(Undo revision 761360 by 68.100.15.14 (talk)) |
KarmaCat77 (talk | contribs) (added image) Tag: Visual edit |
||
| (235 intermediate revisions by 99 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| + | {{Spoiler|PAS|MA|HL}} |
||
| − | [[File:Nagini_voldemort.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Parselmouth [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] communicating with his snake [[Nagini]].]] |
||
| + | [[File:Speaking Parseltongue.gif|250px|thumb|[[Harry Potter]] speaking Parseltongue to a boa constrictor]] |
||
| − | {{Quote|Hannah, |
+ | {{Quote|[[Hannah Abbott|Hannah]], he's a Parselmouth. Everyone knows that's the mark of a [[Dark wizard]]. Have you ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes? They called Slytherin himself Serpent-tongue.|[[Ernest Macmillan]] regarding Parseltongue's infamous reputation|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}} |
| + | '''Parseltongue''' was the language of [[snake|serpents]] (as well as other magical serpentine creatures, like the [[Runespoor]] and [[Basilisk]]) and it tended to sound like hissing noises. A [[Wizardkind|wizard or witch]] who could speak Parseltongue was known as a '''Parselmouth'''. |
||
| − | + | It was a very uncommon skill, and was known to be an almost exclusively hereditary trait.<ref name="COS11">{{COS|B|11}}</ref> Not counting [[Herpo the Foul]], who predated him by several centuries,<ref name="FBR">{{FB|R}}</ref> nearly all known Parselmouths were descended from [[Salazar Slytherin]],<ref name="COS11" /> with [[Harry Potter]] being a notable exception (although he gained his ability as a Parselmouth in an unorthodox manner).<ref name="DH35" /> |
|
| + | At least in [[Great Britain|Britain]], the ability had an association with [[Dark wizard]]s. This association with the Dark Arts generally caused fear and distrust of those with the ability.<ref name="COS11" /> |
||
| − | Parseltongue is, when spoken, a hissing sound, similar to that of a snake; as such, normal people cannot understand it. Aside from serpent-based creatures, Parselmouths can communicate with each other with the language, as Harry understood [[Tom Riddle]]'s commands to [[Salazar Slytherin's basilisk]], and the [[House of Gaunt]] communicate with each other almost exclusively in Parseltongue. While inherited, Parseltongue usually requires the speaker to face a snake-based creature or object shaped like a snake (i.e. a carving), the Gaunt family was very proficient in the language - enough so for Morfin to speak to [[Bob Ogden]] with it. |
||
| + | ==Characteristics== |
||
| ⚫ | The ability to actually speak Parseltongue — not just imitate it as Ron Weasley did — |
||
| + | {{Quote|And the second man’s voice changed. He started making noises such as Frank had never heard before; he was hissing and spitting without drawing breath. Frank thought he must be having some sort of fit or seizure.|The [[Non-magic people|Muggle]] [[Frank Bryce]] overhearing [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] speak in Parselmouth in the [[Riddle House]]|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}} |
||
| + | Parseltongue was, when spoken, a hissing sound, similar to that of a snake; as such, normal people could not understand it<ref name="COS11"/><ref name="GOF1"/> (one known exception being [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]]).<ref name="bloomsburychat" /> Apart from merely communicating with serpentine lifeforms, Parselmouths also seemed to be able to influence the will of serpents to a certain extent.<ref name="COS11"/><ref name="COS17"/> |
||
| + | Aside from serpent-based creatures, Parselmouths could communicate with each other with the language, as Harry understood [[Tom Riddle]]'s commands to the [[Serpent of Slytherin]],<ref name="COS17">{{COS|B|17}}</ref> and members of the [[House of Gaunt]] communicated with each other almost exclusively in Parseltongue.<ref name="HBP10">{{HBP|B|10}}</ref> |
||
| ⚫ | An |
||
| + | Though the ability was hereditary, not all of those with it could speak it themselves. [[Isolt Sayre]] was able to understand the [[Horned Serpent]] she visited, but not communicate with it herself.<ref name="PottermoreIlvermorny" /> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | [[File:HarryParseltongue.jpg|thumb|288px|Harry using Parseltongue for the first time.]] |
||
