“Anáil nathrach orth bhais betha, do cheol déanta” – Merlin, from Excalibur

So, you’re reading a fantasy story and you reach a point where someone has to speak, chant or sing to cast a spell.  I’d be willing to bet that the portrayal of that moment will be handled in one of three ways:

• Description: “I spoke the words of the Icy Path, and his feet went out from beneath him.” – Sign of Chaos by Roger Zelazny
• Poetry: Christopher Stasheff’s novels have great examples of this, but my copy of Her Majesty’s Wizard is buried right now.
• ‘Magical Language’: “Flickum bickus.” – Storm Front by Jim Butcher

Description can work well dramatically, but it does create a little separation between the event and the reader.  It’s more telling than showing – not a cardinal sin by any means, and effective in almost any situation.  But sometimes as a reader you want to get deeper into the moment.

Poetry is exactly as effective as the poet, which makes it a bit chancy.  If the writer pulls off poetry well, then the reader probably leaves the scene satisfied.  If not, then the reader might get momentarily thrown from the story – even if only the length of a snort – which diminishes the experience.  So this one is a bit risky.

‘Magical Language’ is usually glossolalia.  For example, Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter derive their spells from Latin, but neither uses the language properly.  Sometimes, though, the writer simply invents pseudo-words that sound good.  Whether or not these work depends on the writer and the reader.  I know people who refuse to read Harry Potter because “the spells sound ridiculous.”  On the other hand, Harry Dresden uses the incantations he does for specific reasons explained in one of the books (and omitted here for fear of spoilers).  Also, because Dresden’s incantations are unique to him, they illuminate his character.

But what if there were another way?  A way that did not 1) create distance when you need immediacy, 2) rely on a prose writer’s poetry, and 3) risk sounding ridiculous.

I was wondering about that this morning, and I realized something: Tolkien created languages for his elves.  Movie studios commissioned languages for Klingon and the Na’vi.  What if someone created a language for magic?  Something open and available, for fantasy writers to use in the way that best suits their stories.

Some writers might use it for incantations.  Others might use it for text in grimoires or for private discussions between wizards.  Or for something else, there’s no reason to restrict the options.

What do you think?  Could this work?  Would there be anyone willing to undertake such a project?

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