Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2011
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MA
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
World Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
Committee Chair
Johan C. Seynnaeve.
Committee Co-Chair
Cynthia S. Chapupa
Committee Member
Deborah D. Janson
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to illustrate how the primary function of runes has changed through history. In doing so this study also begins to document the reemergence of runes especially in Asatru circles. Runes were historically employed for utilitarian purposes whereas they have been imbued with magical qualities in the eyes of their modern users. By using a modified version of the speech act theory, the notion of "magic" is linguistically operationalized and used to demonstrate the stark contrast between the primary purpose of historical runic texts and modern ones.
Recommended Citation
Evans, Elliott S., "Runes: Past and Present" (2011). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 723.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/723