| − | {{dialogue a-b-c|Harry|I spoke a different language? But I didn't realise it! How can I speak a language without knowing I can?|Hermione|I don't know, Harry, but it sounded like you were egging the snake on or something. Harry, listen to me. There's a reason the symbol of Slytherin House is a serpent. Salazar Slytherin was a Parselmouth. He could talk to snakes too.|Ron|Exactly! Now the whole school is gonna think you're his great-great-great-grandson or something.|[[Harry Potter]], [[Hermione Granger]], and [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] after Harry speaks Parseltongue.|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)}} |
||
| + | ==Reputation== |
||
| ⚫ | [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] passed the ability to speak and understand Parseltongue on to [[ |
||
| + | {{Quote|The boy can talk to snakes, Dumbledore, and you still think he's trustworthy?|[[Cornelius Fudge]]'s prejudice against Parselmouths|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}} |
||
| + | [[File:Harry-potter2-duelling clud lee.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Students react in fear, after hearing Harry speak Parseltongue]] |
||
| ⚫ | The ability to actually speak Parseltongue — not just imitate it as Ron Weasley did — was considered an attribute of a [[Dark wizard]],<ref name="COS11"/><ref name="GOF31"/> which was partly due to the fact that both [[Salazar Slytherin]] and [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] possessed this ability.<ref name="COS11"/><ref name="COS17"/> Another notable Dark wizard who was also a Parselmouth was [[Herpo the Foul]].<ref name="FBR"/>[[File:Ernie macmillian.jpg|thumb|250x250px|Students casting Harry suspicious looks because of his ability]]However, as Albus Dumbledore pointed out, there were Parselmouths among the great and good as well, the most well-known of which was [[Harry Potter]].<ref name="HBP13" /> [[Phillipus von Hohenheim|Paracelsus]], a notable [[Alchemy|alchemist]] and a "''medical genius''", was credited with the discovery of Parseltongue in the [[16th century|sixteenth century]],<ref name="PSG">{{PS|G}}</ref><ref name="COSG">{{COS|G}}</ref> despite the existence of speakers like [[Herpo the Foul]] or [[Salazar Slytherin]] in the classical and medieval ages. Because of the uncommonness of Parselmouths, Voldemort came to believe it made him special.<ref name="HBP13">{{HBP|B|13}}</ref> |
||
| ⚫ | An [[Unidentified member of the Dark Force Defence League|anonymous member]] of the [[Dark Force Defence League]] once stated when asked regarding the matter by [[Rita Skeeter]] — "''Personally, I would be highly suspicious of anybody who could converse with snakes, as serpents are often used in the worst kinds of Dark Magic, and are historically associated with evildoers''."<ref name="GOF31">{{GOF|B|31}}</ref> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | Harry was not consciously aware of his ability to speak Parseltongue until [[1992]]; he was pitted against [[Draco Malfoy]] in the [[Duelling Club]] and was able to communicate with the snake Draco [[Snake Summons Spell|conjured to attack him]]. This caused hysteria among his fellow students because graffiti on the walls of [[Hogwarts Castle]] foretold that the [[Tom Riddle|Heir of Slytherin]] would open the [[Chamber of Secrets]], unleashing a [[Salazar Slytherin's basilisk|monster]] that would attack the school's [[Muggle-born]] students. The Heir of Slytherin was in fact Voldemort, but Harry was able to gain access to the Chamber by speaking the [[password]] in Parseltongue, and subsequently killed the basilisk within. It was shortly after this incident that Harry learned how he acquired the ability.<ref name="CS">''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''</ref> |
||
| + | {{Quote|I spoke a different language? But — I didn’t realise — how can I speak a language without knowing I can speak it?|[[Harry Potter]] after he speaks Parseltongue|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}} |
||
| + | [[File:HarryParseltongue.png|250px|thumb|Harry having a conversation with a python in a zoo|alt=|left]] |
||
