Mermish is the language of merpeople.
About[]
Merpeople can only speak Mermish above the water. Witches and wizards can learn the language in order to communicate with and translate for them.[1]
History[]
In the twelfth century, Chief of the Wizards' Council Elfrida Clagg tried to define a being. Those that qualified had to be creatures that could speak and understand human languages. Although merpeople are capable of this, they can only speak Mermish above the water and thus, couldn't attend Clagg's gathering to make themselves understood. Centaurs protested the decision to classify merpeople into beasts instead of beings and did not attend.[1]
In the eighteenth century, Grogan Stump redefined a being. Under his decree, merpeople were considered beings because they can understand and bear part of the responsibility for shaping wizarding laws. They attended his gathering and communicated with the help of translators. However, a year later, they requested the beast classification because they did not want to share the being classification with Dark creatures like hags and vampires.[1]
Barty Crouch Snr. could speak Mermish.[2]
Known speakers[]
Notes and sources[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Introduction (What is a Beast?)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 7