Language and Communication Quotes in The Color of Magic

How we cite our quotes: (Story.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

Kring was saying form its temporary home in a tussock. "Some infidel was wearing an octiron collar, most unsporting, and of course I was a lot sharper in those days and my master used to use me to cut silk handkerchiefs in midair and—am I boring you?" "Huh? Oh, no, no, not at all. It's all very interesting," said Rincewind, with his eyes still on Hrun. (2.10.137-138)

The novel has a lot to say about how great language and communication is. But there is definitely a downside to language, and it often takes the form of other people and/or magical swords.

Quote #8

"How did you get in there?" said Twoflower. You summoned me, master. "I don't remember doing that." In your mind. You called me up, in your mind, thought the dragon, patiently. "You mean I just thought of you and there you were?" Yes. "It was magic." Yes. (3.13.16-23)

In the same way Twoflower's imagination conjures a dragon, this passage uses words to conjure a dragon in your mind. It's a pretty meta moment, which is fairly common in Discworld.

Quote #9

"It's rude to stare," said the [sea] troll. Its mouth opened with a little crest of foam, and shut again in exactly the same way that water closes over a stone. "Is it? Why?" asked Rincewind. How does he hold himself together, his mind screamed at him. Why doesn't he spill? (4.5.8-9)

We again witness the ability of language to conjure up the impossible. Rincewind's mind is screaming at us the whole time about how impossible it is, but did you even stop to consider your ability to imagine such an impossibility? Neither did we.