"As many of you have said, with incantations there is a relationship with meaning and result. Incantations are often Latin or Greek based but not always. They are the words or word we use in order to cast a specific spell." Althea began.

"The pronunciation of any one incantation is very important. And sometimes the pronunciation doesn't reflect the root of the word as well as we might expect, or follow particular grammar rules. However you'll often find the emphasis falls on the second syllable if there are two or three syllables in the incantation." The professor continued and paused to allow for the students to catch up.

"As some of you mentioned," And she nodded at Miss Stewart-Quinn, "The incantation is the way your thoughts channel the spell you are casting, whether you think about it or say it, the incantation channels your intent, because of the links between the meaning and the intended outcome."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbreeze

When he was done, he put his quill down, relaxed his writing hand and raised the opposite one. When it came his turn to speak, he began: "As mentioned, incantations are generally in Latin. The reason is because their meanings are unchangeable. Words in English, for example, often undergo a series of different changes, but the same can't happen with Latin, which is why it is so convenient to use it for incantations. This makes it easier to remember the spells, the incantation, and their effect." He paused for a second to catch his breath, then opened his mouth again. "Of course, some of them possibly were created during the Roman Empire, and the spoken language was Latin." And with that he concluded his long speech.

"This is a very important point." Althea said, after young Eino had finished speaking. "Latin, and Ancient Greek, and other ancient languages used for forming incantations, are not growing and changing the same way as English or other modern tongues. This means that the associated meanings are stable and our understanding of these meanings remains consistent."

So write that down and all.

"2 points, Mr Uronen for bringing that up." She added, almost absently.

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Originally Posted by sevensnared

Ok. He did underestimated Charms after all. Now he had to raise his hand a little higher. "I don't get what you mean, ma'am," admitted the boy honestly. He was better off with practical than theoritical. If it wasn't because of exams, Hades wouldn't care about all these useless theories!

"We can talk about it further later if you like. Do feel free to stay after class, I can help you then."

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlwaysSnapesGirl

And now that the professor had asked more questions, perhaps it was time for taking a break from note-taking. Vashti set her quill down and raised her hand. "Incantations are words that are usually derived from Latin, though it's not impossible for them to be based on other languages. But they usually can't be just any word. Like, for example, if you pointed your wand at an object and said 'turn green,' chances are the object wouldn't actually turn green because those words aren't an actual incantation. Also, it's important to remember that an incantation must always be pronounced correctly if you want the spell to do what it is meant to do." And now...back to taking notes. Sigh.

"That's true, at least for learners. I could, for instance, point my wand at something and say turn green, and have it turn green if I also concentrated on the appropriate incantation. To all intents and purposes that would be non-verbal magic." Althea said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yourenodaisy

She paused briefely, and then asked about someting that had always bothered her about incantation. "Do incantations ever change depending on the country? Like do the Japanese use the same incantations that we use, or do they use their own language?" To her, it only made since if they did not use Latin.

The professor nodded at the question.

"Societies without links to Latin or Ancient Greek are more likely to develop spells that have incantations based on other languages. However, where the language is still in use, it is less common as the meanings can continue to change. Where a language is more nuanced and subtle, or where the meaning is conveyed as much with how words are said, and who says them- as rich as such languages may be- they are less effective for spell-making." Althea answered, giving a bit of detail.

"A stable semantic relationship between the incantation and the intended spell result is necessary for a spell to be memorable and effective. And too, where spells already exist, why seek alternatives just because the language which forms the root of an incantation is unfamiliar? They start out unfamiliar for most of us, which is the point of learning after all."

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Originally Posted by FireboltAvis88

"As for how incantations are chosen, Professor, could it be that people chose words that were short, easy to pronounce, something that hopefully rhymes, if possible, and most importantly of all, words that could be easily remembered and said. I mean if they were too long, complicated or hard to pronounce, people might end up getting them wrong, mispronouncing them or mixing up the words entirely and accidentally casting the wrong spell." Alyssa finished off her answers hoping that at least one of them was correct. After all the Professor had wanted them to think and THINK she definitely did before she came up with her answers.

While she listened to the girl's whole answer, she only responded to the last part specifically. The rest had been addressed in her response to the students as a whole.

"You're thinking," Which she liked, "But incantations have a semantic relationship with the associated spell. It is the deciding factor not only in how they are chosen, but in allowing you to focus your magic, and of course remember the incantation and which spell it goes with."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lockhartian

Hand raised, and whatever...er, no, the hand wasn't entirely raised, but his quill was. Almost all words have a Latin root, it was no surprise that 'incantation' also had one, as one student pointed it out before he did, "Even the word 'incantation' has a Latin origin, incantare, meaning 'into sing', 'to chant upon', or something of the like," but that wasn't all, Schirmer, wait for it, "So, the spell determines what we want the outcome to be, yet the incantation is the means to achieve it. Like the link, between the effect wanted and the spell itself. What gets everything going, so to speak." Much better, Charms Professor?

