Talk:J. K. Rowling

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External link to ZotFish?

Hi, I was wondering if it would be appropriate for someone to add an external link to the ZotFish page for J. K. Rowling?. I believe it's of genuine interest to readers, but I want to make sure I follow Wikipedia policy and not post it myself -- more info on the site can be found at Mashable.

Zotman (talk) 03:29, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

Sounds like that site could work some day, but until it establishes itself I don't think linking to it it qualifies on notability grounds. Otherwise it's really just advertising. Serendi^podous 05:57, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

The site violates WP:ELNO, WP:NOT#REPOSITORY, and does not enhance the article. It should not be added. --- Barek (talk • contribs) - 15:30, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

The Church she's a member of

http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/1099-atlanta-hulbert.htm —Preceding unsigned comment added by 132.241.245.34 (talk) 00:10, 13 June 2008 (UTC)

Sorry, what's your point? faithless (^speak) 02:15, 13 June 2008 (UTC)

Beedle The Bard

Can someone add to this page the fact that Rowling WILL be publishing Beedle The Bard in December 2008? I'd add a link to a news page, but I haven't the foggiest how. Just do a quick search in Google News: it's all there. Thanks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.143.54.6 (talk) 19:27, 31 July 2008 (UTC)

Done. :-) Serendi^podous 07:45, 2 August 2008 (UTC)

Pronunciation (yes, I know, but please read)

Yes, I know this has been discussed there, there and there (see box at top of page) but as Rowling is British, why is the US pronunciation of the vowel in the first syllable being used instead of the UK pronunciation; that is, why /oʊ/ rather than /oʊ/? Is it Wikipedia policy to use US pronunciation in all articles, or is UK pronunciation supposed to be used in articles on UK topics? Either is POV, of course, but in this case, using the US pronunciation seems more POV to me than using the UK one. — Paul G (talk) 07:08, 2 August 2008 (UTC)

Done. :-) Serendi^podous 07:46, 2 August 2008 (UTC)

See - this is exactly why we need to use the Super-Dooper* Pronounciation guide rather than the absurd IPA method. We Americans don't know /oʊ/ from /əʊ/, probably because we never read past the first few stanzas of Bëôwǔlf, or anything from Shakespeare; and faked it through most of the English Literature class exams. But by golly I think, with some help, we can distinguish "ROLE-ling" from "RAW-ling" and "RAH-ling" from "ROW-ling" (as in cow-ling) - if we only know which is the right one. That said, we still can't tell /oʊ/ from /əʊ/, so we say it however we first heard it, which may be any one of those four Super-Dooper ways, or something else entirely. In any case, Paul G, this is NOT in any way shape or form a POV problem, but more of a diversity and divergence of the English Language, which is manifest sometimes confusingly in the re-convergence of a shared English Wikipedia. If someone changes it (again) to a non-preferred pronunciation, please assume good faith, and switch it back patiently, with a proper explanation for the poor ignorant American. --T-dot ( ^Talk/contribs ) 14:31, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

I think it needs to be elaborated on. As of now, it says 'rolling'. This is indeed how *she* pronounces it (and probably most British), not necessarily the absolute right way in every occasion. The American-English way, I believe, is that which rhymes with 'howling', and it's common for American's to say it that way I've noticed. I think it should be stated that it's the way she pronounces it, then the citation makes perfect sense. Also, to include the alternative pronunciation too. I think that IPA is important to have since it's the 'formal standard' regardless of how useful it may actually be to readers. But it should be demonstrated in an example (say with a rhyming word). Anyhow, I know this is an old edit-war point, but the way it is now simply isn't entirely helpful for readers IMO. I mean, what's so wrong with pronouncing a name the way it's spelled??? -DougCube (talk) 07:19, 19 August 2008 (UTC)

I don't know where this "American" pronunciation idea came from. First of all, it's a surname, not a word; the only correct way to pronounce it is the way the user of the surname pronounces it. Secondly, there is no "American" pronunciation. Lots of British (probably most who haven't heard it pronounced) pronounce her name like "howling", and lots of Americans pronounce it "rolling". It's not an "American" pronunciation, it's just wrong. Serendi^podous 07:32, 19 August 2008 (UTC)

My thoughts exactly. You just saved me a lot of typing, Serendipodous. :-) faithless (^speak) 07:40, 19 August 2008 (UTC)

Ethnicity.

