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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. |
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+ | |||
+ | [[File:Elvish.png|thumb|300px|Elvish letters.]] |
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==Elvish languages of [[Middle-earth]]== |
==Elvish languages of [[Middle-earth]]== |
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− | 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. |
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− | + | The languages originated as follows: |
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*'''[[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]]) |
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***'''[[Quenya]]''' (the language of the [[Ñoldor]] and the [[Vanyar]]) |
***'''[[Quenya]]''' (the language of the [[Ñoldor]] and the [[Vanyar]]) |
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− | ****''' |
+ | ****'''''Quendya'' (also ''Vanyarin Quenya'') ''' (daily tongue of the Vanyar: closest to archaic Quenya) |
− | ****''' |
+ | ****'''''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]]) |
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****'''[[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]]) |
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− | + | There were also the [[Tengwar]] and [[Cirth]] scripts. |
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===Pronunciation=== |
===Pronunciation=== |
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'''Vowels''' |
'''Vowels''' |
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{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" |
{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" |
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− | + | !Letter / [[wikipedia:Digraph (orthography)|Digraph]] |
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− | + | !Pronunciation |
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− | + | !IPA |
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− | + | ! Further comment |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |a |
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− | + | |as in f'''a'''ther, but shorter. Like f'''a'''thom |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɑ]}} |
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− | + | |as in ''c'''a'''t'' |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |á |
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− | + | |as in f'''a'''ther |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɑː]}} |
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− | + | |/ |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |â |
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− | + | |(in Sindarin) as in f'''a'''ther, but even longer |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɑːː]}} |
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− | + | |/ |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |ae |
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− | + | |(in Sindarin) the vowels described for ''a'' and ''e'' in one syllable. |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɑɛ̯]}} |
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− | + | |Similar to ''ai'' |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |ai |
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− | + | |a diphthong, similar to that in '''e'''ye, but with short vowels |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɑɪ̯]}} |
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− | + | |never as in r'''ai'''n |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |au |
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− | + | |''a'' and ''u'' run together in one syllable. Similar to the sound in h'''ou'''se |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɑʊ̯]}} |
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− | + | |never as in s'''au'''ce |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |aw |
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− | + | |(in Sindarin) a common way to write ''au'' at the end of the word |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɑʊ̯]}} |
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− | + | |/ |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |e |
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− | + | |as in p'''e'''t |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɛ]}} |
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− | + | |/ |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |é |
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− | + | |the same vowel lengthened (and in Quenya more closed; as in German) |
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− | + | |S: {{Unicode|[ɛː]}}, Q: {{Unicode|[eː]}} |
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− | + | |Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound as in English r'''ai'''n |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |ê |
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− | + | |(in Sindarin) the vowel of p'''e'''t especially lengthened |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɛːː]}} |
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− | + | |Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound as in English r'''ai'''n |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |ei |
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− | + | |as in '''ei'''ght |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɛɪ̯]}} |
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− | + | |never as in '''ei'''ther (in neither pronunciation) |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |eu |
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− | + | |(in Quenya) ''e'' and ''u'' run together in one syllable |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɛʊ̯]}} |
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− | + | |never as in English or German |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |i |
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− | + | |as in mach'''i'''ne, but short |
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− | + | |[i] |
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− | + | |not opened as in f'''i'''t |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |í |
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− | + | |as in mach'''i'''ne |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[iː]}} |
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− | + | |/ |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |î |
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− | + | |(in Sindarin) as in mach'''i'''ne, but especially lengthened |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[iːː]}} |
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− | + | |/ |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |iu |
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− | + | |(in Quenya) ''i'' and ''u'' run together in one syllable |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[iʊ̯]}} |
