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Harry Potter’s impact on the Cambridge English exams.

A History of Magic.

Without a doubt, Harry Potter has contributed extensively to many readers and has also somehow affected the way we see and understand English history and culture. Researcher Matt Norton has wondered himself about its clear impact on the English language. Little could J. K. Rowling imagine when writing the first book. Harry Potter and the Philosophy Stone, that her words would somehow influence thousands of speakers.

It should be stated that it would not be difficult for anybody to remember and recall some of the most known and memorable “Potter-esque” words included either in the book or the film series. Certainly J.K. Rowling has contributed with her creativity to produce a number of new words to the actual English language.

Thus, teachers might be taking this into account when working with language learners to provide Cambridge exam candidates with situations and lessons full of interest and originality while exploring the English vocabulary in a different way.

Matt Norton has used corpus linguistics to investigate to what extent has the world of Harry Potter – or the ‘Potterverse’ – influenced English with new words invented by Rowling which also known as “coinings”. As you can imagine he found many examples of those invented words.

In Harry Potter we can also find many different blend words, words formed by combining two separate words with different meanings to form a new one. These words are often created to describe a new invention or phenomenon that combines the definitions or traits of two existing things. Word blends are also known as portmanteau, a French word meaning “trunk” or “suitcase.”

Words like ‘animagus’, a blend of animal and magus, and ‘merpeople’, blending from mer(maid) and people can be found in Harry Potter. However blend words can be found everywhere as English is a dynamic language that is constantly evolving. New technologies and cultural phenomena have seen the introduction of words such as “brunch“, docudrama, emoticon, frenemy, Globish or moped (motor+pedal).

J. K. Rowling also used many sound-like Latin words especially in the spells or charms, such as ‘Expelliarmus’, ‘Expecto Patronum, to protect against dementors; and ‘Finite Incantatem’ (end the spell).

There are numerous examples of these words found in the Cambridge English Corpus, being the most frequent: Hogwarts, Voldemort, Azkaban, Quidditch, muggle, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, Portkey, Horcrux, Butterbeer, Hufflepuff, Patronus, Whomping Willow, Quaffle, sorting hat, floo powder…
Matt norton

Other words were reused or repopularized by the Harry Potter books. Amongst these words, Norton includes: mandrake, squib, bludger, muggle, dementor, mandragora, hippogriff, apparate or disapparate.

All in all, the language used in Harry Potter has changed the English Language, and many speakers, specially those influenced by the book or film series, use now some of these odd “Potter-esque” words.

We can even find many examples of the interest and attraction it has caused for many readers and viewers of the series in the creation of a rap like the one we are sharing.

For that reason Cambridge invites teachers and learners to take advantage of Harry Potter words in their lessons as a good means to encourage students in their path to improve their English.

Any candidate could also download their suggested magical Harry Potter themed wordlists in which they might be able to find a complete list of words for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners.

As we all know, English learners do usually worry about finding the best way to improve their linguistic competence and skills. One of the best ways to enrich our vocabulary and listening competence has always been by watching films, cartoons, tv shows and certain tv channels like BBC or Sky news.

Another advice would be to read in English at every opportunity that we may have. There is so much good and new vocabulary in a book like Harry Potter that we can improve our English more and more after every chapter and every book.

Harry Potter’s saga is undoubtedly a pop culture work of art showing great complexity and beauty but also many possibilities to those wanting to improve their language skills and, consequently have a better chance of succeeding in a Cambridge Exam. c

For more magical ideas for the classroom or Exam preparation, take a look at Robert Dobie’s article on how to use the Harry Potter books or films for grammar practice.