The fact the article seems to fail to mention she’s English (I accept the "British in the opening sentence) really seems very strange. Scottish nationalist twits ruling this article like they try to with every other English related article? (Butters x (talk) 01:20, 9 August 2008 (UTC))

Groan. Didn't you read the notice at the top of the board? This has been done to death. Rowling is British. That's her nationality. Her ethnicity doesn't mean anything. She's not Sir Walter Scott. Serendi^podous 06:07, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

And i don't see people like you going around to every Scottish people’s article and trying to assert they are "British" and that there Ethnicity is not important. (Butters x (talk) 12:19, 9 August 2008 (UTC))

I don't edit those articles. I edit this one. And in my estimation, since Rowling's ethnicity has little or no bearing on her or her work, it isn't worth getting flustered over. Serendi^podous 13:49, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

In the infobox it should say she is English in ethnicity. That’s not to do with her work, that’s just her. So how is it right that a lot of English persons articles state there ethnicity (See J.R.R Tolkien) as English but not this one? (Butters x (talk) 14:29, 9 August 2008 (UTC))

Why does it even matter? Do we insist that French people be called Occitanians or Bretons? Or that Germans be called Bavarians or Prussians? Or that Spanish people be called Catalans or Gallegos? What makes the UK deserving of special treatment? Serendi^podous 16:37, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

Given her strong use of models from the English Tradition (the jennings stories etc) it is surely relevant. --Snowded TALK 15:55, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

She also draws heavily from Scottish folklore and traditions. Serendi^podous 16:35, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

"She also draws heavily from Scottish folklore and traditions" Im sorry but how exactly does that make her any less English in ethnicity? Why is that all Scottish/Welsh persons get the "Right" to be not called British but Scottish/Welsh? Because of biased editing from People. Her Ethnicity should be at least Mentioned . Without it's a factual error and therefore needs to be corrected. (Butters x (talk) 22:55, 9 August 2008 (UTC))

It doesn't. But it shows that her ethnicity has little or no bearing on her work. If anything, her work is pan-British, as it draws inspiration from every corner of the UK, including Ireland. Serendi^podous 11:36, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

Alright Butters, I just don't get this whole English/British/Scots/Welsh/Irish/Danish/whatever thing, being, I suppose, an absurd and very ignorant American. I think Nationality refers to citizenship, while Ethnicity refers to ancestry, right? In America we sometimes refer to "African-Americans", "Chinese-Americans", and "Japanese-Americans", etc., based on a sort of national (and/or continental) ancestry for American citizens, and perhaps using a sort of "Ethnic-Nationality" format as a standard (although I learned just last night during the Olympics Opening Ceremonies that there are many dozens of different ethnic groups in China. Do they distinguish ethnic Chinese authors in China as, for example, Salar-Chinese and Nakhi-Chinese?). Anyway, these American ethnic group "separations", if you will, only seem to apply to Americans who are not of some sort of white Euro-ancestry ... we almost never say "European Americans", except perhaps in jest, although "Caucasian" is a common reference to typical "white Anglo-Saxons" - which, now that I think of it, is probably be a contradiction of terms or something: are all Anglo-Saxons from the Caucasus/Caucasia? Does it matter? I thought the A-S's (and that is a pure accident of abbreviation, btw) came from the Germanic tribes of Angles, Saxons, and Jutes over in Germany or something. And by the way, whatever happened to the Jutes in the definition of "white Americans"? Did they get wiped out in tribal wars over ethnicity? It gives me a cultural headache trying to sort through the whole "white-euro-ethnic" mess, never mind distinguishing different types of British citizens; perhaps this is why so many of the (perhaps disenfranchised) ethnic "tribes" left Europe and the British Isles and fled to America, and then revolted to get away from it all once and for all. Melting pot indeed. Anyway, so what exactly do you propose? How do we fix it? Do you want to say Rowling is British/Scotch? Or Scots-British? Or Scottish-Welsh/British? Or that she is a British author of Scottish/Welsh descent? If so, why - based on what? Because she lives (or lived) in Scotland? Gosh, I lived in France for a couple of months: 20-some years ago. Does that make me American-French? (actually by pure coincidence I am of French descent, so perhaps that make me a Franco/American-French?) Or are you saying her "nationality" is Scottish rather than British? Or perhaps I got it all backwards here, and you mean to say that she is of pure English (Anglo?) ancestry, to go along with her British nationality, so therefore she should be designated as Anglo-British or something? Is being specifically "English" a reference to some sort of "pure-bloodedness" that separates the "proper English" folk from the Scottish, Irish, and Welsh "mud-bloods", or "white trash" as some might say in America? Yikes! I just don't see a place in her article (or other biographical articles) for defining and declaring her exact ethnic pedigree as a pure-blood or whatever. Does she have papers, perhaps like a properly bred Beagle? Tell us exactly what you want the article to say, and where you want it said, and why it should say that. --T-dot ( ^Talk/contribs ) 00:39, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

There is no distinct ethnic divide between England and Scotland - lowland Scotland is mostly Anglo-Saxon. -- Ian Dalziel (talk) 11:10, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Trevithick If you take a look you will see that his Ethnicity is "Cornish" in the Infobox (To be frank i don't know why, i don't recognise Cornish Nationality at all) So i don't see why the Infobox on this page could not say-Ethnicity "English" (Butters x (talk) 15:11, 10 August 2008 (UTC))

I have to say, I really don't know what you want and what you're objecting to. The article says she's British, which means from the UK (see British people), which includes England... Also, you don't seem to be clear on the difference between ethnicity and nationality. Exploding Boy (talk) 21:43, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

