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There are several different '''Elvish languages''' of which [[Quenya]] and [[Sindarin]] are the most common and well known, but there were many variations and dialects.
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'''Elvish languages''' are [[constructed language]]s used typically by [[elf|elves]] in a [[fantasy]] setting.
  
  +
  +
[[File:Elvish.png|thumb|300px|Elvish letters.]]
   
 
==Elvish languages of [[Middle-earth]]==
  
==Elvish languages of [[Middle-earth]]==
−
Author [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] created many languages for [[Elves (Middle-earth)|Elves]] to complement his books set in the fictional universe of [[Middle-earth]]. His interest was primarily [[philology|philological]], and he said his stories grew out of his languages. Indeed, the languages were the first thing Tolkien ever created for his mythos, starting with "Qenya", the first primitive form of elvish. This is now one of the two most complete - [[Quenya]] (High-elven) and [[Sindarin]] (Grey-elven). In addition to these two he also created several other (partially derived) languages.
  
   
−
In Tolkien's mythology, these languages originated as follows:
 +
The languages originated as follows:
   
 
*'''[[Primitive Quendian]]''' (language of the Elves in [[Cuiviénen]])
  
*'''[[Primitive Quendian]]''' (language of the Elves in [[Cuiviénen]])
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**'''[[Common Eldarin]]''' (the early language of all the [[Eldar]])
  
**'''[[Common Eldarin]]''' (the early language of all the [[Eldar]])
 
***'''[[Quenya]]''' (the language of the [[Ñoldor]] and the [[Vanyar]])
  
***'''[[Quenya]]''' (the language of the [[Ñoldor]] and the [[Vanyar]])
−
****''' ''Quendya'' (also ''Vanyarin Quenya'') ''' (daily tongue of the Vanyar: closest to archaic Quenya)
 +
****'''''Quendya'' (also ''Vanyarin Quenya'') ''' (daily tongue of the Vanyar: closest to archaic Quenya)
−
****''' ''Ñoldorin Quenya'' (also ''Exilic Quenya'') ''' (the "Elven Latin" of Middle-earth)
 +
****'''''Ñoldorin Quenya'' (also ''Exilic Quenya'') ''' (the "Elven Latin" of Middle-earth)
 
***'''[[Common Telerin]]''' (the early language of all the [[Lindar]])
  
***'''[[Common Telerin]]''' (the early language of all the [[Lindar]])
 
****'''[[Teleri]]n''' (the language of the [[Teleri]] who reached the [[Undying Lands]])
  
****'''[[Teleri]]n''' (the language of the [[Teleri]] who reached the [[Undying Lands]])
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*****'''[[North Sindarin]]''' (dialects of [[Dorthonion]] and [[Hithlum]])
  
*****'''[[North Sindarin]]''' (dialects of [[Dorthonion]] and [[Hithlum]])
   
−
Professor Tolkien also created the [[Tengwar]] and [[Cirth]] scripts for his languages.
 +
There were also the [[Tengwar]] and [[Cirth]] scripts.
   
 
===Pronunciation===
  
===Pronunciation===
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'''Vowels'''
  
'''Vowels'''
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"
  
