Any fantasy setting with magic that’s cast through really particular magical word pronunciation or syntax might get all sorts of mixed up if somehow etymologists had some massive influence in it all.

Like maybe the “original” magic words would have more potency or simply different effects, and in trying to track it all these folks might be constantly miscasting or finding more potent forms of the spells.

  • scratchee@feddit.uk
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    11 months ago

    Or maybe etymology is strongly discouraged amongst wizards, because spells work on the belief of the caster and any etymological knowledge could ruin a perfectly good spell. Every now and again a good spell-caster’s career is ruined because they sat near the wrong nerd at a bar and now can’t forget that in the original Morrispanian the word all their fire spells start with meant “tepid”.

    • ElectroVagrant@lemmy.worldOPM
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      11 months ago

      Keep trying to cast fireball but it just keeps whiffing like an old match against a worn matchbox, “Damn it, why’d I ever listen to those language professors?!”