how did tolkien make elvish

frodosgirlfriend · 03-30-2002, 03:57 PM

i've heard he mixed spanish and italian, but i don't know 4 sure, does anyone know how he made elvish???

Ñólendil · 03-30-2002, 05:09 PM

Whatever you heard about Spanish and Italian is entirely bogus.

He didn't just mix a couple languages together, he really did invent languages. There are many "Elvish" languages by the way, the two most famous ones, and the ones Tolkien spent the most time on, were Quenya and Sindarin, often called High-elven and Grey-elven. Although "Quenya" may be translated "Elvish", there is not one Elvish language all the Elves used, except their original tongue from which all Elven tongues derive: Primitive Quendian.

The structure of Quenya is based on Finnish and a bit of Latin, the structure of Sindarin is based on Welsh. But both are very much independent from any natural languages we know of. I suppose the pronunciation of Elvish languages is similar to the romance languages, that may have inspired what you heard about Spanish and Italian.

For you I would reccomend Tolkien's Not So Secret Vice by Helgeh Fauskanger, it should answer your questions.

Lightice · 03-31-2002, 09:25 AM

He didn't mix anything. He made them completely up, trying to get them in way, that they had evolved during centuries.
Some forms of Quenya are taken from Finnish (my language. W00t!

) but rest come from Tolkien's head.

ArwenEvenstar · 03-31-2002, 11:02 AM

read "The lost road and other writings" its in the HOME, it has some stuff on the languges

frodosgirlfriend · 03-31-2002, 01:16 PM

thanx i'll e-mail this to my friend just to show i was right and she was wrong

03-30-2002, 03:57 PM	#1
frodosgirlfriend Elven Warrior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: I live in la la land, you know, the place you go during math class Posts: 452	how did tolkien make elvish i've heard he mixed spanish and italian, but i don't know 4 sure, does anyone know how he made elvish??? __________________ LOOK A WEBSITE!!! LETS CLICK ON IT!!!!!! --------------------------------------------- AND FGF'S MOST GORGEOUS MAN ALIVE AT THE MOMENT'S AWARD GOES TO......... BRANDON BOYD (yes once again) !!!!! WOOOO!!! ---------------------------------------------- Hottness has no count for age.... thats why I'm merrying a forty year old who goes by the name of JOHNNY DEPP!!!! ----------------------------------------------- Fortune cookies tell all, so when i got the cookie telling me to date my love i became a stalker to Johnny Depp, and when i find him my excuse will be "the cookie made me do it" ------------------------------------------------ I'm not stupid, I'm special ------------------------------------------------ "But why is the rum gone?" "Captian, Catian Jack Sparrow" "pa-pa-pa parsnip, parla, --" "Just don't do anything... stupid" "WELL IT BLOODY IS NOW!" ~Captian Jack Sparrow ------------------------------------------------ Read my FP.net story!!!

03-30-2002, 05:09 PM	#2
Ñólendil Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: California Posts: 60,865	Whatever you heard about Spanish and Italian is entirely bogus. He didn't just mix a couple languages together, he really did invent languages. There are many "Elvish" languages by the way, the two most famous ones, and the ones Tolkien spent the most time on, were Quenya and Sindarin, often called High-elven and Grey-elven. Although "Quenya" may be translated "Elvish", there is not one Elvish language all the Elves used, except their original tongue from which all Elven tongues derive: Primitive Quendian. The structure of Quenya is based on Finnish and a bit of Latin, the structure of Sindarin is based on Welsh. But both are very much independent from any natural languages we know of. I suppose the pronunciation of Elvish languages is similar to the romance languages, that may have inspired what you heard about Spanish and Italian. For you I would reccomend Tolkien's Not So Secret Vice by Helgeh Fauskanger, it should answer your questions. __________________ Falmon -- Dylan

03-31-2002, 11:02 AM	#4
ArwenEvenstar Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: and why do YOU want to know? Posts: 685	read "The lost road and other writings" its in the HOME, it has some stuff on the languges __________________ The only thing active about me is my imagination!

03-31-2002, 01:16 PM	#5
frodosgirlfriend Elven Warrior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: I live in la la land, you know, the place you go during math class Posts: 452	thanx i'll e-mail this to my friend just to show i was right and she was wrong __________________ LOOK A WEBSITE!!! LETS CLICK ON IT!!!!!! --------------------------------------------- AND FGF'S MOST GORGEOUS MAN ALIVE AT THE MOMENT'S AWARD GOES TO......... BRANDON BOYD (yes once again) !!!!! WOOOO!!! ---------------------------------------------- Hottness has no count for age.... thats why I'm merrying a forty year old who goes by the name of JOHNNY DEPP!!!! ----------------------------------------------- Fortune cookies tell all, so when i got the cookie telling me to date my love i became a stalker to Johnny Depp, and when i find him my excuse will be "the cookie made me do it" ------------------------------------------------ I'm not stupid, I'm special ------------------------------------------------ "But why is the rum gone?" "Captian, Catian Jack Sparrow" "pa-pa-pa parsnip, parla, --" "Just don't do anything... stupid" "WELL IT BLOODY IS NOW!" ~Captian Jack Sparrow ------------------------------------------------ Read my FP.net story!!!

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03-31-2002, 09:25 AM	#3
Lightice Elven Warrior Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 192	He didn't mix anything. He made them completely up, trying to get them in way, that they had evolved during centuries. Some forms of Quenya are taken from Finnish (my language. W00t! ) but rest come from Tolkien's head.