Elvish languages

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An example of Elvish text
An example of Elvish text

Elvish languages are constructed languages used typically by elves in a fantasy setting.

Contents

[edit] Tolkien's Elvish languages

Author J. R. R. Tolkien created many languages for Elves, which eventuated in the creation of a mythology (expounded in his books), complete with races, to speak the tongues he had constructed. His interest was primarily philological, and he said his stories grew out of his languages. The languages were the first thing Tolkien created for his mythos, starting with what he originally called "Qenya", the first primitive form of elvish. This was later called Quenya (High-elven) and, along with Sindarin (Grey-elven), is one of the two most complete of Tolkien's languages. In addition to these two he also created several other (partially derived) languages.

In Tolkien's mythology, these languages originated as follows:

Professor Tolkien also created the Tengwar and Cirth scripts for his languages.

[edit] Pronunciation

Sindarin and Quenya have a very similar pronunciation. The following table gives pronunciation for each letter or cluster in international phonetic script and examples:

Vowels

Letter / Digraph Pronunciation IPA Further comment
a as in father, but shorter. Like fathom [ɑ] never as in cat [*æ]
á as in father [ɑː] .
â (in Sindarin) as in father, but even longer [ɑːː] .
ae (in Sindarin) the vowels described for a and e in one syllable. [ɑɛ̯] Similar to ai
ai a diphthong, similar to that in eye, but with short vowels [ɑɪ̯] never as in rain [*eɪ]
au a and u run together in one syllable. Similar to the sound in house [ɑʊ̯] never as in sauce [*ɒ]
aw (in Sindarin) a common way to write au at the end of the word [ɑʊ̯] .
e as in pet [ɛ] .
é the same vowel lengthened (and in Quenya more closed; as in German) S: [ɛː], Q: [eː] Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound as in English rain
ê (in Sindarin) the vowel of pet especially lengthened [ɛːː] Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound as in English rain
ei as in eight [ɛɪ̯] never as in either (in neither pronunciation) [*i] [*aɪ]
eu (in Quenya) e and u run together in one syllable [ɛʊ̯] never as in English or German [*ju] [*ɔʏ]
i as in machine, but short [i] not opened as in fit [*ɪ]
í as in machine [iː] .
î (in Sindarin) as in machine, but especially lengthened [iːː] .
iu (in Quenya) i and u run together in one syllable [iʊ̯] later by men often as in English you [ju]
o open as in British got [ɔ] .
ó the same vowel lengthened (and in Quenya more closed; as in German) S: [ɔː], Q: [oː] Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound of "long" English cold [oː]
ô (in Sindarin) the same vowel especially lengthened [ɔːː] Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound of "long" English cold [oː]
oi (in Quenya) as in English coin [ɔɪ̯] .
oe (in Sindarin) the vowels described for o and e in one syllable. [ɔɛ̯] Similar to oi. Cf. œ!
œ (in Sindarin) as in German Götter [œ] in published writing, has been incorrectly spelt oe (two letters), as in Nírnaeth Arnoediad!
u as in cool, but shorter [u] not opened as in book [*ʊ]
ú as in cool [uː] .
û (in Sindarin) the same vowel as above, but especially lengthened [uːː] .
y (in Sindarin) as in French lune or German süß, but short [y] not found in English
ý (in Sindarin) as in French lune or German süß [yː] .
ŷ (in Sindarin) as in French lune or German süß, but even longer [yːː] not found in English

Consonants (differing from English)

  • The letter c always denotes [k], even before i and e; for instance, Celeborn is pronounced Keleborn, and Cirth is pronounced Kirth; thus, it never denotes the soft c [*s] in cent.
  • The letter g always denotes the hard [g], as in give, rather than the soft form [*ʤ], as in gem.
  • The letter r denotes a lightly trilled [r], as in Spanish.
  • The digraph dh, as in Caradhras, denotes [ð] as in English this.
  • The digraph ch, as in Orch, denotes [x] as in German ach, and never like the ch [*ʧ] in English chair.

Most samples of the Elvish language are written out with the Latin alphabet, but within the fiction the languages were written using Tengwar, or occasionally carved in Cirth. Tengwar can however be used to write many other languages.

[edit] The relationship between the Elvish languages

Below is given a simplified diagram over how the Elvish languages are said have developed from their common origin, Quendian. Where this is known, the descendant of the Quendian word kwendī 'people' is shown in italics for each language.

Time Period Language
The Awakening Quendian
Common for all Elves at Cuiviénen
kwendī
The Westward March Quenya
Vanyar and Noldor in Aman
quendi [1]		 Common Telerin
Teleri during the march
pendi		 Avarin
Avari, those who stayed at Cuiviénen and from there spread across Middle-earth (many languages)
kindi, cuind, hwenti, windan, kinn-lai
The First Age Amanya Telerin
Teleri in Aman		 Sindarin
Teleri in Beleriand (Sindar), as well as the exiled Noldor after the speaking of Quenya was banned in Beleriand by Elu Thingol.
*-bind, *-bin		 Nandorin
Teleri in Rhovanion, Eriador and Ossiriand (Nandor)		    
The Second Age Silvan[2]
The Wood-elves of the Vale of Anduin
penni		  
  1. ^ Actually cwendi, but Tolkien states in Appendix E of The Lord of the Rings that he Latinized the spelling of the original language (which then should be spelled Cwenya).
  2. ^ The origin of the Silvan language is uncertain. Some sources state that the Silvan language was Avarin in origin, some that it descended from the language of the Nandor. Culturally, the Silvan Elves were certainly a mix of Avari, Nandor, and Sindar.

See also: Languages of Middle-earth

[edit] Other Elvish languages

Since Tolkien, others have invented Elvish languages in their own fiction. Several borrow sounds and forms (or even whole words) from Tolkien's Elvish languages, especially Quenya, while others are quite distinct.

The Elvish language is also used in some of Finnish opera-metal band, 'Nightwish's lyrics. One such example is the usage of 'Elbereth' in Wishmaster.

[edit] External links

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