History Main / MagicalForeignWords

When a language other than the character's main one is used to invoke magic or other AppliedPhlebotinum. Can be a case of GratuitousForeignLanguage, or may just be a case of a second or archaic language being appropriated for the task.

* [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in Creator/PatriciaCWrede's ''Mairelon the Magician'' and sequels. It doesn't matter what language incantations are in, as long as it's not the native language of the spellcaster; if you try to cast a spell using your own native language, it becomes uncontrollable.

* [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in PatriciaCWrede's ''Mairelon the Magician'' and sequels. It doesn't matter what language incantations are in, as long as it's not the native language of the spellcaster; if you try to cast a spell using your own native language, it becomes uncontrollable.

* Poul Anderson's ''OperationChaos'' states that "exotic tongues are necessary for the more powerful spells--which is why so many African and Asian students come here to learn American slang...."

* This trope is justified in PatriciaCWrede's ''Mairelon the Magician'' and sequels. It doesn't matter what language incantations are in, as long as it's not the native language of the spellcaster; if you try to cast a spell using your own native language, it becomes uncontrollable.

* ''KamenRider'' and ''SuperSentai'' often see use of GratuitousEnglish; such that when ''SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'' chose to go with mainly Japanese for its attack names, it stood out. ''KamenRider'' usually has the devices do this, though ''KamenRiderDouble'' is notable for the FusionDance duo that make the headlining rider using GratuitousEnglish and German to "sync" themselves for the [[FinishingMove Maximum Drives]].
** ''Shinkenger'''s aversion became a straight example when it was adapted into English as ''Series/PowerRangersSamurai'', as the magic system is still based in Japanese kanji.
* ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' had spells in English sometimes, but often used this trope as well. ''What'' language they used could vary---often the demon's back story would tie it to some particular culture, and the spell would be in that language. Latin was also common for generic magic.

* In ''FateStayNight'', all of Rin's incantations are in German-- though not necessarily good German.
* In Manga/CardcaptorSakura. All the card names are in English, and the final word of the incantation to turn the key into the wand is "Release!". Not carried over into the English dub for obvious reasons.
* ''OnePiece'' frequently uses foreign languages when characters are [[CallingYourAttacks calling their attacks]]-- including those involving Devil Fruit powers and normal acts. Just among the main characters we see attack names in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
* All magical spells in ''MahouSenseiNegima'' are done in Latin or Ancient Greek, with a few done in Sanskrit, all of which are surprisingly [[ShownTheirWork well done]]. The rule of thumb is that the older the language is, the more powerful it is.
* A lot of the spells/magic attacks in ''SugarSugarRune'' are in French.

* The incantations in ''SailorMoon'' are usually GratuitousEnglish but come from everything from Chinese to Portugeuse as well - you'd think it would have been from the lost language of the Moon Kingdom, but the foreign babbling just sounds more stylish.

[[AC:Unsorted]]
* In ''Grim'' most of the monsters have German (or pidgen-German) names, with a couple of exceptions.

* A standard trope in many {{Anime}} and {{Toku}} productions.
* In ''FateStayNight'', all of Rin's incantations are in German-- though not necessarily good German.
* ''KamenRider'' and ''SuperSentai'' often see use of GratuitousEnglish; such that when ''SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'' chose to go with mainly Japanese for its attack names, it stood out. ''KamenRider'' usually has the devices do this, though ''KamenRiderDouble'' is notable for the FusionDance duo that make the headlining rider using GratuitousEnglish and German to "sync" themselves for the [[FinishingMove Maximum Drives]].
** ''Shinkenger'''s aversion became a straight example when it was adapted into English as ''Series/PowerRangersSamurai'', as the magic system is still based in Japanese kanji.
* In Manga/CardcaptorSakura. All the card names are in English, and the final word of the incantation to turn the key into the wand is "Release!". Not carried over into the English dub for obvious reasons.
* During the first volume of the ongoing ''{{Gravel}}'', Bill is talking to a magician named Sykes who notes that many of his peers considered him quaint for treating the archaic terms he uses to count sheep as magical. Given at the time they're talking, Sykes is the most senior member of one of Brittain's foremost occult orders...
* RealLife quasi-example: The incantation "hocus-pocus" is thought to be derived from the Latin "''Hoc est corpus meum'' (This is my body)," from the Roman Catholic Mass. It is thought that, at the moment the officiating priest utters the phrase, the bread and wine are supernaturally transmogrified into the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ. Latin was / is, of course, a language that very few people outside of a few specialized professions know.
** "Abra cadabra" is derived from the Hebrew "Avra v'davra," which translates to "I make and I do." (Yeah, kinda loses some of the mystery in translation.)
*** Actually, a more faithful translation would be "I create as I speak." The Other Wiki gives the Aramaic origin of "ibra k'dibra," "ibra" meaning "I have created" and "k'dibra" meaning "through my speech." Mystery regained.

