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harry potter - Using Taboo with Unforgivable Curses


In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Voldemort and his Death Eaters used the Taboo curse with Voldemort's name, making the word "Voldemort" taboo. Whenever someone speaks a word that is taboo, the caster is alerted of the speaker's location. In that way, Death Eaters several times immediately found whoever said Voldemort's name.


So why doesn't the Ministry of Magic use the Taboo curse on the Unforgivable Curses (Killing Curse - Avada Kedavra, Cruciatus curse - Crucio, and Imperius curse - Imperio)? In that way, they can immediately know if someone used an Unforgivable Curse, find them, and arrest them at once.



Answer



There is no canon explanation, I guess, but here some possible reasons:




  • The Taboo spell sounds like something very complicated. It detects as someone speaks out a certain name without regard of any protective spells cast. Remember how Ron, Hermione, and Harry were caught by the snatchers despite the protection they had. Voldemort is an immensely powerful wizard and it is very likely that he is the only one (save for Dumbledore) who can cast such a spell.





  • The Taboo spell seems to detect whoever says out loud "Voldemort". Most adult wizards can cast nonverbal spells so the detection would not be very effective, especially for the level of complexity the spell requires.




  • Speaking the spell words out loud is not like casting it. For example some students might be studying DADA and read about the spell. Or someone might be reading an article in the newspaper about an unforgivable curse incident. If all these are detected then this will create a lot of "noise" and the ministry will lose lots of time filtering out real incidents from someone just speaking the words.




Edit - one more that I thought about:




  • The Taboo can be used to lure in your opponents into a trap after you know about it. You say the word while 10 of your people stay nearby and ready, wait for the 'enemies' to appear, kill them and disapparate before anyone notices. Just hope that Voldi does not come to check what's up personally.


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