Dangers of speaking the enemys name - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Birdland · 12-07-2002, 10:21 PM

That's right, Kalimac. It was an old belief in many cultures that names had real power, especially a person's "true name". To say a name aloud meant you were summoning the owner of that name to you.

In England, especially, it was believed if you said the name of a spirit or fairy three times you would summon it. (Remember "Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!" [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] )

I think Tolkien said that the Dwarves had "secret names" that they only gave out to their immediate family or such like. This goes back to the old beliefs that a person who knew your name could gain control over you. You didn't give out your "true name" unless you really trusted the person you were giving it to!

And someone as evil as the Dark Lord himself? Well! You just didn't go around monkeying with HIS name! I know Gollum was certainly afraid to say it.

12-07-2002, 10:21 PM	#4
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	That's right, Kalimac. It was an old belief in many cultures that names had real power, especially a person's "true name". To say a name aloud meant you were summoning the owner of that name to you. In England, especially, it was believed if you said the name of a spirit or fairy three times you would summon it. (Remember "Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!" [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] ) I think Tolkien said that the Dwarves had "secret names" that they only gave out to their immediate family or such like. This goes back to the old beliefs that a person who knew your name could gain control over you. You didn't give out your "true name" unless you really trusted the person you were giving it to! And someone as evil as the Dark Lord himself? Well! You just didn't go around monkeying with HIS name! I know Gollum was certainly afraid to say it.