| ⚫ | Most people who are Parselmouths are descended from Salazar Slytherin except for Herpo the Foul. The famous Harry Potter himself was likely not a Parselmouth until [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] passed the ability to speak and understand Parseltongue on to him when he [[Attack at Godric's Hollow (1981)|attacked]] him in infancy in [[1981]], inadvertently and unknowingly making him into a [[Horcrux]].<ref name="DH35">{{DH|B|35}}</ref> Harry first experienced conversation with [[snake]]s at age ten when he was taken to the zoo with his cousin [[Dudley Dursley]] and found himself communicating with a snake while in the reptile exhibit. Harry [[Underage magic|inadvertently caused]] the glass of the snake's tank to [[Vanishment|vanish]], enabling it to escape.<ref name="PS2">{{PS|B|2}}</ref> |
||
| + | Harry was not consciously aware of his ability to speak Parseltongue until [[1992]] after he was pitted against [[Draco Malfoy]] in the [[Duelling Club (1990s)|Duelling Club]]. Draco [[Snake Summons Spell|conjured a snake]] to attack him and, when the serpent turned its attention to [[Justin Finch-Fletchley]], Harry was able to communicate with it to tell it not to attack.<ref name="COS11" /> |
||
| ⚫ | Harry also used his skill in Parseltongue to open [[ |
||
| + | [[File:Parseltongue snake.gif|245x245px|thumb|Harry speaking Parseltongue during the Duelling Club|alt=]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | Harry's ability, so closely associated with [[Salazar Slytherin]], caused hysteria among his fellow students because [[Writing on the Wall]]s of [[Hogwarts Castle]] had foretold that the [[Tom Riddle|Heir of Slytherin]], a Parselmouth, would open the [[Chamber of Secrets]], unleashing a [[Serpent of Slytherin|monster]] that would attack the school's [[Muggle-born]] students.<ref name="COS9">{{COS|B|9}}</ref> Even [[Severus Snape]], who was previously enjoying Harry's horror at the snake, looked at him differently when he learned of Harry's ability.<ref name="COS11" /> |
||
| + | The incident spread rumours that Harry may be the Heir and even [[Hermione Granger]], one of Harry's best friends, acknowledged that there was a possibility that he was descended from [[Salazar Slytherin|Slytherin]], as the Chamber had first been created 1000 years ago and its creator's bloodline over that time wasn't fully known. It was also at this time that he realised that he was speaking another language as Hermione and [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] couldn't understand what he was saying.<ref name="COS11" /> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | *[[Paracelsus]] |
||
| − | *[[Corvinus Gaunt]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | *[[Morfin Gaunt]] |
||
| − | *[[Merope Gaunt]] |
||
| − | *[[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] |
||
| − | *[[Harry Potter]] (from [[1981]] to [[1998]]) |
||
| + | The Heir of Slytherin was, in fact, Voldemort — a [[Horcrux|piece of his spirit]] contained within [[T. M. Riddle's Diary|his diary]] that had possessed [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Weasley]] and forced her to commit the acts around the school. However, Harry was able to gain access to the Chamber by speaking the [[password]] in Parseltongue, and subsequently destroyed both the [[Basilisk]] within and the Diary. It was shortly after this incident that Harry learned how he acquired the ability.<ref name="COS17">{{COS|B|17}}</ref> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | *[[Albus Dumbledore]] recognized, but did not speak, Parseltongue. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | When the wizarding world discovered Harry's ability to speak Parseltongue, courtesy of [[Rita Skeeter]], people began to doubt his word, as [[Cornelius Fudge]] refused to believe Harry's claim of Voldemort's rebirth, partially due to being prejudicial toward Harry's ability to speak the language.<ref name="GOF36">{{GOF|B|36}}</ref> |
||
| − | ==Etymology== |
||
| + | [[File:Slytherin's Locket showing its eye DHF1.png|thumb|250x250px|Harry uses Parseltongue to open Slytherin's Locket|left]] |
||
| ⚫ | [[J. K. Rowling]] has stated that she took the name Parselmouth from an "old word for someone who has a problem with the mouth, like a [[Wikipedia:hare lip|hare lip]]".<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2003/0626-alberthall-fry.htm 2003 Albert Hall Interview with J.K. |
||
| ⚫ | Harry also used his skill in Parseltongue to open [[Slytherin's Locket]].<ref name="DH19">{{DH|B|19}}</ref> When Harry, [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]] returned to Hogwarts to search for [[Ravenclaw's Diadem]], Ron managed a weak imitation of the phrase Harry had spoken, to re-open the Chamber of Secrets so that he and Hermione could fetch the Basilisk's [[Basilisk venom|fangs]], which Hermione used to destroy [[Hufflepuff's Cup]].<ref name="DH31">{{DH|B|31}}</ref> |
