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Guest Post: Mytusmage on Language & Magic

The following was originally a comment on my last post by Mythusmage. Who guards a corner of the internets known as Mythusmage Opines. I’ve annotated with remarks distinguished by brackets () CAPITALS and a pirate voice. I’m not going to spellcheck it, because pirates don’t fucking spellcheck. Arrrr.

(I BE BLOGGING BOUT YON MG READING WITH NARRY A MENTION OF THAT COVE MYTHUSMAGE.)

Note how Blake neglects to mention the marvelous, magical, mythusmage (hi there).

I got there late (AYE), didn’t have a the money for a copy of the book (AYE), and Charlton rewards me by forgetting my presence there. (BY THE SALTY BRINE!) Tis a cruel way of inflicting humility on a fellow. (AVAST YE THIS LIBELOUS LUBBERLY SPEACH!)

By the way, I mentioned how the magic system in Ars Magica is like a programming language. One thing I neglected to mention is that that same system is also a good look at how language works. Not just grammar and vocabulary, but metagrammar and metavocabulary. The meaning the structure of language imparts to the words a language uses. I’m currently re-reading Harry Turtledove’s Between the Rivers and noting how careful, and avid, the characters are to keep reassuring their god, Engibil that they, his worshippers fear and adore him, all in the hope Engibil will keep his deific nose out of their mortal business and leave him will enough alone.

(OH, AYE?)

For language is not just words, but how those words are used to construct a vision of reality, and how this construction can help or hinder our understanding of this universe we dwell within.

(NOW THAT WAS REALLY VERY ELEGANTLY PUT. BROVO! AND FURHTER MORE, ARRRR!)

You could say that magic is the attempt to use words in a way that changes reality, done by those who won’t understand that words only describe reality, they don’t determine reality. Words only name what we know, they don’t establish what we know.

(YE ARE FETCHING FOR A DUEL WITH YON PIRATE NOAM CHOMSKY!)

All that I got, in part, from a book I haven’t even read yet.

Blake, hope the rest of your tour is fun too.

(INDEED IT HAS BEEN, MATEY! AND THE LUCK OF POSEIDON GO WITH YE AS WELL!)

Comments

3 Responses to “Guest Post: Mytusmage on Language & Magic”

  • Alan Kellogg

    10:52 pm Mar-16-2010

    Reply

    To correct my most blatant error, where I said, “and leave him will enough alone.” change it to read, “And leave them well enough alone.” (My emphasis :) ). By this I hope to demonstrate how important proofreading is when you’re a stumble fingered soul like me. :D

    More broadly, when you have something important to say, be sure you say what you mean. For in communication saying what you mean helps greatly with understanding. You can’t entirely avoid misunderstandings, but you can minimize the possibility

    In other news, I found Blake to be interesting, intriguing, interested in people. Someone who listens and listens well. He also tends to stumble in his reading when he gets excited, and he was excited at MG on the 14th. His first reading, his first signing, all for his first book, and the people there were genuinely excited by him and his work. It built upon itself and became more than the sum of its parts.

    One more thing, if Blake’s obvious attempts to hide it have worked for you, he does have the tonsure natural. He makes a pitiful attempt at concealing it by shaving off the remnants of his cranial pelt. The scraggly face fungus he sports upon chin and lip is his essay at distracting you.

    His med student humor I will leave as a feature for you to discover.

    Me? I’ll be getting a copy of Spellwright on Thursday, April 1st. Don’t know if I’ll be devouring it right away, but devour it I shall. Even more, I’ll likely be incorporating into my own work. When next you have the opportunity to pick up a book to read, give Spellwright a chance.

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