Tolkien’s Elvish Languages: The Quest for an Online Dictionary

The Need for an Elvish Online Dictionary

J.R.R. Tolkien's vast universe is a treasure trove for fans. The meticulously constructed Elven languages, Sindarin and Quenya, however, pose a unique challenge: the absence of a consolidated dictionary. In contrast to some other fantasy works, like Eragon, where authors provide a convenient lexicon, Tolkien presents us with the Etymologies. While it's a testament to Tolkien's linguistic artistry, it doesn’t serve as a straightforward guide to the Elven languages. The Sindarin and Quenya Elvish languages, although vibrant, lack a centralized source for learning.

Understanding Tolkien’s Perspective on Elvish Languages

The rationale behind Tolkien's decision becomes clear when understanding the roots of Sindarin and Quenya. These languages trace back to Valarin, the language gifted to Elves by the Valar. Rapidly, Elves began evolving and adapting Valarin. Elves’ perception of language is dynamic. Unlike human languages, which seem relatively stable due to the limited human lifespan, Elvish languages, given their extended lifespans, continuously evolved. Thus, to Elves, a static dictionary would seem alien.

Tolkien depicts different races with varying relationships to language. Hobbits, for example, love structure and order, and thus might appreciate the clarity of dictionaries. Dwarves, described as meticulous yet secretive about their tongue, might have a dictionary – but it would be kept hidden. Elves, on the other hand, engaged freely with their language, making any fixed documentation challenging.

Elvish fluidity in language parallels the flexibility in their writing systems. The Fëanorian Letters, their primary alphabet, was an adaptable system of signs. Rather than fixed values for each letter, they represented the evolving consonants of the languages adopted or invented by the Elves. This mirrors the adaptability inherent in the Elven view of language.

Online Adaptations for the Sindarin and Quenya Elvish Languages

Today's digital age offers promising possibilities. The need for an online dictionary for Sindarin and Quenya has never been more pressing. Such a tool would help fans and scholars traverse Tolkien’s linguistic landscape with ease.

The Fëanorian Letters, also known as the Tengwar, are a script invented by Fëanor, a prominent Elvish figure in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. These letters are featured in Tolkien's works, notably "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Silmarillion," as well as in his various linguistic writings. The Tengwar are an artistic representation of Tolkien's deep interest in philology and constructed languages.

Here are some key points about the Tengwar:

• Structure: The Tengwar are organized in a systematic grid of consonants. The main organizing principle is the place and manner of articulation (where in the mouth a sound is made and how it's made). For instance, there are series of letters for dental sounds, labial sounds, velar sounds, etc. Within each series, there are variations for voiced, voiceless, and nasalized versions of the consonant.

• Vowels: Vowels are typically represented as diacritics (marks) above the preceding consonant. However, they can also be written using full letter forms in certain contexts or for clarity.

• Adaptability: One of the most notable aspects of the Tengwar system is its adaptability to various languages. While Tolkien used it to write his constructed Elvish languages (like Quenya and Sindarin), it can also be adapted to write in English and other real-world languages. The adaptability of the system is achieved by modifying the exact phonetic values of the letters to fit the phonology of the language in question. This mirrors the Elven view of language as something living and evolving.

• Modes: Different "modes" of the Tengwar exist for different languages or dialects. For example, the mode used for Quenya might differ slightly from the mode used for Sindarin or English. These modes define which Tengwar correspond to which sounds and how vowels are represented.

• Usage: In the legendarium, the Tengwar are used by various cultures for a range of purposes. They're especially associated with the high cultures of the Elves, but they are also used by other races like Men, especially in Gondor.

• Cirth: It's worth noting that the Tengwar aren't the only writing system Tolkien devised for Middle-earth. The Cirth, or runes, are another system, older and more angular, initially developed by the Elves but later adopted by Dwarves and Men.

The creation and elaboration of the Tengwar demonstrate Tolkien's profound understanding of language and his belief in its deep cultural and historical significance. The adaptability and systematic nature of the script reflect the Elves' (and Tolkien's own) view of language as a living, changing entity, intertwined with identity and culture.

Examples:

• Structure of Consonants:

  • Tinco: This is the first letter in the Tengwar system. In the classical Quenya mode, it represents the sound [t]. In the classical Sindarin mode, it also represents [t].

  • Parma: This is the letter that represents the sound [p] in the classical Quenya mode.

• These are just two of the many Tengwar, each with its own name and sound value.

• Vowel Representation:

  • In the Quenya mode, the short vowel "a" is represented by placing three dots above the preceding consonant.

  • The short vowel "i" is represented by placing a single dot above the preceding consonant.

• Example Word:

  • Let's take the Quenya word "Quanta" which means "full". In the Tengwar, it might be represented with characters for "Q", "u", "a", "nt", and "a". The "a" vowels would be shown as diacritics above their preceding consonants.

• Adapting to English:

  • The Tengwar can be modified for English, resulting in different modes. One might use the Tengwar character "Tinco" for the English sound [t] in words like "time" or "tea".

  • However, depending on the mode, English vowels can be treated differently. Some modes might write them out fully while others use diacritics.

• Different Modes:

  • Sindarin Mode: This mode is adjusted for the phonetics of the Sindarin language. For example, the letter "Lambe" might represent the sound [l] in both Quenya and Sindarin, but other letters might have different values between the two modes.

  • English Mode: There are multiple proposed modes for English, varying in how they handle vowels and certain consonants.

• Cirth Example:

  • The word "Morndor" (Black Land, another name for Mordor) can be written in Cirth runes. It would use specific runes for "M", "o", "rn", "d", and "or". The appearance is much more angular and runic compared to the flowing script of the Tengwar.

It's important to understand that Tolkien's scripts are deep and intricate, and they change depending on the specific language mode and even the time period within his fictional history. The above examples provide just a glimpse of the Tengwar's versatility and complexity.

Tengwar's transcriber for chrome