* ''OnePiece'' frequently uses foreign languages when characters are [[CallingYourAttacks calling their attacks]]-- including those involving Devil Fruit powers and normal acts. Just among the main characters we see attack names in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
* All magical spells in ''MahouSenseiNegima'' are done in Latin or Ancient Greek, with a few done in Sanskrit, all of which are surprisingly [[ShownTheirWork well done]]. The rule of thumb is that the older the language is, the more powerful it is.
* A lot of the spells/magic attacks in ''SugarSugarRune'' are in French.
* Most of the characters in ''KamichamaKarin'' use Latin for their attacks and suchwhat.... except for Karin, who instead springs for GratuitousEnglish.
* ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' had spells in English sometimes, but often used this trope as well. ''What'' language they used could vary---often the demon's back story would tie it to some particular culture, and the spell would be in that language. Latin was also common for generic magic.
* ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'': Is a spell of Mid-Childa origins? Chances are good that it will be in English. Is a spell of Ancient Belka origins? Chances are good that it will be in German.

* The incantations in ''SailorMoon'' are usually GratuitousEnglish but come from everything from Chinese to Portugeuse as well - you'd think it would have been from the lost language of the Moon Kingdom, but the foreign babbling just sounds more stylish.

** ''Shinkenger'''s aversion became a straight example when it was adapted into English as ''PowerRangersSamurai'', as the magic system is still based in Japanese kanji.

When a language other than the character's main one is used to invoke magic or other AppliedPhlebotinum. Can be a case of GratuitousForeignLanguage, or may just be a case of a second or archaic language being appropriated for the task.

* ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' had spells in English sometimes, but often used this trope as well. ''What'' language they used could vary---often the demon's back story would tie it to some particular culture, and the spell would be in that language. Latin was also common for generic magic.

* The incantations in ''SailorMoon'' are usually {{gratuitous English}} but come from everything from Chinese to Portugeuse as well - you'd think it would have been from the lost language of the Moon Kingdom, but the foreign babbling just sounds more stylish.
* "Wizard talk" in ''{{Discworld}}'' is CanisLatinicus. The AnimatedAdaptation of ''Discworld/SoulMusic'' comes up with a suitable CanisLatinicus invocation for the Rite of Ashk-Ente, which was never actually described in detail in the books.

* ''{{Series/Merlin}}'' uses Old English.

* In CardCaptorSakura. All the card names are in English, and the final word of the incantation to turn the key into the wand is "Release!". Not carried over into the English dub for obvious reasons.

* ''OnePiece'' frequently uses foreign languages when characters are [[CallingYourAttacks calling their attacks]]-- including those involving Devil Fruit powers and normal acts taken BeyondTheImpossible. Just among the main characters we see attack names in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.

* PoulAnderson's ''OperationChaos'' states that "exotic tongues are necessary for the more powerful spells--which is why so many African and Asian students come here to learn American slang...."

* PoulAnderson's ''Operation Chaos'' states that "exotic tongues are necessary for the more powerful spells--which is why so many African and Asian students come here to learn American slang...."

* "Wizard talk" in ''{{Discworld}}'' is CanisLatinicus. The AnimatedAdaptation of ''Discworld/SoulMusic'' comes up with a suitable CanisLatinicus invocation for the Rite of Ashke-Ente, which was never actually discribed in detail in the books.

* ''KamenRider'' and ''SuperSentai'' often see use of GratuitousEnglish; such that when ''SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'' chose to go with mainly Japanese for its attack names, it stood out. ''KamenRider'' usually has the devices do this, though ''KamenRiderDouble'' is notable for the FusionDance duo that make the headlining rider using GratuitousEnglish and German in to "sync" themselves for the [[FinishingMove Maximum Drives]].

* ''KamenRider'' and ''SuperSentai'' often see use of GratuitousEnglish; such that when SamuraiSentaiShinkenger chose to go with mainly Japanese for its attack names, it stood out. KamenRider usually has the devices do this, though KamenRiderDouble is notable for the FusionDance duo that make the headlining rider using GratuitousEnglish and German in to "sync" themselves for the [[FinishingMove Maximum Drives]].

** "Abra cadabra" is derived from the Hebre "Avra v'davra," which translates to "I make and I do." (Yeah, kinda loses some of the mystery in translation.)

** The language used is pure preference, with other characters shown using pseudo-Egyptian and pseudo-Aztec.

* ''KamenRider'' and ''SuperSentai'' often see use of GratuitousEnglish; such that when SamuraiSentaiShinkenger chose to go with mainly Japanese for its attack names, it stood out. KamenRider usually has the devices do this, though KamenRiderDouble is notable for the [[FusionDance]] duo that make the headlining rider using GratuitousEnglish and German in to "sync" themselves for the [[FinishingMove Maximum Drives]].

Note also that fluency is not required-- in fact, language used this way often seems to have had a few go rounds in the Babel Fish. The key here is that the language itself is not inherently magical; it's simply a case of using the "otherness" of it to the target audience to invoke an air of mystery.

* This is one factor behind the often [[GratuitousEnglish odd sounding]] {{Engrish}} used for attack and form names in ''KamenRider'', ''SuperSentai'', and other {{Toku}} productions.
** And in CardCaptorSakura. All the card names are in English, and the final word of the incantation to turn the key into the wand is "Release!". Not carried over into the English dub for obvious reasons.

* BuffyTheVampireSlayer had spells in English sometimes, but often used this trope as well. ''What'' language they used could vary---often the demon's back story would tie it to some particular culture, and the spell would be in that language. Latin was also common for generic magic.

* ''OnePiece'' frequently uses foreign languages when characters are [[CallingYourAttacks calling their attacks]]-- including those involving Cursed Fruit powers and normal acts taken BeyondTheImpossible. Just among the main characters we see attack names in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.