Languages and Spell/Ability Announcing/Naming

[MMogg]

I couldn't find the word "language" in a search of the comprehensive rules, so I figured I would ask here.

What is the official stance on languages and particularly language barriers between players? If, for example, someone who is Chinese were to cast a Meddling Mage, but didn't know the named card's English name, what happens? Can you describe the spell or something? Are the rules really anal about things like that? What about spell announcements and languages? This must have been covered for events like Worlds where many cultures are under one roof.

Thanks!

[Malchar]

If you can uniquely identify a card, you can have access to the oracle text of the card. You don't have to be able to identify a card by name in order to do this. I can't find rules specifically regarding your question, but it seems quite reasonable that, at this point, the card in question has been sufficiently identified.

[cdr]

You would want to look in the MTR, not the CR, since that's more of a tournament question.

You don't have to know a card's English name, but you do have to be able to uniquely identify it.

By and large, Magic is a universal language, and players do not have much problem communicating across language barriers.


3.5 Card Interpretation
The official text of the card is the Oracle™ text corresponding to the name of the card. Players have the right to request access to the official wording of a card only if they can uniquely identify that card, although the card does not necessarily have to be identified by name. That request will be honored if logistically possible.

[MMogg]

I see, so just to clarify through an example, if I cast Cabal Therapy and name Meddling Mage, but my opponent doesn't know the card in English, I can explain that the card is "from Planeshift, a 2/2 Creature-Wizard for :w::u: and as it comes into play you name a card and the named card cannot be played" and that should be sufficient to identify it as a unique card?

[cdr]

Yep. Although that's pretty complicated if he doesn't know english. You can always ask a judge for the card name too.

[MMogg]

Yeah, it is a little complicated, but I was asking primarily because I am trying to find some Legacy tournament to attend here in China and I can explain cards in Chinese, but I don't know the proper card names per se and chances are, from my experience, most players here don't know English card names either. Thanks for the help! =]