The Stolen Child — Page 7
What is that word Fetch is saying? It’s the Gaelic word “dofheicthe” which means “invisible” in English. That’s it. Nothing too fancy. Pronunciation is tricky, however. According to the New English-Irish Dictionary, there are at least three different pronunciations. The Connacht dialect sounds a lot like “doohickey“, even though these words have no etymological relation to each other. Still, I thought it would be funny for Owen to mispronounce it and cause the kinds of problems that arise when you mispronounce magical words. Fetch takes it all in stride. What a good teacher!
BTW — this magic spell has no record in the annals of Fae folklore. I just made it up. Maybe I should get one of these.
↓ Transcript
PANEL 1: Fetch recovers some confidence. Owen looks wary.
FETCH: Okay, fine. Let’s try an invisibility spell. That will protect you.
OWEN: Okay.
PANEL 2: Fetch demonstrates by covering his eyes.
FETCH: First you cover your eyes
Then say, “dofheicthe”!
PANEL 3: Fetch disappears
SFX: BLIP
OWEN: Cool!
PANEL 4: Fetch reappears. Owen covers his eyes.
.
FETCH: Now you try.
OWEN: DOOHICKEY!
PANEL 5: Fetch’s tail catches fire
SFX: FOOM!
PANEL 6: Owen grimacing, Fetch annoyed.
FETCH: Now let’s try a water spell.
FETCH: Okay, fine. Let’s try an invisibility spell. That will protect you.
OWEN: Okay.
PANEL 2: Fetch demonstrates by covering his eyes.
FETCH: First you cover your eyes
Then say, “dofheicthe”!
PANEL 3: Fetch disappears
SFX: BLIP
OWEN: Cool!
PANEL 4: Fetch reappears. Owen covers his eyes.
.
FETCH: Now you try.
OWEN: DOOHICKEY!
PANEL 5: Fetch’s tail catches fire
SFX: FOOM!
PANEL 6: Owen grimacing, Fetch annoyed.
FETCH: Now let’s try a water spell.
Spread the joy:
Figured a mispronounce magical word would do exactly nothing. Setting someone on fire seems like it could be useful.
Let us home he never says “thingamajig!”