||
| + | |||
| ⚫ | After Lord Voldemort destroyed the fragment of his [[soul]] residing in Harry, Harry seemingly lost the ability to speak Parseltongue, about which he was glad and relieved.<ref name="bloomsburychat">[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2007/0730-bloomsbury-chat.html July 30, 2007 Bloomsbury Live Chat with J. K. Rowling]</ref> |
||
| + | |||
| + | Over the next twenty-two years, he never attempted to speak the language, presuming that it had died with Voldemort. However, in 2020, Harry discovered that he still had the ability, or had somehow regained it, despite his previous assumptions. While initially reluctant to speak the language, at Hermione's insistence Harry successfully spoke Parseltongue to open [[Delphini]]'s enchanted room while searching for his missing son, [[Albus Potter]]. Later, Harry again used Parseltongue in order to impersonate the [[Tom Riddle|Dark witch's father]].<ref name="cursedchild">{{CC}}</ref> |
||
| + | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | The ability to speak Parseltongue was known to be hereditary, and the blood relatives of known Parselmouths were potentially Parselmouths themselves. |
||
| + | |||
| + | ===Confirmed=== |
||
| + | {| width="100%" |
||
| + | | valign="top" width="33%" | |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | *[[Ominis Gaunt]]<ref name="HL" /> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | *[[Morfin Gaunt]]<ref name="HBP10" /><ref name="HBP17" /> |
||
| + | *[[Gormlaith Gaunt]]<ref name="PottermoreIlvermorny" /> |
||
| + | *[[Merope Riddle]]<ref name="HBP10" /> |
||
| + | | valign="top" width="33%" | |
||
| + | *[[Corvinus Gaunt]]<ref name="Chamber of Secrets">{{WW|chamber-of-secrets}}</ref> |
||
| + | *[[Tom Riddle]]<ref name="COS17" /><ref name="GOF1">{{GOF|B|1}}</ref><ref name="HBP13" /><ref name="HBP17">{{HBP|B|17}}</ref> |
||
| + | *[[Noctua Gaunt]]<ref name="HL">[[Hogwarts Legacy]]</ref> |
||
| + | *[[Harry Potter]]<ref name="PS2" /><ref name="COS11" /> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | *[[Delphini]]<ref name="cursedchild" /> |
||
| + | |} |
||
| + | |||
| + | ===Unconfirmed=== |
||
| + | {| width="100%" |
||
| + | | valign="top" width="33%" | |
||
| + | *[[Rionach Steward]]<ref name="PottermoreIlvermorny" /> |
||
| + | | valign="top" width="33%" | |
||
| + | *[[Rionach Sayre]]<ref name="PottermoreIlvermorny">{{WW|ilvermorny}}</ref> |
||
| + | |} |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | People who were not Parselmouths but were able to speak or understand Parseltongue through various means: |
||
| + | [[File:Ginny opens the Chamber of Secrets.jpg|250px|thumb|Ginny opens the Chamber of Secrets by speaking Parseltongue|alt=]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | |||
| ⚫ | [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] was also able to open the Chamber of Secrets during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]] by repeating a fragment of Parseltongue he had heard Harry Potter use to open [[Slytherin's Locket|Salazar Slytherin's Locket]], though it took him several tries to make it work.<ref name="DH31" /> |
||
| + | |||
| + | [[Albus Dumbledore]] could understand Parseltongue and repeat sentences in it verbatim; he may have been able to speak it in full, although this is unconfirmed.<ref name="bloomsburychat" /> |
||
| + | |||
| + | [[File:Bathilda Bagshot and Harry Potter.jpg|250px|thumb|Harry and [[Bathilda Bagshot]]'s body inhabited by [[Nagini]] speak Parseltongue|alt=|left]][[Newton Scamander|Newt Scamander]] mentioned in his magnum opus, {{FB}}, that information on [[Runespoor]]s, three-headed snakes from [[Africa]], is based on the “''writings of Parselmouths who have kept and conversed with these serpents''”.<ref name="FBR" /> There are likely to be African Parselmouths completely unrelated to the Gaunts. |
||
| + | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | |||
| + | [[Isolt Sayre]], a direct descendant of [[Salazar Slytherin]], was able to understand a [[Horned Serpent]] which she regularly visited but was not able to speak Parseltongue herself.<ref name="PottermoreIlvermorny" /> |
||
==Behind the scenes== |
==Behind the scenes== |
||
