Being British XI

[Finest Firewhisky]

I'm writing a PH Fanfic, and I want to run my word choice by some people.
I use Mum and Da a lot in my fic, so that's not wrong? Plus, I need some extremely slang, sort of Hagrid-like, words for one of my characters to use. I have no idea how to write like that and it's bugging me. Can anyone help?

You'd be best to go with Mum and Dad.

I don't think Hagrid uses slang in the books, he just speaks with a West Country accent. What words do you need the slang terms for?

[Sapphire at Dawn]

Yeah, Shakira is big over here. She had a few hits in the early 2000s, and then she came back and did 'Hips Don't lie', as Finest Firewhisky said, but more recently it's 'She Wolf'. That was played in the clubs a lot.

At this moment, the top 20 looks like this:

Taken from BBC Radio 1:

1 Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
2 Peter Kay's - Animated All Star Band The Official Bbc Children In Need Medley
3 Rihanna - Russian Roulette
4 The Black Eyed Peas - Meet Me Halfway
5 Ke$ha - Tik Tok
6 Timbaland/Nelly Furtado/Soshy - Morning After Dark
7 Jason Derulo - Whatcha Say
8 Alicia Keys - Doesn't Mean Anything
9 Chuckie & Lmfao - Let The Bass Kick In Miami Girl
10 Chipmunk Look - For Me (feat. Talay Riley)
11 The X Factor Finalists 2009 - You Are Not Alone
12 Pixie Lott - Cry Me Out
13 Cheryl Cole - Fight For This Love
14 Cheryl Cole - 3 Words (feat. Will I Am)
15 Robbie Williams - You Know Me
16 Jay-Z Empire State Of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys)
17 50 Cent - Baby By Me (feat. Ne Yo)
18 The Pogues - Fairytale Of New York (feat. Kirsty Maccoll)
19 Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
20 Black Eyed Peas - I Got A Feeling

R&B type music seems to be big at the moment, and from the US you've got people like Beyonce, Rhianna, Kanye West and Jordin Sparks, while over here the X Factor people are big. Leona Lewis is popular and so is last year's winner Alexandra Burke and the runner up, boyband JLS. X Factor (a music talent show like American Idol) has just finished, and this years winner is a guy called Joe Mcelderry, and he'll probably have the Christmas number one.

However, if your looking for rock type music, then British bands are more popular. You've got The Killers and Kings of Leon from America, but British bands include Coldplay, Kasabian, Muse, Biffy Clyro, Mumford & Son (at least I think they're British) and Florence + the Machine.

I'm writing a PH Fanfic, and I want to run my word choice by some people.
I use Mum and Da a lot in my fic, so that's not wrong? Plus, I need some extremely slang, sort of Hagrid-like, words for one of my characters to use. I have no idea how to write like that and it's bugging me. Can anyone help?

Mum and Dad is fine. As Finest Firewhisky said, Hagrid doesn't actually use slang; it's just his Westcountry accent. JKR's spelled it that way to make the way he sounds come across. If you need help with his accent then I can help; I'm from the Westcountry so I know the accent well. However, I don't think I can give any advice about the words your after unless I know what context it's in and what words your trying to substitue. Do you mean things like 'y'know' and 'd'you'?

Sarah x

[leahsm2]

What would be an acceptable name for a grandfather in Devon? For instance, "Poppi" is cute, odd, but acceptable in the middle of the U.S.. Anything like that there?

[ron lover]

Is the phrase 'don't have a cow' used?

...........................

[Northumbrian]

What would be an acceptable name for a grandfather in Devon? For instance, "Poppi" is cute, odd, but acceptable in the middle of the U.S.. Anything like that there?

Grandad is pretty much your only choice. Though a cousin of mine calls her grandfather Dandy. It was her firdt attempt to say grandad when she was small, and it stuck. I don't know anyone who would use Pop or Pops except ironically.

-N-

[Northumbrian]

Is the phrase 'don't have a cow' used?

...........................

We do see the Simpsons, so we know what it means. But I don't hear the phrase often. don't get you knickers in a twist (or "in a knot") means pretty much the same thing (I think).

-N-

[Sapphire at Dawn]

Northumbrian is right; Granddad is probably the only thing, unless you went for Gramps. Poppi sounds a bit too American to me. I only use 'pops' when I want to be annoying, but you could make something up and explain it as the child not being able to pronounce Granddad properly. My dad used to call one of his grandmothers Gangy, so you could do anything!

Alyssa: I've never heard that phrase before, but that might just be me. What does it mean?

Sarah x

[OliveOil_Med]

I have a question: what are some art schools in London or just universities know for their art programs? Also, where are some streets are plazas known for street performers and artists, and just generally very artistic neighborhoods?

What are some universities near these neighborhoods?

[Equinox Chick]

Molly - What era?

Currently the art schools in London come under one big college called The University of Arts London. There are several sites which were former smaller schools (St Martins, Chelsea, Wimbledon (latter two are South London - Wimbledon being on the outskirts of London) etc). I suggest you google the University to find specific information.

I do know that Chelsea (south London) was a school specialising in more Avant Garde work and modern art. St Martins in the Field is more of a fashion place.

The most famous school for any era, is a school of Fine Art called Slade.

Universtities will have their own Arts programmes but anyone reallty serious about their art will go to a specialist school.


Carole
xxx

PM me for links if you wish.

EDIT: Sorry, I forgot your other question. Covent Garden is the most well known place for street performers. It's a huge covered market area that has a lot of shops, stalls and restaurants. There's a big square (forecourt) where you can see street performers - ie unicyclists, singers, jugglers and those really annoying mime artists *shudders*
Most of the parks in London will have street performers entertaining the crowds (Hyde Park for instance). And you'll always see buskers at the tube stations.

Artistic/Bohemian type neighbourhoods - again depend on era. Notting Hill was very arty, and also very multi-cultural as it is an area of London where a lot of caribbean immigrants lived in. The Notting Hill Carnival (held every August) is a huge event in London. Notting Hill is still known for its arty type people but a lot of them are very rich now (Stella MacCartney, Kate Moss etc) and therefore don't have much street cred.
These days Camden is probably more Bohemian (Amy Winehouse set), but generally anywhere in London is ridiculously expensive. A struggling artist wouldn't be able to buy anywhere but would possibly rent a room with a load of other artists.

[Fainting Fancies]

I have a couple of quick questions about the British school calendar (I'm assuming the Hogwarts resembles it).

When do summer holidays start?

What time of year do students sit their exams (GCSEs)?

Thanks for your help!

~Hannah~