How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Goodness knows," said Robin. "It was when we first took him up. Sounded like a language unknown to human ear. Maybe he comes from Mars." (8.184)
The Walker speaks in gibberish. At least according to Will's family he does. We know that he's really using the special, secret language of the Old Ones, but humans don't understand it. Robin later tells Will he was using the same mumbo-jumbo but he brushes it off. He doesn't want to blow his cover, after all.
Quote #8
The ears of an Old One know that birds do not speak with the precision of words; instead they communicate emotion. There are many kinds and degrees of emotion, and there are many kinds of expression even in the language of a bird. But although Will could tell that the rook was obviously asking him to come and look at something, he could not tell whether or not the bird was being used by the Dark. (11.167)
Think about it. Birds communicate with one another, they just use other signals and cues instead from English words. Will thinks about this in a new way once he learns that he's an Old One. After all, animals are communicating all around us; we just don't know how to interpret it.
Quote #9
Will said, "Is it over?" "More or less," Merriman said, faceless under the hood. "The Dark—is—" He dared not bring out the words. (12.68)
Here we sense the power in language or in speaking words aloud. Merriman doesn't want to announce that the Dark is defeated just in case it's not true. For the Old Ones, every word is important, and they are quite careful to say the right ones. Words matter, yo.