{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"
−
!Letter / [[Digraph (orthography)|Digraph]]
 +
!Letter / [[wikipedia:Digraph (orthography)|Digraph]]
−
!Pronunciation
 +
!Pronunciation
−
!IPA
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!IPA
−
! Further comment
 +
! Further comment
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|a
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|a
−
|as in f'''a'''ther, but shorter. Like f'''a'''thom
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|as in f'''a'''ther, but shorter. Like f'''a'''thom
−
|{{Unicode|[ɑ]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[ɑ]}}
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|never as in c'''a'''t
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|as in ''c'''a'''t''
−
|-
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|-
−
|á
 +
|á
−
|as in f'''a'''ther
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|as in f'''a'''ther
−
|{{Unicode|[ɑː]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[ɑː]}}
−
|/
 +
|/
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|â
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|â
−
|(in Sindarin) as in f'''a'''ther, but even longer
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|(in Sindarin) as in f'''a'''ther, but even longer
−
|{{Unicode|[ɑːː]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[ɑːː]}}
−
|/
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|/
−
|-
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|-
−
|ae
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|ae
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|(in Sindarin) the vowels described for ''a'' and ''e'' in one syllable.
+
|(in Sindarin) the vowels described for ''a'' and ''e'' in one syllable.
−
|{{Unicode|[ɑɛ̯]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[ɑɛ̯]}}
−
|Similar to ''ai''
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|Similar to ''ai''
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|ai
 +
|ai
−
|a diphthong, similar to that in '''e'''ye, but with short vowels
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|a diphthong, similar to that in '''e'''ye, but with short vowels
−
|{{Unicode|[ɑɪ̯]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[ɑɪ̯]}}
−
|never as in r'''ai'''n
 +
|never as in r'''ai'''n
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|au
 +
|au
−
|''a'' and ''u'' run together in one syllable. Similar to the sound in h'''ou'''se
 +
|''a'' and ''u'' run together in one syllable. Similar to the sound in h'''ou'''se
−
|{{Unicode|[ɑʊ̯]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[ɑʊ̯]}}
−
|never as in s'''au'''ce
 +
|never as in s'''au'''ce
−
|-
 +
|-
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|aw
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|aw
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|(in Sindarin) a common way to write ''au'' at the end of the word
 +
|(in Sindarin) a common way to write ''au'' at the end of the word
−
|{{Unicode|[ɑʊ̯]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[ɑʊ̯]}}
−
|/
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|/
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|e
 +
|e
−
|as in p'''e'''t
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|as in p'''e'''t
−
|{{Unicode|[ɛ]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[ɛ]}}
−
|/
 +
|/
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|é
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|é
−
|the same vowel lengthened (and in Quenya more closed; as in German)
 +
|the same vowel lengthened (and in Quenya more closed; as in German)
−
|S: {{Unicode|[ɛː]}}, Q: {{Unicode|[eː]}}
 +
|S: {{Unicode|[ɛː]}}, Q: {{Unicode|[eː]}}
−
|Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound as in English r'''ai'''n
 +
|Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound as in English r'''ai'''n
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|ê
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|ê
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|(in Sindarin) the vowel of p'''e'''t especially lengthened
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|(in Sindarin) the vowel of p'''e'''t especially lengthened
−
|{{Unicode|[ɛːː]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[ɛːː]}}
−
|Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound as in English r'''ai'''n
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|Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound as in English r'''ai'''n
−
|-
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|-
−
|ei
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|ei
−
|as in '''ei'''ght
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|as in '''ei'''ght
−
|{{Unicode|[ɛɪ̯]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[ɛɪ̯]}}
−
|never as in '''ei'''ther (in neither pronunciation)
 +
|never as in '''ei'''ther (in neither pronunciation)
−
|-
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|-
−
|eu
 +
|eu
−
|(in Quenya) ''e'' and ''u'' run together in one syllable
 +
|(in Quenya) ''e'' and ''u'' run together in one syllable
−
|{{Unicode|[ɛʊ̯]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[ɛʊ̯]}}
−
|never as in English or German
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|never as in English or German
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|i
 +
|i
−
|as in mach'''i'''ne, but short
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|as in mach'''i'''ne, but short
−
|[i]
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|[i]
−
|not opened as in f'''i'''t
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|not opened as in f'''i'''t
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|í
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|í
−
|as in mach'''i'''ne
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|as in mach'''i'''ne
−
|{{Unicode|[iː]}}
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|{{Unicode|[iː]}}
−
|/
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|/
−
|-
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|-
−
|î
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|î
−
|(in Sindarin) as in mach'''i'''ne, but especially lengthened
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|(in Sindarin) as in mach'''i'''ne, but especially lengthened
−
|{{Unicode|[iːː]}}
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|{{Unicode|[iːː]}}
−
|/
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|/
−
|-
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|-
−
|iu
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|iu
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|(in Quenya) ''i'' and ''u'' run together in one syllable
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|(in Quenya) ''i'' and ''u'' run together in one syllable
−
|{{Unicode|[iʊ̯]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[iʊ̯]}}
−
|later by men often as in English '''you'''
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|later by men often as in English '''you'''
−
|-
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|-
−
|o
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|o
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|open as in British g'''o'''t
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|open as in British g'''o'''t
−
|{{Unicode|[ɔ]}}
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|{{Unicode|[ɔ]}}
−
|/
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|/
−
|-
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|-
−
|ó
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|ó
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|the same vowel lengthened (and in Quenya more closed; as in German)
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|the same vowel lengthened (and in Quenya more closed; as in German)
−
|S: {{Unicode|[ɔː]}}, Q: {{Unicode|[oː]}}
 +
|S: {{Unicode|[ɔː]}}, Q: {{Unicode|[oː]}}
−
|Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound of "long" English c'''o'''ld
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|Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound of "long" English c'''o'''ld
−
|-
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|-
−
|ô
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|ô
−
|(in Sindarin) the same vowel especially lengthened
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|(in Sindarin) the same vowel especially lengthened
−
|{{Unicode|[ɔːː]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[ɔːː]}}
−
|Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound of "long" English c'''o'''ld
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|Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound of "long" English c'''o'''ld
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|oi
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|oi
−
|(in Quenya) as in English c'''oi'''n
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|(in Quenya) as in English c'''oi'''n
−
|{{Unicode|[ɔɪ̯]}}
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|{{Unicode|[ɔɪ̯]}}
−
|/
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|/
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|oe
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|oe
−
|(in Sindarin) the vowels described for ''o'' and ''e'' in one syllable.
+
|(in Sindarin) the vowels described for ''o'' and ''e'' in one syllable.
−
|{{Unicode|[ɔɛ̯]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[ɔɛ̯]}}
−
|Similar to ''oi''. Cf. '''œ'''!
 +
|Similar to ''oi''. Cf. '''œ'''!
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|œ
 +
|œ
−
|(in Sindarin) as in German G'''ö'''tter
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|(in Sindarin) as in German G'''ö'''tter
−
|[œ]
 +
|[œ]
−
|in published writing often '''oe''' has falsely been used, as in ''Nírnaeth Arnoediad''!
 +
|in published writing often '''oe''' has falsely been used, as in ''Nírnaeth Arnoediad''!
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|u
 +
|u
−
|as in c'''oo'''l, but shorter
 +
|as in c'''oo'''l, but shorter
−
|[u]
 +
|[u]
−
|not opened as in b'''oo'''k
 +
|not opened as in b'''oo'''k
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|ú
 +
|ú
−
|as in c'''oo'''l
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|as in c'''oo'''l
−
|{{Unicode|[uː]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[uː]}}
−
|/
 +
|/
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|û
 +
|û
−
|(in Sindarin) the same vowel as above, but especially lengthened
 +
|(in Sindarin) the same vowel as above, but especially lengthened
−
|{{Unicode|[uːː]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[uːː]}}
−
|/
 +
|/
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|y
 +
|y
−
|(in Sindarin) as in French l'''u'''ne or German s'''ü'''ß, but short
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|(in Sindarin) as in French l'''u'''ne or German s'''ü'''ß, but short
−
|[y]
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|[y]
−
|not found in English
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|not found in English, as in German "H'''ü'''tte"
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|ý
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|ý
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|(in Sindarin) as in French l'''u'''ne or German s'''ü'''ß
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|(in Sindarin) as in French l'''u'''ne or German s'''ü'''ß
−
|{{Unicode|[yː]}}
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|{{Unicode|[yː]}}
−
|/
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|/
−
|-
 +
|-
−
|ŷ
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|ŷ
−
|(in Sindarin) as in French l'''u'''ne or German s'''ü'''ß, but even longer
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|(in Sindarin) as in French l'''u'''ne or German s'''ü'''ß, but even longer
−
|{{Unicode|[yːː]}}
 +
|{{Unicode|[yːː]}}
−
|not found in English
 +
|not found in English
−
|}
 +
|}
   