OK good - this is progress. So is "being English" truly an ethnicity? According to English people, "As an ethnic group, they (the English) are normally presumed to be an admixture of different groups that have settled in England throughout history, such as the Brythons (including Romano-Britons), Anglo-Saxons, Danish Vikings, Bretons(ref7), Normans, Huguenots etc, and also, owing to the close interactions between England and its neighbouring countries, there has been a significant amount of immigration from Wales, Scotland and Ireland.". It sounds like "English" as a people is very much yet another melting pot of many blended ethnic groups. But do we have a highly reliable source that says she is of the pure "English" ethnic class per se, or perhaps she is from one of the other English sub-groups that makes up the English pot? Otherwise we are just speculating and attempting to publish original research. I only bring this up because, as evidenced above (see J.K. Rowling's ethnicity/nationality has been discussed here, here and here) the issue of her nationality/ethnicity has already been conclusively discussed and debated and reviewed at length by the community, several times, apparently to consensus, so what new 'truths' do we have at hand to bring to the long-disbanded party? --T-dot ( ^Talk/contribs ) 22:21, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

The actual cafe that Rowling began writing Harry Potter

I could be mistaken, but as far as we know here in Edinburgh, Harry Potter was written in the Elephant House located on Nicolson Street, just two blocks up from the University Of Edinburgh. There doesn't seem to actually BE a "Nicolson's Cafe" as was quoted in this article. If you can't walk up to the cafe and actually read their proud newspaper clipping touting Harry Potter's birth, then you can see their claims on their websight http://www.elephanthouse.biz/ —Preceding unsigned comment added by Redphoenix5000 (talk • contribs) 06:54, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

I've heard Nicholson's Cafe was the main one. I don't think anyone's ever pressed her on it. Serendi^podous 07:23, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

It's a Chinese restaurant these days at 6a Nicholson Street, Edinburgh. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/mar/18/travelnews.usa Libertycookies (talk) 19:42, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

Jane Yolen

I wonder did J.K. Rowling ever read Wizard's Hall by Jane Yolen because Harry Potter is a lot like it. To the people who will say Jane Yolen copied the Harry Potter books they are wrong. Yolen wrote Wizard's Hall 8 years before the frist HP book came out. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.126.28.86 (talk) 22:01, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

See Harry Potter influences and analogues Serendi^podous 22:04, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

Harry Potter Movies - Date Change

The release date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been moved to 17 July, 2009. [1]

I would change it myself, seeing as I've been a member for a while, but for some reason I'm unable to. If someone could change this incorrect information, that would be awesome. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Veronicacullen (talk • contribs) 22:06, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

Done :-{ Serendi^podous 22:27, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

Missing "Chamber of Secrets" Paragraph?

It is curious, in the "Harry Potter books" section, how there is no mention of the history behind Rowling's 2nd book, "Chamber of Secrets". Was it there but then accidentally removed, or was there never any mention of it? Robert The Rebuilder (talk) 17:53, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

It's just that there wasn't anything really notable about it. It didn't win any major awards or break any sales records. If you can find anything interesting about it, then yeah sure we can put it in. Serendi^podous 07:16, 26 August 2008 (UTC)

So, none of the 21 awards that it received would be considered "major"? Robert The Rebuilder (talk) 23:27, 28 August 2008 (UTC)

Added a line and a ref. Serendi^podous 20:42, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Plagiarism

Why was the plagiarism story taken out of this article?

Is Wikipedia biased? I think so. It is no longer an encyclopedia but a giant advertisement for corporate world with their SHILLS looking over entry here and deleting anything negative.

JK Rowling did steal from another author. She has been very lucky in court cases. Including the recent one about the Harry encyclopedia book. How was she harmed? Absolutely ridiculous. What's the purpose of 'fair usage' laws? He wasn't writing a story using Harry Potter. Our judges are leaning way too far for big business and not staying neutral. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ericg33 (talk • contribs) --Ericg33 (talk) 07:50, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Which plagiarism case are you referring to? JK Rowling's many legal trevails have been meticulously catalogued and examined in Legal disputes over Harry Potter, which was broken off this article for reasons of length. Serendi^podous 19:53, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Thanks. Is there a link on the Rowling page?--Ericg33 (talk) 07:50, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Yes. At the bottom. Serendi^podous 08:08, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Philanthropy or personal views

I'm going to suggest that political donations shouldn't be viewed as philanthropy. The donation to Labour while noble, promotes her own beliefs and is not entirely altruistic. This is her first donation to a political party, and carrys with it an endorsement of her views. Libertycookies (talk) 19:07, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

None of her donations are entirely altruistic by that measurement. She has charities that she focuses on because those are who she wants to help, most of which reflect her own life; children, single mothers, multiple sclerosis, all were very public donations that advertised her beliefs and priorities. This donation was no different. Serendi^podous 19:18, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

The other donations were tax deductable because they were to non-profit organizations. Libertycookies (talk) 19:25, 20 September 2008 (UTC)