| ⚫ | *[[J. K. Rowling]] has stated that she took the name Parselmouth from an "old word for someone who has a problem with the mouth, like a [[Wikipedia:hare lip|hare lip]]".<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2003/0626-alberthall-fry.htm 2003 Albert Hall Interview with J.K. Rowling] at [[Accio Quote!|Accio Quote]]</ref> |
||
| − | [[File:Harrybathilda.jpg|thumb|Harry and [[Bathilda Bagshot]]'s body inhabited by [[Nagini]] speak Parseltongue.]] |
||
| + | *In {{COS|FA}}, in the Duelling Club scene, Harry says three phrases to the snake, which are as follows: |
||
| ⚫ | *When [[Harry Potter]] and [[Hermione Granger]] went to [[Godric's Hollow]] in [[1997]], [[Nagini]] (inside the corpse of [[Bathilda Bagshot]]) tells Harry to "''Come!''" from the next room in Parseltongue. In reaction, Hermione jumps and clutches Harry's arm, and the two of them obey the command.<ref |
||
| + | ** "You are to listen (to me)/obey" |
||
| + | **"You are to stop" |
||
| + | **"I command you to stop"{{Fact}} |
||
| ⚫ | *When [[Harry Potter]] and [[Hermione Granger]] went to [[Godric's Hollow]] in [[1997]], [[Nagini]] (inside the corpse of [[Bathilda Bagshot]]) tells Harry to "''Come!''" from the next room in Parseltongue. In reaction, Hermione jumps and clutches Harry's arm, and the two of them obey the command.<ref name="DH17" /> It is unknown how Hermione seemed to understand this command, though it could be that she did not hear it well, and merely followed Harry. She could also have been frightened by the hissing sound she heard and then followed [[Harry Potter|Harry]]. |
||
*In the [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|''Philosopher's Stone'' film]], Harry converses with a Burmese python, rather than a Boa Constrictor. |
*In the [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|''Philosopher's Stone'' film]], Harry converses with a Burmese python, rather than a Boa Constrictor. |
||
| − | *Whenever it was spoken in the films, Parseltongue went untranslated except for one scene in |
+ | *Whenever it was spoken in the films, Parseltongue went untranslated except for one scene in {{DH|F2}} when Voldemort was speaking to Nagini, where it was given subtitles. It was also heard in English in the first film when Harry was talking in the zoo. |
| − | *In the [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|films]], Parseltongue is depicted as sounding like a sibilant-filled language with readily discernible phonemes created by [[Francis Nolan|Dr |
+ | *In the [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|films]], Parseltongue is depicted as sounding like a sibilant-filled language with readily discernible phonemes created by [[Francis Nolan|Dr Francis Nolan]] (as listed in the credits for {{DH}}). In the [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets|novels]], it is only ever described as a low hissing noise, easily missed by non-Parselmouths — a far cry from the rather loud versions from the films. |
| − | *In the films, as Harry draws near a Horcrux he can hear, in addition to a whining noise, a faint voice which seems to speak in Parseltongue. |
+ | *In the last two films, as Harry draws near a Horcrux he can hear, in addition to a whining noise, a faint voice which seems to speak in Parseltongue. |
| − | ==External |
+ | ==External links== |
| − | *[http://www.theparselmouth.com/ The Parselmouth] - provides an aural dictionary that offers visitors the chance to listen to translations of |
+ | *[http://www.theparselmouth.com/ The Parselmouth] - provides an aural dictionary that offers visitors the chance to listen to translations of English words and phrases in Parseltongue |
| − | *[http://parseltonguetranslator.warnerbros.com/parseltongue.php Parseltongue translator] - an official translator into Parseltongue. |
+ | *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110702055621/http://parseltonguetranslator.warnerbros.com/parseltongue.php Parseltongue translator (archived)] - an official translator into Parseltongue. |
*[http://www.frathwiki.com/Stilio Parseltongue-inspired] - Provides a hypothetical, written breakdown of Parseltongue in universe. |
*[http://www.frathwiki.com/Stilio Parseltongue-inspired] - Provides a hypothetical, written breakdown of Parseltongue in universe. |
||
==Appearances== |
==Appearances== |
||
| + | *{{PS}} {{1st}} |
||
| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' {{1st}} |
||
| + | *{{PS|F}} |
||
| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)]]'' |
||
| − | * |
+ | *{{COS}} {{1st ID}} |
| + | *{{COS|F}} |
||
| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)]]'' |
||
| + | *{{COS|G}} |
||
| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)]]'' |
||
| + | *{{GOF}} |
||
| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' |
||
| + | *{{GOF|F}} |
||
| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)]]'' |
||
| − | * |
+ | *{{OOTP|F}} {{C|Heard in opening shot}} |
| + | *{{HBP}} |
||
| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' |
||
| + | *{{HBP|F}} |
||
| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)]]'' |
||
| + | *{{DH}} |
||
| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' |
||
| + | *{{DH|F1}} |
||
| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]]'' |
||
| + | *{{DH|F2}} |
||
| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]'' |
||
| + | *{{CC}} |
||
| − | *''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]'' |
||
| + | *{{CC|P}} |
||
| − | *[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7]] |
||
| + | *{{COG|S}} |
||
| + | *{{FB|R}} {{Mention}} |
||
| + | *{{PM}} |
||
| + | *{{WW}} |
||
| + | *{{HPV|CH}} {{Mention}} |
||
| + | *{{LEGO|Y1}} |
||
| + | *{{LEGO|Y2}} |
||
| + | *{{HPK}} |
||
| + | *{{WU}} {{Mention}} |
||
| + | *{{PAS}} {{Mention}} |
||
| + | *{{MA}} |
||
| + | *{{HL}} |
||
==Notes and references== |
==Notes and references== |
||
{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
||
| + | [[de:Parsel]] |
||
| − | |||
| + | [[es:Pársel]] |
||
[[fr:Fourchelang]] |
[[fr:Fourchelang]] |
||
[[it:Serpentese]] |
[[it:Serpentese]] |
||
| + | [[ja:パーセルタング]] |
||
[[nl:Sisseltong]] |
[[nl:Sisseltong]] |
||
| + | [[no:Ormtunge]] |
||
| + | [[pl:Wężousty]] |
||
| + | [[pt-br:Ofidioglossia]] |
||
[[ru:Змеиный язык]] |
[[ru:Змеиный язык]] |
||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Articles related to Horcruxes]] |
||
[[Category:Languages]] |
[[Category:Languages]] |
||
| + | [[Category:Magical powers]] |
||
| + | [[Category:Parselmouths]] |
||
| + | [[Category:Snakes]] |
||
Latest revision as of 21:16, 24 March 2024
|
Warning!
At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells & Harry Potter: Magic Awakened & Hogwarts Legacy. |
Harry Potter speaking Parseltongue to a boa constrictor
- "Hannah, he's a Parselmouth. Everyone knows that's the mark of a Dark wizard. Have you ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes? They called Slytherin himself Serpent-tongue."
- — Ernest Macmillan regarding Parseltongue's infamous reputation[src]
Parseltongue was the language of serpents (as well as other magical serpentine creatures, like the Runespoor and Basilisk) and it tended to sound like hissing noises. A wizard or witch who could speak Parseltongue was known as a Parselmouth.
It was a very uncommon skill, and was known to be an almost exclusively hereditary trait.[1] Not counting Herpo the Foul, who predated him by several centuries,[2] nearly all known Parselmouths were descended from Salazar Slytherin,[1] with Harry Potter being a notable exception (although he gained his ability as a Parselmouth in an unorthodox manner).[3]
At least in Britain, the ability had an association with Dark wizards. This association with the Dark Arts generally caused fear and distrust of those with the ability.[1]
Characteristics
- "And the second man’s voice changed. He started making noises such as Frank had never heard before; he was hissing and spitting without drawing breath. Frank thought he must be having some sort of fit or seizure."
- — The Muggle Frank Bryce overhearing Lord Voldemort speak in Parselmouth in the Riddle House[src]
Parseltongue was, when spoken, a hissing sound, similar to that of a snake; as such, normal people could not understand it[1][4] (one known exception being Dumbledore).[5] Apart from merely communicating with serpentine lifeforms, Parselmouths also seemed to be able to influence the will of serpents to a certain extent.[1][6]
Aside from serpent-based creatures, Parselmouths could communicate with each other with the language, as Harry understood Tom Riddle's commands to the Serpent of Slytherin,[6] and members of the House of Gaunt communicated with each other almost exclusively in Parseltongue.[7]
Though the ability was hereditary, not all of those with it could speak it themselves. Isolt Sayre was able to understand the Horned Serpent she visited, but not communicate with it herself.[8]
Reputation
- "The boy can talk to snakes, Dumbledore, and you still think he's trustworthy?"
