[HPforGrownups] Re: Laws of the universe

[Fiat Incantatum]

No: HPFGUIDX 33765

On 19 Jan 2002 at 22:28, pengolodh_sc wrote:

> As such, I do not think that there are any "universal words" of 
> magic, and certainly not taht we have seen any so far, even if they 
> exist.  The words we hitherto hace seen in spells seem to be Latin or 
> pseudo-Latin, while it seems probable to me that magic existed a long 
> time before Latin existed.  If there were any such words, they might 
> be in proto-indoeuropean, but as I said  - I do not really think 
> there are any.  (Of course, according to Murphy, JKR will in book 
> five refute everything I have written above :) ) 

Latin (or else Greek) would make sense for a Europe-based system of magic.  I 
suspect that in other traditions (Asian, African and those native to the 
western hemisphere  to name a few) the "magic words" would be in a different 
dead or semi-dead language. Potion ingredients would probably differ too ... I 
don't think dragons per se existed in any of the cultures native to the western 
hemisphere, for example, so dragon liver wouldn't be a very useful ingredient 
unless you were doing some sort of odd fusion magic (think fusion cooking ... 
it could get very scary very quickly)

IMHO the "magical stuff" inside the wand probably serves as a conductor the way 
metal serves as a conductor inside wires.  Some metals and some other materials 
carry electricity better/differently than others and in different situations 
and "magical stuff" would seem to behave in much the same way ... different 
creatures would produce different qualities of magical current.  Further along 
the electricity thought, you do see plenty of free electricity (lightning, 
static) in the environment and you can sort of direct it, sometimes, if you do 
it right.  Lightening rods and the grounding tethers that are used in working 
with delicate electronics, for example.  However, working with free electricity 
(or magic) is hazardous, hence our coated wires, grounded plugs, and habit of 
not standing under trees during thunderstorms.

wondering if this all makes sense!

-- 
Fiat Incantatum 
fiatincantatum at attbi.com

The last temptation is the greatest treason:  
To do the right thing for the wrong reason.
           T. S. Eliot "Murder in the Cathedral"