Word Magic

The term essentially refers to the belief that words, especially when used ritualistically or in some form of incantation, have the power to unlock mysterious powers in nature and to affect human beings and their relationships. They may be employed benevolently, as in the case of charms and prayers, or malignantly, as in the case of spells and curses. An essential aspect of taboo is grounded in the belief that certain forces, creatures, and practices ought not be named, which results in the suppression of the “dangerous” terms and the generation of pacifying euphemisms. In its most fundamental formulations word magic (first recorded in Ogden and Richards 1923, ii, 42) derives from anthropological studies of the supposed magical property residing in a name. It is significant that the earliest Germanic alphabet consisted of runes , carved alphabetical characters with mysterious or magical powers attributed to them both individually and collectively. Although word magic suggests primitive superstition, the copious and continuing evidence of taboos and euphemisms shows that there is still great respect for the power of words, despite the generally prevalent linguistic philosophy of nominalism, which claims that words have no intrinsic meaning, only that which is generated by convention. The various aspects of word magic are discussed more fully in the cross-referenced headings below.