- — Cornelius Fudge's prejudice against Parselmouths[src]
Students react in fear, after hearing Harry speak Parseltongue
The ability to actually speak Parseltongue — not just imitate it as Ron Weasley did — was considered an attribute of a Dark wizard,[1][9] which was partly due to the fact that both Salazar Slytherin and Lord Voldemort possessed this ability.[1][6] Another notable Dark wizard who was also a Parselmouth was Herpo the Foul.[2]
Students casting Harry suspicious looks because of his ability
However, as Albus Dumbledore pointed out, there were Parselmouths among the great and good as well, the most well-known of which was Harry Potter.[10] Paracelsus, a notable alchemist and a "medical genius", was credited with the discovery of Parseltongue in the sixteenth century,[11][12] despite the existence of speakers like Herpo the Foul or Salazar Slytherin in the classical and medieval ages. Because of the uncommonness of Parselmouths, Voldemort came to believe it made him special.[10]
An anonymous member of the Dark Force Defence League once stated when asked regarding the matter by Rita Skeeter — "Personally, I would be highly suspicious of anybody who could converse with snakes, as serpents are often used in the worst kinds of Dark Magic, and are historically associated with evildoers."[9]
Harry Potter as a Parselmouth
- "I spoke a different language? But — I didn’t realise — how can I speak a language without knowing I can speak it?"
- — Harry Potter after he speaks Parseltongue[src]
Harry having a conversation with a python in a zoo
Most people who are Parselmouths are descended from Salazar Slytherin except for Herpo the Foul. The famous Harry Potter himself was likely not a Parselmouth until Lord Voldemort passed the ability to speak and understand Parseltongue on to him when he attacked him in infancy in 1981, inadvertently and unknowingly making him into a Horcrux.[3] Harry first experienced conversation with snakes at age ten when he was taken to the zoo with his cousin Dudley Dursley and found himself communicating with a snake while in the reptile exhibit. Harry inadvertently caused the glass of the snake's tank to vanish, enabling it to escape.[13]
Harry was not consciously aware of his ability to speak Parseltongue until 1992 after he was pitted against Draco Malfoy in the Duelling Club. Draco conjured a snake to attack him and, when the serpent turned its attention to Justin Finch-Fletchley, Harry was able to communicate with it to tell it not to attack.[1]
Harry speaking Parseltongue during the Duelling Club
Harry's ability, so closely associated with Salazar Slytherin, caused hysteria among his fellow students because Writing on the Walls of Hogwarts Castle had foretold that the Heir of Slytherin, a Parselmouth, would open the Chamber of Secrets, unleashing a monster that would attack the school's Muggle-born students.[14] Even Severus Snape, who was previously enjoying Harry's horror at the snake, looked at him differently when he learned of Harry's ability.[1]
The incident spread rumours that Harry may be the Heir and even Hermione Granger, one of Harry's best friends, acknowledged that there was a possibility that he was descended from Slytherin, as the Chamber had first been created 1000 years ago and its creator's bloodline over that time wasn't fully known. It was also at this time that he realised that he was speaking another language as Hermione and Ron couldn't understand what he was saying.[1]
The Heir of Slytherin was, in fact, Voldemort — a piece of his spirit contained within his diary that had possessed Ginny Weasley and forced her to commit the acts around the school. However, Harry was able to gain access to the Chamber by speaking the password in Parseltongue, and subsequently destroyed both the Basilisk within and the Diary. It was shortly after this incident that Harry learned how he acquired the ability.[6]
When the wizarding world discovered Harry's ability to speak Parseltongue, courtesy of Rita Skeeter, people began to doubt his word, as Cornelius Fudge refused to believe Harry's claim of Voldemort's rebirth, partially due to being prejudicial toward Harry's ability to speak the language.[15]
Harry uses Parseltongue to open Slytherin's Locket
Harry also used his skill in Parseltongue to open Slytherin's Locket.[16] When Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger returned to Hogwarts to search for Ravenclaw's Diadem, Ron managed a weak imitation of the phrase Harry had spoken, to re-open the Chamber of Secrets so that he and Hermione could fetch the Basilisk's fangs, which Hermione used to destroy Hufflepuff's Cup.[17]
After Lord Voldemort destroyed the fragment of his soul residing in Harry, Harry seemingly lost the ability to speak Parseltongue, about which he was glad and relieved.[5]
Over the next twenty-two years, he never attempted to speak the language, presuming that it had died with Voldemort. However, in 2020, Harry discovered that he still had the ability, or had somehow regained it, despite his previous assumptions. While initially reluctant to speak the language, at Hermione's insistence Harry successfully spoke Parseltongue to open Delphini's enchanted room while searching for his missing son, Albus Potter. Later, Harry again used Parseltongue in order to impersonate the Dark witch's father.[18]
Known Parselmouths
The ability to speak Parseltongue was known to be hereditary, and the blood relatives of known Parselmouths were potentially Parselmouths themselves.
