Ha! This is what linguists do when no one is watching:
"How To Do Things With Words And Wands: The Pragmatics Of Casting Spells"
"Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing!" squeaked Professor Flitwick, perched on top of his pile of books as usual. "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important, too -- never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest." Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Chapter 10.
Wands, speech act theory, pronominal reference, Professor Flitwick! Yes, I know what you are thinking, could linguistics be any cooler? Probably not, my friends, probably not.
Posted by linnea at September 30, 2007 8:30 PM