History Main / LanguageOfMagic

** In ''Literature/RavenorVsEisenhorn'', Enucia is used to test Beta.

* In CurseWords, more volatile spells are frequently trained to respond to activation words to prevent them from triggering accidentally. There's a push to train everything to Ido and turn it into a LanguageOfMagic.

* ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'' has the High Speech. It's not ''necessary'' for magic, but it does give it a nice boost.

* The Correspondence in ''VideoGame/FallenLondon'' and ''VideoGame/SunlessSea'' is the language of eldritch gods that shapes reality. Several of the enemies you face in the Unterzee over the course of ''Sunless Sea'', most notably Mt Nomad and Lorn-Flukes, can sink your ship by yelling at it with the Correspondence (and, should you encounter Mt Nomad at the wrong time, [[DeathIsCheap probably will]]).

** Also from the Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}, the [[LightNovel/KaraNoKyoukai Unified Language]], which was 'spoken' to another plane altogether; it allows for the retrieval of a soul's 'recordings', essentially giving access to all knowledge possessed by every human being in existence.

* Inverted in Literature/TheDresdenFiles, where Practitioners use ancient languages as verbal foci for their magic ''to insulate their brain from the energy they're channeling''.

* In Heinlein's Literature/StrangerInAStrangeLand, the Martian language works sort of like this. Knowing fully (grokking) the language allows powers like telekinesis, total annihilation of people, and stuff.
* In Rick Cook's Wizardry series, the Language of Magic is a ''programming'' language. The Language is equivalent to a genetic code in which spells naturally self-assemble, evolve, and at higher levels of complexity assume physical incarnations and utilize lower-level beings the way we contain our own flora and and fauna. Likewise, things of magic respond to human activities to varying degrees of complexity. The key realization was that a specific set of enzyme-equivalents have ''predictable'' behavior (most don't) and which can combine to form logic gates, allowing spells to be constructed using programming techniques rather than lethal trial-and-error or bargaining with magical creatures. Most of the human-usable Language of Magic is ''not'' suitable for programming in, and it's noted repeatedly how different constructed spells feel from the natural variety.

* In ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'', every western mage has a personal [[ByThePowerOfGreyskull magic release key]]. Most [[HermeticMagic western spells]] are spoken in Latin, though some of the higher level ones are done in Ancient Greek. Specifically, the main body of your spell must be an actual phrase in Latin (or Ancient Greek), but the aforementioned "key" can be any random string of sounds that tickles your fancy.

A version of FunctionalMagic where spells are cast by [[BeCarefulWhatYouSay speaking]] in a particular language. This tongue typically works by possessing a quality or metaphysical importance everyday communication doesn't. In some cases it's the setting's PrimordialTongue, or the language of the codes, or the metaphysical equivalent of the universe's programming language, or anything else of this sort. It may also consist of the [[IKnowYourTrueName true names]] of every thing and action in the universe, allowing it control the things it names or cause effects by speaking them into existence.

A version of FunctionalMagic where spells are cast by [[BeCarefulWhatYouSay speaking]] in a particular language. Can be WordsCanBreakMyBones or IKnowYourTrueName taken to the N[[superscript:th]] degree, where ''every'' word in the language is a "true name", but this need not be the case for it to be a language of magic.

WordsCanBreakMyBones and IKnowYourTrueName are subtropes. May be the backbone of a MagicalIncantation. If consistently SUNG to make it magic, that's MagicMusic. Works using this trope will often discuss ThePowerOfLanguage itself.

** At one point, a MrExposition character explained that back in the beginning of the world, magic was ''purely'' based on intent and no words were attached. But the "Grey People" did some epic thing that permanently tied the magic of Alagaesia to words, in order to make magic more controllable. It's still possible to cast magic without words (and indeed dragons are unique in that they can ''only'' cast magic in this way) but it's very difficult and ''very'' easy to get out of control (dragons are only only able to cast magic under times of often great emotional stress on an instinctive level).

** At one point, a MrExposition character explained that back in the beginning of the world, magic was ''purely'' based on intent and no words were attached. But the "Grey People" did some epic thing that permanently tied the magic of Alagaesia to words, in order to make magic more controllable.

* The Enochian language is use for many real life magic practitioners, particularly those of Thelemite, Rosicrucian and Hermetic traditions. The Enochian Magick is known as the Enochian System. The Church of Satan (no relationship with other Esoteric groups) uses [[DarkerAndEdgier a "satanized" version of Enochian]] developed by Anton [=LaVey=] in their magical rituals and ceremonies.

* Mantras are generally spoken in ancient dead languages like Sanskrit, and considering that a lot of Hindu and Buddhist mantras are meant to be something similar in concept to spells (as they are, in many cases, recited to attract good luck, blessings and health, repell enemies and evil spirits and even to cure the sick) could be consider a case of “language of magic”.
* Hebrew was reckoned to be the "language of creation" for many years, mainly because Literature/TheBible (at least the Old Testament) was written in the language, and hence was the language God used to create the world. Through cabbalistic tradition, it seems that hebrew letters and language still is believed to be more potent than other languages.

* ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'' seems to use Old English for this purpose. This is weird, given that Old English would have been the language of the Saxon invaders that King Arthur fought against. Chalk it up to TranslationConvention.