Confirmed
Unconfirmed
Other instances of Parseltongue
People who were not Parselmouths but were able to speak or understand Parseltongue through various means:
Ginny opens the Chamber of Secrets by speaking Parseltongue
Ginny Weasley was able to speak Parseltongue while she was possessed by Tom Riddle's Diary, which enabled her to open the Chamber of Secrets.[6]
Ron Weasley was also able to open the Chamber of Secrets during the Battle of Hogwarts by repeating a fragment of Parseltongue he had heard Harry Potter use to open Salazar Slytherin's Locket, though it took him several tries to make it work.[17]
Albus Dumbledore could understand Parseltongue and repeat sentences in it verbatim; he may have been able to speak it in full, although this is unconfirmed.[5]
Harry and Bathilda Bagshot's body inhabited by Nagini speak Parseltongue
Newt Scamander mentioned in his magnum opus, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, that information on Runespoors, three-headed snakes from Africa, is based on the “writings of Parselmouths who have kept and conversed with these serpents”.[2] There are likely to be African Parselmouths completely unrelated to the Gaunts.
Bathilda Bagshot's carcass spoke in Parseltongue while it was occupied by Nagini.[22]
Isolt Sayre, a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin, was able to understand a Horned Serpent which she regularly visited but was not able to speak Parseltongue herself.[8]
Behind the scenes
- J. K. Rowling has stated that she took the name Parselmouth from an "old word for someone who has a problem with the mouth, like a hare lip".[23]
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, in the Duelling Club scene, Harry says three phrases to the snake, which are as follows:
- "You are to listen (to me)/obey"
- "You are to stop"
- "I command you to stop"[citation needed]
- When Harry Potter and Hermione Granger went to Godric's Hollow in 1997, Nagini (inside the corpse of Bathilda Bagshot) tells Harry to "Come!" from the next room in Parseltongue. In reaction, Hermione jumps and clutches Harry's arm, and the two of them obey the command.[22] It is unknown how Hermione seemed to understand this command, though it could be that she did not hear it well, and merely followed Harry. She could also have been frightened by the hissing sound she heard and then followed Harry.
- In the Philosopher's Stone film, Harry converses with a Burmese python, rather than a Boa Constrictor.
- Whenever it was spoken in the films, Parseltongue went untranslated except for one scene in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 when Voldemort was speaking to Nagini, where it was given subtitles. It was also heard in English in the first film when Harry was talking in the zoo.
- In the films, Parseltongue is depicted as sounding like a sibilant-filled language with readily discernible phonemes created by Dr Francis Nolan (as listed in the credits for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows). In the novels, it is only ever described as a low hissing noise, easily missed by non-Parselmouths — a far cry from the rather loud versions from the films.
- In the last two films, as Harry draws near a Horcrux he can hear, in addition to a whining noise, a faint voice which seems to speak in Parseltongue.
External links
- The Parselmouth - provides an aural dictionary that offers visitors the chance to listen to translations of English words and phrases in Parseltongue
- Parseltongue translator (archived) - an official translator into Parseltongue.
- Parseltongue-inspired - Provides a hypothetical, written breakdown of Parseltongue in universe.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First identified as Parseltongue)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) (Heard in opening shot)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Mentioned only)
- Pottermore
- Wizarding World
- Harry Potter: The Character Vault (Mentioned only)
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- Harry Potter for Kinect
- Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
- Hogwarts Legacy
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 11 (The Duelling Club)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 35 (King's Cross)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 1 (The Riddle House)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 July 30, 2007 Bloomsbury Live Chat with J. K. Rowling
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 17 (The Heir of Slytherin)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 10 (The House of Gaunt)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" at Wizarding World
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 31 (The Third Task)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 13 (The Secret Riddle)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 2 (The Vanishing Glass)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 9 (The Writing on the Wall)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 36 (The Parting of the Ways)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 19 (The Silver Doe)
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Hogwarts Legacy
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 17 (A Sluggish Memory)
- ↑ Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Chamber of Secrets" at Wizarding World
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 17 (Bathilda's Secret)
- ↑ 2003 Albert Hall Interview with J.K. Rowling at Accio Quote