 
'''Consonants''' (differing from English)
  
'''Consonants''' (differing from English)
 
* The letter ''c'' is always pronounced like the letter ''k'', even before ''i'' and ''e''.; for instance, ''[[Celeborn]]'' is pronounced ''Keleborn'', and [[Cirth]] is pronounced ''Kirth''.
  
* The letter ''c'' is always pronounced like the letter ''k'', even before ''i'' and ''e''.; for instance, ''[[Celeborn]]'' is pronounced ''Keleborn'', and [[Cirth]] is pronounced ''Kirth''.
−
* The letter ''g'' is never pronounced in the soft form, as in ''giant''. For instance, ''[[Region (Middle-earth)|Region]]'' is pronounced unlike the English word ''region''.
 +
* The letter ''g'' is never pronounced in the soft form, as in ''giant''. For instance, ''[[Region]]'' is pronounced unlike the English word ''region''.
−
* The letter ''r'' is lightly trilled, as in [[Spanish language|Spanish]].
 +
* The letter ''r'' is lightly trilled, as in [[wikipedia:Spanish language|Spanish]].
−
* The [[Digraph (orthography)|digraph]] ''dh'', as in ''Caradhras'', is pronounced like the ''th'' in ''this''.
 +
* The digraph ''dh'', as in ''Caradhras'', is pronounced like the ''th'' in ''this''.
−
* The digraph ''ch'', as in ''Orch'', is pronounced as in [[German language|German]] ''ach''.
 +
* The digraph ''ch'', as in ''Orch'', is pronounced as in [[wikipedia:German language|German]] ''ach''.
   
−
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.
 +
Most samples of the Elvish language are written out with the Latin alphabet, but the languages were written using [[Tengwar]], or occasionally carved in Cirth. Tengwar can however be used to write many other languages.
   