Much better, Head Boy.

SPOILER!!: Kurumi, Louisa and Eino

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Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

"I think that words used in incantations are those whose meanings are already fixed, which is why Latin and Greek are widely used or the two languages combined with another language. It would be very dangerous if incantations were used in widely spoken languages and you cast a spell while you were just trying to have a conversation with someone and simply trying to describe something or someone. Latin and Greek are also root languages and their prefixes and suffixes help describe what the spell does. If we take the Hover Charm as an example, the 'wing' in Wingardium means 'to fly' and the 'ardium' comes from the word that means 'tall' or 'lofty.' The 'Leviosa' als comes from the Latin for 'lift up.' So...in general, incantations describe the desired result of the spell."

Kurumi lowered her hand now and sort of blinked as she thought that she had just confused herself. There was an answer to the professor's questions or question in there somewhere...right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magical Soul

Incantations, hmm. Louisa raised her hand once a proper answer was formed in her mind, "Incantation is one of the main requirements of casting a charm on an object." Spells, or hexes. "It usually, like everybody said, comes from Latin or Greek which are root languages and no longer considered spoken tongues." Pause. "I would have to agree with Kurumi, professor, that using only spoken language to cast a spell would be risky and unpredictable at times." Yes? Yes. "However, incantation becomes unnecessary when one's magic is tamed enough or when the witch or wizard is skilled enough to conjure the incantation in mind and cast the spell non-verbally." Which Louisa was going to work on very much the next year and the following one. After she'd learned casting her Patronus.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbreeze

"That is not entirely correct." Eino protested with his hand in the air. "Incantations and wand movements only facilitate performance, the core to performing magic is intention. This is why we can perform spells non-verbally and even wandlessly, as Professor Schirmer has pointed out." Feeling like he needed to include an example, Eino continued.

"So, you wouldn't be able to perform a charm just by saying the words. Take the Packing Charm, for example. Its incantation is 'pack'. Though my mother has been, on more than one occasion, irritated with my procrastination, and ordered me to 'pack,' I have never been suddenly thrown into a trunk and locked myself in there. Well, never as a result of being bewitched, at least." Inhale, exhale. "Not to mention that most of us, as children, displayed magical abilities without the use of wands and incantations, some may even have done so before learning how to speak." With that, he was finished. He hadn't intended on interrupting class, but this was a point worth correcting. His point was, clearly, that incantations could be any word, common or uncommon, because the true magic was triggered by intent. He did agree that there was a reason for most incantations to be in Latin, which he had addressed earlier.

"In point of fact," Althea began, after listening to the students, her eyes focusing on Kurumi, "The risk of just saying a word that happens to be an incantation and causing a spell to happen is slight, and it does depend greatly on what intent you hold in your mind. For instance if there was a spell where you could start a fire by saying 'fire', and your mind happened to be full of anger or passion or other fiery thoughts, then you COULD possibly cause a bit of a fire as a result, if that intent is driven by your emotions, and that would be dangerous.

Likewise if you were talking about a spell and thinking about that spell while you said the incantation, there'd be a risk of accidentally casting it before you meant to - a big reason why I do NOT allow students to practice before instructions have been given, and why I prefer wands to stay down or holstered until directed- but that would mean you had the intent in your mind.

But there does have to be intent behind it. Whether it is directed and concentrated focus such as you learn to apply in class, or undirected, and emotion-driven intent such as children often show as their first indication of magic. If you have a magical association with an incantation, you might subconsciously latch onto that and have your intent be driven by those associations. Like the 'Pack' example, or even 'Point me', which are both incantations in English, but the intention and the knowledge of the semantic relationship would have to be present.

In short, it is possible, and it is one of the reasons some words would not do, but the other factors, intent and wand movement would come into play quite heavily. There would still need to be an imperative behind it."

Soo... don't wave your wand around while having a heated conversation with a friend. It was a bit like thinking about the Elephant in the room when you were trying to ignore it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lauren22

Brilliant, thought Evy as she strolled into the classroom. I get to put the charms into practise that I've learned over the summer.
"Morning, Professor Schirmer!" She said with a smile as she headed towards the back to an empty seat.
Charms always was a laugh for Evy. It could be so hectic sometimes, what with everyone charming numerous objects around the room. Making them fly... making them cartwheel, summoning objects....

"We're going to learn a spell next and then we shall go outside and... apply it." Althea informed them.

"Are there any questions before we move ahead?"