By all means continue destroying my possessions. I daresay I have too many.
J. K. RowlingRead
Part of what makes a language 'alive' is its constant evolution. I would hate to think Britain would ever emulate France, where they actually have a learned faculty whose job it is to attempt to prevent the incursion of foreign words into the language. I love editing Harry with Arthur Levine, my American editor-the differences between 'British English' (of which there must be at least 200 versions) and 'American English' (ditto!) are a source of constant interest and amusement to me.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the dynamic nature of language and the joy found in its evolving form across different cultures.
J.K. Rowling highlights the importance of language as a living entity that continuously evolves. She reflects on the interesting differences between British and American English, appreciating the diversity and richness that comes from the incorporation of new words, as opposed to the rigidity of regulations that aim to preserve a language unchanged. This perspective fosters a love for the creative and adaptive use of language in literature and communication.
Themes
LanguageEvolutionEditingCultureDifferences
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a lecture about the evolution of language.
More from J. K. Rowling
All quotes →Where are you heading, if you’ve got the choice?” James lifted an invisible sword. “‘Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!’ Like my dad.” Snape made a small, disparaging noise. James turned on him. “Got a problem with that?” “No,” said Snape, though his slight sneer said otherwise. “If you’d rather be brawny than brainy —” “Where’re you hoping to go, seeing as you’re neither?” interjected Sirius.
J. K. RowlingRead
Depression isn't just being a bit sad. It's feeling nothing. It's not wanting to be alive anymore.
J. K. RowlingRead
I tell you, that dragon's the most horrible animal I've ever met, but the way Hagrid goes on about it, you'd think it was a fluffy little bunny rabbit.
J. K. RowlingRead
Imagine losing fingernails, Harry! That really puts our sufferings into perspective, doesn't it?
J. K. RowlingRead
The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed.
J. K. RowlingRead
Similar quotes
The Hebrew language will go from the synagogue to the house of study, and from the house of study to the school, and from the school it will come into the home and... become a living language
Eliezer Ben-YehudaRead
My language! heavens!I am the best of them that speak this speech. Were I but where 'tis spoken.
William ShakespeareRead
People have been warning us that language was going to the dogs ever since Latin started turning into French. Yet the dogs in question never seem to emerge yelping on the horizon.
John McwhorterRead
People are under the impression that dictionaries legislate language. What a dictionary does is keep track of usages over time.
Steven PinkerRead
French is the most beautiful,” he said, “and Italian is the most poetic, and Russian the most powerful, German the most solid. But more business is done in English than in any other.
Pearl S. BuckRead
Long human words (the longer the better) were easy, unmistakable, and rarely changed their meanings . . . but short words were slippery, unpredictable, changing their meanings without any pattern.
Robert A. HeinleinRead