Writing using Tengwar characters

[Rían]

No problem! Anyone who's read this thread knows I love talking about Tengwar!

It looks like we have another Tengwar convert, Ruinel! Yay!

For me, it's an enjoyable way to feel Middle-Earth-y w/o having to learn Sindarin or Quenya. Also, I can write Tengwar by myself (like when I'm standing in some stupid long line) - whereas with the Elvish languages, you need someone to talk to, and there aren't too many of those people around.

I would recommend learning the English mode Tengwar - check the first post of this thread where I have added links to what I consider to be the 2 best sites. Then print yourself out a copy of the chart, jot down the vowel marks on it, along with the abbreviations for 'the', of', 'of the' and 'and', and any other notes you want, stash it in your purse along with some blank sheets of paper, and voila! you're all set to practice during those annoying waiting times.

For me, memorizing in groups was v. helpful. The characters are shaped the way they are for a specific reason. For example, the first group (that I call the 'p' group, cause they all look kinda like p's) consists of numbers 1, 2, 5 and 6. That's the upper-left block of 4 characters. 1 is 't', 2 is 'p'. 1 has an open bow, 2 has a closed bow. Now say 't' - your lips are open. Now say 't' and then tap your lips closed - you are now saying 'p'! So a closed bow represents kind of a "more closed" airpath. Same with 'd' and 'b'. This applies mainly with the first 18.

(Or just ignore all that if it doesn't help! I'm a technical-type person that likes language details, so it was helpful to me.)

The next group I memorized was the 'b'-looking group - 9, 10, 13,14. Then the 'q' looking group - 3, 4, 7, 8, and then the 'd' looking group - 11, 12, 15, 16. Then 17 & 18 go together, and 21 and 22 kinda go together. Anyway, just an idea.