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− | + | |later by men often as in English '''you''' |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |o |
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− | + | |open as in British g'''o'''t |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɔ]}} |
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− | + | |/ |
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− | + | |- |
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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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− | + | |S: {{Unicode|[ɔː]}}, Q: {{Unicode|[oː]}} |
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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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− | + | |(in Sindarin) the same vowel especially lengthened |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɔːː]}} |
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− | + | |Rural Hobbit pronunciation allows the sound of "long" English c'''o'''ld |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |oi |
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− | + | |(in Quenya) as in English c'''oi'''n |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɔɪ̯]}} |
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− | + | |/ |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |oe |
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− | + | |(in Sindarin) the vowels described for ''o'' and ''e'' in one syllable. |
|
− | + | |{{Unicode|[ɔɛ̯]}} |
|
− | + | |Similar to ''oi''. Cf. '''œ'''! |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |œ |
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− | + | |(in Sindarin) as in German G'''ö'''tter |
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− | + | |[œ] |
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− | + | |in published writing often '''oe''' has falsely been used, as in ''Nírnaeth Arnoediad''! |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |u |
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− | + | |as in c'''oo'''l, but shorter |
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− | + | |[u] |
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− | + | |not opened as in b'''oo'''k |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |ú |
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− | + | |as in c'''oo'''l |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[uː]}} |
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− | + | |/ |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |û |
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− | + | |(in Sindarin) the same vowel as above, but especially lengthened |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[uːː]}} |
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− | + | |/ |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |y |
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− | + | |(in Sindarin) as in French l'''u'''ne or German s'''ü'''ß, but short |
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− | + | |[y] |
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− | + | |not found in English, as in German "H'''ü'''tte" |
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− | + | |- |
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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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− | + | |{{Unicode|[yː]}} |
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− | + | |/ |
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− | + | |- |
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− | + | |ŷ |
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− | + | |(in Sindarin) as in French l'''u'''ne or German s'''ü'''ß, but even longer |
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− | + | |{{Unicode|[yːː]}} |
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− | + | |not found in English |
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− | + | |} |
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'''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''. |
+ | * 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 |
+ | * 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 |
+ | 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]] |
||
⚫ | |||
− | ==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. |
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+ | * {{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. |
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− | * 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== |
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− | |||
− | Josh, "The Emperor", from [[Gene Simmons]]' [[Rock School]] spoke Elvish. |
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− | |||
⚫ | |||
* [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?] |
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* [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:// |
+ | * [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] |
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− | * [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 |
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* [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) |
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− | |||
− | [[Category: |
+ | [[Category:Language]] |
− | |||
− | {{EnWP|Elvish languages}} |
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.
Elvish languages of Middle-earth
The languages originated as follows:
- Primitive Quendian (language of the Elves in Cuiviénen)
- Avarin
- Various Avarin languages (some later merged with Nandorin)
- Common Eldarin (the early language of all the Eldar)
- Quenya (the language of the Ñoldor and the Vanyar)
- Quendya (also Vanyarin Quenya) (daily tongue of the Vanyar: closest to archaic Quenya)
- Ñoldorin Quenya (also Exilic Quenya) (the "Elven Latin" of Middle-earth)
- Common Telerin (the early language of all the Lindar)
- Telerin (the language of the Teleri who reached the Undying Lands)
- Nandorin (languages of the Nandor — some were influenced by Avarin)
- Original language of Greenwood the Great
- Original language of Lórinand
- Sindarin (language of the Sindar)
- Doriathrin (dialect of Doriath)
- Falathrin (dialect of the Falas and Nargothrond)
- North Sindarin (dialects of Dorthonion and Hithlum)
- Quenya (the language of the Ñoldor and the Vanyar)
- Avarin
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
- Elvish at Tolkien Gateway
- The Tolkienian Linguistics FAQ
- So You Want to Learn Elvish?
- Resources for Tolkienian Linguistics
- Download Vinyar Tengwar 43 with Tolkien's Quenya translation of the Lord's Prayer
- Ardalambion - a very complete source for learning Elvish
- Parma Tyelpelassiva - Quenya and Sindarin courses and compositions
- Elvish.org Publishes the journals Parma Eldalamberon, Tengwestië, and Vinyar Tengwar
- Various Tolkien resources
- Pronunciation guide
- A downloadable course in Quenya
- Learn Tengwar and Sarati
- Elvish fonts for TEX
- Elvish in Ten Minutes / Write Your Name
- elvish phrases (helps when you are learning to get into the flow)