###Yes, a word is necessary to complete any sorcerous effect cast by a user of the Will and the Word. In the Belgariad series, practitioners of sorcery (called The Will and the Word) needed both to gather their will and then speak whatever word they used to trigger the spell effect. The word was less important than the will, however.

From the first book of the Belgariad, page 163, in a conversation between Belgarath the Sorcerer (Mr. Wolf) and Garion:

"The Will and the Word," Wolf said, his long cloak whipping about him in the stiff breeze. "It isn't difficult."

 

"I don't understand," Garion said.

 

"You simply will something to happen," the old man said, "and then speak the word. If your will's strong enough, it happens."

 

"That's all there is to it?" Garion asked, a little disappointed.

 

"That's all," Wolf said.

 

"Is the word a magic word?"

 

Wolf laughed, looking out at the sun glittering sharply on the winter sea. "No," he said. "There aren't any magic words. Some people think so, but they're wrong. Grolims use strange words, but that's not really necessary. Any word will do the job. It's the Will that's important, not the Word. The Word's just a channel for the Will."

 

"I always thought that sorcery had to be done with long spells and strange signs and things like that," Garion said.

 

"Those are just the devices of tricksters and charlatans," Wolf said. "They make a fine show and impress and frighten simple people, but spells and incantations have nothing to do with the real thing, It's all in the Will. Focus the Will and speak the Word, and it happens. Sometimes a gesture of sorts helps, but it isn't really necessary. Your Aunt has always seemed to want to gesture when she makes something happen. I've been trying to break her of that habit for hundreds of years now."

Yes, a word is necessary to complete any sorcerous effect cast by a user of the Will and the Word. In the Belgariad series, practitioners of sorcery (called The Will and the Word) needed both to gather their will and then speak whatever word they used to trigger the spell effect. The word was less important than the will, however.

From the first book of the Belgariad, page 163, in a conversation between Belgarath the Sorcerer (Mr. Wolf) and Garion:

"The Will and the Word," Wolf said, his long cloak whipping about him in the stiff breeze. "It isn't difficult."

"I don't understand," Garion said.

"You simply will something to happen," the old man said, "and then speak the word. If your will's strong enough, it happens."

"That's all there is to it?" Garion asked, a little disappointed.

"That's all," Wolf said.

"Is the word a magic word?"

Wolf laughed, looking out at the sun glittering sharply on the winter sea. "No," he said. "There aren't any magic words. Some people think so, but they're wrong. Grolims use strange words, but that's not really necessary. Any word will do the job. It's the Will that's important, not the Word. The Word's just a channel for the Will."

"I always thought that sorcery had to be done with long spells and strange signs and things like that," Garion said.

"Those are just the devices of tricksters and charlatans," Wolf said. "They make a fine show and impress and frighten simple people, but spells and incantations have nothing to do with the real thing, It's all in the Will. Focus the Will and speak the Word, and it happens. Sometimes a gesture of sorts helps, but it isn't really necessary. Your Aunt has always seemed to want to gesture when she makes something happen. I've been trying to break her of that habit for hundreds of years now."

###Yes, a word is necessary to complete any sorcerous effect cast by a user of the Will and the Word. In the Belgariad series, practitioners of sorcery (called The Will and the Word) needed both to gather their will and then speak whatever word they used to trigger the spell effect. The word was less important than the will, however.

From the first book of the Belgariad, page 163, in a conversation between Belgarath the Sorcerer (Mr. Wolf) and Garion:

"The Will and the Word," Wolf said, his long cloak whipping about him in the stiff breeze. "It isn't difficult."

"I don't understand," Garion said.

"You simply will something to happen," the old man said, "and then speak the word. If your will's strong enough, it happens."

"That's all there is to it?" Garion asked, a little disappointed.

"That's all," Wolf said.

"Is the word a magic word?"

Wolf laughed, looking out at the sun glittering sharply on the winter sea. "No," he said. "There aren't any magic words. Some people think so, but they're wrong. Grolims use strange words, but that's not really necessary. Any word will do the job. It's the Will that's important, not the Word. The Word's just a channel for the Will."

"I always thought that sorcery had to be done with long spells and strange signs and things like that," Garion said.

"Those are just the devices of tricksters and charlatans," Wolf said. "They make a fine show and impress and frighten simple people, but spells and incantations have nothing to do with the real thing, It's all in the Will. Focus the Will and speak the Word, and it happens. Sometimes a gesture of sorts helps, but it isn't really necessary. Your Aunt has always seemed to want to gesture when she makes something happen. I've been trying to break her of that habit for hundreds of years now."

###Yes, a word is necessary to complete any sorcerous effect cast by a user of the Will and the Word. In the Belgariad series, practitioners of sorcery (called The Will and the Word) needed both to gather their will and then speak whatever word they used to trigger the spell effect. The word was less important than the will, however.

From the first book of the Belgariad, page 163, in a conversation between Belgarath the Sorcerer (Mr. Wolf) and Garion:

"The Will and the Word," Wolf said, his long cloak whipping about him in the stiff breeze. "It isn't difficult."

"I don't understand," Garion said.

"You simply will something to happen," the old man said, "and then speak the word. If your will's strong enough, it happens."

"That's all there is to it?" Garion asked, a little disappointed.

"That's all," Wolf said.

"Is the word a magic word?"

Wolf laughed, looking out at the sun glittering sharply on the winter sea. "No," he said. "There aren't any magic words. Some people think so, but they're wrong. Grolims use strange words, but that's not really necessary. Any word will do the job. It's the Will that's important, not the Word. The Word's just a channel for the Will."

"I always thought that sorcery had to be done with long spells and strange signs and things like that," Garion said.

"Those are just the devices of tricksters and charlatans," Wolf said. "They make a fine show and impress and frighten simple people, but spells and incantations have nothing to do with the real thing, It's all in the Will. Focus the Will and speak the Word, and it happens. Sometimes a gesture of sorts helps, but it isn't really necessary. Your Aunt has always seemed to want to gesture when she makes something happen. I've been trying to break her of that habit for hundreds of years now."