* In ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' we never actually hear any magic words after the first book, ''Discworld/TheColourOfMagic'', in which they sound vaguely Arabic mystical-cum-Lovecraft. Later books just cut around the spell scenes. However the AnimatedAdaptation of ''Discworld/SoulMusic'' uses bad DogLatin, probably in reference to all the other settings that use it. "Ovum Krakkus, Totalé Knackus!" (as he breaks the egg).

** ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}: Dragons''. Human beings can perform magical effects when they speak the dragon language. Interestingly, dragons cannot perform magic while doing so, so they train mortals to become sorcerers.

** ''''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}: Dragons''. Human beings can perform magical effects when they speak the dragon language. Interestingly, dragons cannot perform magic while doing so, so they train mortals to become sorcerers.

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'', [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-1220 SCP-1220 ("Logos")]]. The individual words and phrases in the language SCP-1220 can affect reality within 10 meters or so of the speaker. For example, if someone says the word "fire" in that language something nearby will catch on fire. If the word "rain" is spoken then rain will begin to fall.

* The Literature/{{Dragonlance}} series has wizards who, like standard ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' characters, speak magical words in order to activate their spells. However, unlike most verbal components, Dragonlance wizards can use their magical language in actual conversation. According to WordOfGod, the examples used in the books are based on a kind of proto-Indonesian language structure, though the words themselves have no real world equivalent.

* Enochian (the language of angels devised by John Dee, Queen Elizabeth I's court magician) pops up in this context often, usually in roleplaying games with a focus on the divine (like ''In Nomine'' or ''Demon: the Fallen'').

* Syntactic Magic from ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}: Thaumatology'' is an in depth version of this with several examples provided.

** Words of Creation and Darkspeech are more literal languages of magic. Mortals require a special feat to be able to even say a few words of them, and they have distinct magical properties. Darkspeech, for example, can be used to reduce the hardness value of an object, while words of creation can be used to aid in item creation.
** There's also Truespeech: Speaking directly to the universe to tell it how things should be, to which it generally obliges, temporarily.
* Enochian (the language of angels devised by John Dee, Queen Elizabeth I's court magician) pops up in this context often, usually in roleplaying games with a focus on the divine (like ''In Nomine'' or ''Demon: the Fallen'').

* ''TabletopGame/ArsMagica''. Latin, for the Order of Hermes, or other ancient languages for other magic wielders both in and out of the Order although they usually need the Gift if they want to play with power. Other languages used based on magical tradition include Gothic for House Bjornaer and Pictish for the Gruagachan. Classic Greek, as opposed to Romaic Greek, is used by members of the Order of Hermes in the Tribunal of Thebes.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} Fantasy Roleplay'' has the Lingua Praestantia, Daemonic, and Arcane Eltharin, all used exclusively for casting spells.
* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': While not technically magic ([[DependingOnTheWriter except when it is]]), members of the Adeptus Mechanicus can communicate to each other and to machines via a secret language called Binary, which even the Ordo Dialogos is incapable of translating.
** Well, it's considered magic by the rest of [[CargoCult the Imperium.]]
** According to some writers it isn't a language at all, but literal binary using a modem.
* Syntactic Magic from ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}: Thaumatology'' is an in depth version of this with several examples provided.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' Sorcery is this. While anyone can use magic by performing thaumaturgical rituals, and any being with awakened Essence can channel their power in accordance with their nature, Sorcery is (according to second edition metaphysics) actually the "language" (if one can call it that) which the Primordials used to communicate concepts in order to create the world.
* ''TabletopGame/WorldOfSynnibarr''. Venderant Nalaberong is a language that was used by the Elder Gods to create the [[TheMultiverse Centiverse]]. Anyone who knows how to speak it can perform ultra powerful magical spells that are the strongest force in the Centiverse and can't be stopped by any other power.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Earthdawn}}'' supplement ''Dragons''. Dragonspeech is a form of telepathy that allows dragons to communicate with other creatures without speaking. The great dragon Vasdenjas says that dragonspeech can be used to communicate with the Universe itself and cause any pattern desired to be expressed in astral space, thus casting a spell.

* In the ''[[VideoGame/ExaPico Ar tonelico]]'' series, all magic uses the Hymmnos language, which most of the time is sung rather then spoken. ItMakesSenseInContext with MagicMusic and MagicFromTechnology. Reyvateils literally communicate (verbally) with their local server to cast magic.

WordsCanBreakMyBones and IKnowYourTrueName are subtropes. May be the backbone of a MagicalIncantation. If consistently SUNG to make it magic, that's MagicMusic.

* ''Series/{{Merlin}}'' seems to use Old English for this purpose. This is weird, given that Old English would have been the language of the Saxon invaders that King Arthur fought against. Chalk it up to TranslationConvention.

BlackMagic is often paired with BlackSpeech, WhiteMagic is often in [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Angel song]]. In works set on Earth, the language may be a real-but-now-dead one, such as [[AltumVidetur Latin]]. The words are often written in the Old Norse [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runic_alphabet runic alphabet]]; HermeticMagic can use a number of real-life occult alphabets, such as Enochian or Paracelsus' Alphabet of the Magi, instead.

* The Divine Language in ''[[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Fate/stay night]]'', spoken by Servant Caster, which allows her to summon plague winds or 'rains of light' (read: [[BeamSpam lasers]]) with a single word. Represented by Ancient Greek, but supposedly, it's cannot be pronounced by modern humans (which was probably a problem when they were making the voiced edition). The Fairy Letters written on [[WaveMotionGun Excalibur]] also count.