 
'''See also:''' [[Languages of Middle-earth]]
  
'''See also:''' [[Languages of Middle-earth]]
   
  ⚫
==External links==
−
==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.
  
   
  +
* {{TGlink|Elvish}}
−
* ''Ssamath'', the language of the Dark Elves or [[Drow]] of [[Dungeons & Dragons]],
  
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* ''Common Elvish'', the language of the surface Elves of D&D (of which there is several dialects)
  
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* ''Eltharin'', the language of the elves of [[Warhammer Fantasy|Warhammer]]:
  
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** ''Fan-Eltharin'', the language of the Wood Elves
  
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** ''Tar-Eltharin'', the language of the Sea Elves and High Elves
  
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* Elvish language of [[Andrzej Sapkowski]]'s ''[[Hexer]]'' saga, based on [[Welsh language|Welsh]] and [[English language|English]]
  
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* ''The Ancient Language'' The language of the elves in [[Eragon]] Also spoken by the riders.
  
−
* The Elvish of [[American Dad!]], which is sometimes written in [[hiragana]]. It was invented by Dan Vebber. It is distinguished from the other Elvish, who is the yiddish Elvis.
  
−  
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==Trivia==
  
−  
−
Josh, "The Emperor", from [[Gene Simmons]]' [[Rock School]] spoke Elvish.
  
−  
⚫
==External links==
  
 
* [http://www.elvish.org/FAQ.html The Tolkienian Linguistics FAQ]
  
* [http://www.elvish.org/FAQ.html The Tolkienian Linguistics FAQ]
 
* [http://www.phy.duke.edu/~trenk/elvish/learn_elvish.html So You Want to Learn Elvish?]
  
* [http://www.phy.duke.edu/~trenk/elvish/learn_elvish.html So You Want to Learn Elvish?]
Line 215: Line 202:
 
* [http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/qcourse.htm A downloadable course in Quenya]
  
* [http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/qcourse.htm A downloadable course in Quenya]
 
* [http://at.mansbjorkman.net Learn Tengwar and Sarati]
  
* [http://at.mansbjorkman.net Learn Tengwar and Sarati]
−
* [http://babel.uoregon.edu/yamada/fonts/tolkien.html Elvish & Dwarf fonts for Mac Classic]
 +
* [http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/misc/local/TolkLang/fonts/ Elvish fonts] for [[wikipedia:TeX|T<sub>E</sub>X]]
−
* [http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/misc/local/TolkLang/fonts/ Elvish fonts] for [[TeX|T<sub>E</sub>X]]
  
−
* [http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/4948/index.html Elvish fonts for Windows]
  
−
* [http://roo.no-ip.org/elvish/ Interactive Elvish translator], a web page that allows you to write a sentence in English and see it translated to Elvish in real time
  
 
* [http://www.starchamber.com/paracelsus/elvish/elvish-in-ten-minutes.html Elvish in Ten Minutes / Write Your Name]
  
* [http://www.starchamber.com/paracelsus/elvish/elvish-in-ten-minutes.html Elvish in Ten Minutes / Write Your Name]
  +
* [http://www.grey-company.org/Circle/language/phrase.htm elvish phrases] (helps when you are learning to get into the flow)
−  
−
{{EnWP|Elvish languages}}
  
−  
 
[[Category:Language]]
  
[[Category:Language]]

Revision as of 09:46, 4 February 2016

There are several different Elvish languages of which Quenya and Sindarin are the most common and well known, but there were many variations and dialects.

File:Elvish.png

Elvish letters.

Elvish languages of Middle-earth

The languages originated as follows:

There were also the Tengwar and Cirth scripts.

Pronunciation

Sindarin and Quenya have in most aspects very much the same 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] as in cat
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
au a and u run together in one syllable. Similar to the sound in house [ɑʊ̯] never as in sauce
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)
eu (in Quenya) e and u run together in one syllable [ɛʊ̯] never as in English or German
i as in machine, but short [i] not opened as in fit
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
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
ô (in Sindarin) the same vowel especially lengthened [ɔːː] Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound of "long" English cold
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 often oe has falsely been used, as in Nírnaeth Arnoediad!
u as in cool, but shorter [u] not opened as in book
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, as in German "Hütte"
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 is always pronounced like the letter k, even before i and e.; for instance, Celeborn is pronounced Keleborn, and Cirth is pronounced Kirth.
  • The letter g is never pronounced in the soft form, as in giant. For instance, Region is pronounced unlike the English word region.
  • The letter r is lightly trilled, as in Spanish.
  • The digraph dh, as in Caradhras, is pronounced like the th in this.
  • The digraph ch, as in Orch, is pronounced as in German ach.

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

See also: Languages of Middle-earth

External links

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