's how it always felt to me. It derives from the term mug. What kind of a person is a mug? an ugly faced fool, that's what

 

[JD]

Muggle is only a slur to people who don't like them. There were plenty of examples in the books of people using it in a non-derogatory manner. It was pretty much just an everyday term with no malice behind it most cases. There were a few times were where we saw people like the Malfoys use it as a negative, but that was by far not the usual use of the word.

I don't really have a problem with No-Maj, it sounds like the kind of thing American's would do. Hell, these days it seems like half our slang words are just shortened version of other words like that. I figured out pretty as soon as I read it that it was going to be short for no magic.

 

[theenglish]

I think it makes a lot of sense to have different American terminology.

Regarding the term muggle, at the very least it is an elitist/classist term so it would make sense to change that in America.

One of the things that is often overlooked when discussing Potter books is its social commentary. There is definitely points made about British social class in several books. There are the obvious things like poking fun at government involvement in education or football/soccer fan mentality, treatment of servants, but there are also serious elements like the bizarre facist-like decorations in the Ministry of Magic or the similarities Voldemort and his Death Eaters bear to Hitler's Germany.

I think one of the more subtle ones though is the wizarding world's complete willful ignorance of the muggle world. To me that was always commentary on social classes.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Mublood is worse.

But that is very much a racial slur and only a racial slur. Muggle is a regularly used word that can be used negatively in conversation. We have plenty of those words we already use in English.

To match that, why not use the term that American members of the *actual* magick community use the same way to refer to non-members?: Mundanes.

(I used to lead a Pagan study group.)

 

[Mr. Adventure]

The more I've had time for this to settle I think No-Mag (as opposed to No-Maj) could be something Americans might use.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

The thaumaturgically challenged?

 

[Takeru]

Re: Harry Potter: Muggle = No-Maj

To match that, why not use the term that American members of the *actual* magick community use the same way to refer to non-members?: Mundanes.

Why would magic users use a term non magic users use for other non-magic users who just aren't part of their group?

There's no such thing as an actual magic community, so that terminology should be disregarded.