Terminology Check: Mana
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Terminology Check: Mana
A quick little poll, just for a frame of reference ...
What do you think of when you hear the term "Mana"?
Do you think "bread from heaven" ... or "magical power" ... or something else?
-Bryk
What do you think of when you hear the term "Mana"?
Do you think "bread from heaven" ... or "magical power" ... or something else?
-Bryk
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Manna (or 'shem-an-na') is the famous 'highward fire-stone' powder made from gold which has been turned in to a white powder with the help of electricity. It is said that this powder not only heightens your senses but also increases your longevity.
Of course Manna is only a crappy suregate for the more potent 'Star Fire', being in essence made of the menstrual blood of the Annuki.
As for Mana, i guess it's just a misspelling of the original Manna and is used a lot in fantasy books and games.
Of course Manna is only a crappy suregate for the more potent 'Star Fire', being in essence made of the menstrual blood of the Annuki.
As for Mana, i guess it's just a misspelling of the original Manna and is used a lot in fantasy books and games.
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I've always associated mana with magic power. It probably started with M:TG for me too, but you see that particular teminology in lots and lots of fantasy games/books/worlds/whatever. The list is pretty long, to say the least. I agree with Kor that "manna", two N's, is the bread from heaven connotation.
Pronunciationwise, I have heard "mana" pronounced both MAN-AH and MAHN-AH, so just some more food for thought.
Pronunciationwise, I have heard "mana" pronounced both MAN-AH and MAHN-AH, so just some more food for thought.
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So ... when you hear "Mana", you think "Mana Hammock"?Raw wrote:Mana is like a banana except you replace the ban with a m.
-Bryk
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Who's pronouncing it with a long A? How do you pronounce the word "banana" anyway?!korexus wrote:On the Pronunciation thing, I've heard Mahn-a and Man-a. I've always used the second one. I've never heard it with a long a at the end though. Maybe I'm not as posh as you guys...
-Bryk
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Nick was. At least the way I read it it looked that way.Brykovian wrote:Who's pronouncing it with a long A? How do you pronounce the word "banana" anyway?!
-Bryk
I pronounce 'banana' as 'banana' just like it should be. Across the pond you lot probably say 'banayna' or something, right?
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Hey I'm speaking American here, what can I say? I always thought that it was MAN-AH, long A like banana, but then I played Diablo II. My sorceress was constantly b*tching about "not enough MAH-NA". Dunno, maybe she was English or something.
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The good old Oxford English Dictionary has this to say.
Mana:
Maori mana authority, control, influence, prestige, power, psychic force.
Samoan mana (supernatural) power,
Hawaiian mana supernatural or divine power, miraculous power, authority.
Manna(1):
In the Bible (Exodus 16): a substance miraculously provided each day as food for the Israelites in the wilderness after their departure from Egypt.
Manna(2):
Among the people of ancient Israel: a cereal offering (as opposed to an animal sacrifice).
So interestingly it looks as though both words have a spiritual meaning in their own right. There may be a common link between them, but if so it goes back a lot further than modern fantasy writings. (The etymology of 'manna' went through a whole lot of latin and greek and rapidly got boring. 'Mana' wasn't really traced.)
Now I hope none of you are going to argue with oed!
korexus.
Mana:
Maori mana authority, control, influence, prestige, power, psychic force.
Samoan mana (supernatural) power,
Hawaiian mana supernatural or divine power, miraculous power, authority.
Manna(1):
In the Bible (Exodus 16): a substance miraculously provided each day as food for the Israelites in the wilderness after their departure from Egypt.
Manna(2):
Among the people of ancient Israel: a cereal offering (as opposed to an animal sacrifice).
So interestingly it looks as though both words have a spiritual meaning in their own right. There may be a common link between them, but if so it goes back a lot further than modern fantasy writings. (The etymology of 'manna' went through a whole lot of latin and greek and rapidly got boring. 'Mana' wasn't really traced.)
Now I hope none of you are going to argue with oed!
korexus.
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End of discussion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mana
The word originates in Polynesian religion (...)
The Polynesian word "mana" is not to be confused with the Hebrew "manna" (...)
In some fantasy settings and games (in particular role-playing games), "mana" is a natural energy resource which is used or channeled by wizards to cast magic spells. This use of the term was coined by Larry Niven in his 1978 novella, The Magic Goes Away (...)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's universe, mana is a Quenya word believed to mean "what is".
The word originates in Polynesian religion (...)
The Polynesian word "mana" is not to be confused with the Hebrew "manna" (...)
In some fantasy settings and games (in particular role-playing games), "mana" is a natural energy resource which is used or channeled by wizards to cast magic spells. This use of the term was coined by Larry Niven in his 1978 novella, The Magic Goes Away (...)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's universe, mana is a Quenya word believed to mean "what is".
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.
- Whatever is said in Latin sounds profound.
- Whatever is said in Latin sounds profound.
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Nothing crazy about Tolkien's mind. He was a true scholar of history and his ring sagas are very reminiscent of the old ring saga's like the Nibelungen saga for instance.
It lends so much more power to his work to realise that his work is not just complete fiction but has a very factual base in ancient history.
It lends so much more power to his work to realise that his work is not just complete fiction but has a very factual base in ancient history.
"Never attribute to malice what can satisfactorily be explained away by stupidity."
"To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves."
"To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves."