The Integration of British Culturally-Specific Idioms into Harry Potter's Wizarding World

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series has captivated readers worldwide with its fantastical world of magic. However, a layer of British cultural influence lies beneath the spells and potions. This thesis explores the integration of British culturally-specific idioms within the fantasy world of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. It analyzes the types of idioms used, etymological analysis, their significance within the British cultural context, and the strategies employed to convey their meaning within the narrative. The study shows that idioms become culturally-specific when they are used by people from a particular culture. Thus, the magical cultural element is the main reason why idioms become culturally-specific in the British wizarding world. The work examines the types of idioms employed, focusing on a newly developed stylistic classification system. This system categorizes idioms based on their effect on the narrative, such as colloquial, book, and neutral phraseology. Furthermore, a novel classification system is presented based on the parts of speech used in the idiom's formation. This classification analyzes whether the idiom relies on verbs, nouns, adjectives, or a combination to create its meaning. In our research, we have concluded that the author has changed the semantics of the idiom while preserving its structure. The main methods of forming wizarding culturally specific idioms are metaphor and simile. By examining both stylistic and compositional elements, the thesis aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these idioms are used within the narrative. In total, 42 examples of culturally specific idioms were found, 26 of which were modified by the author. To describe the results of the study, these idioms were placed in appendices in the form of charts. By analyzing the use of British idioms in Harry Potter, this thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of cultural representation in fantasy literature. It sheds light on the challenges and opportunities of integrating British culturally-specific idioms into a literary landscape.

Melnyk V. The Integration of British Culturally-Specific Idioms into Harry Potter's Wizarding World : bachelor’s thesis : 035 Philology / supervised Anna Karaban. Kyiv, 2024. 80 p.