Quenya/sindarin

[Bonos-Girl]

I was just wondering, Does anyone speak any form of elvish (or dwarvish -i can't remember what it's called).
I am trying to learn quenya at the moment but it is quite hard (although it's easier than french or german which i have to learn at school).

[Fatty]

Mmm well I don't speak it, as no one would understand me, but i have read a lot about the structure of the language, grammer etc. I think it is a lot harder than say French, though I don't particularly want to be fluent in Quenya, just enough to do the site work. :-)

There are a number of downloadable lessons, which are very good.

Good Luck!

[PrinceImrahil]

I downloaded some lessons which are really good. Exept I gave up after about 5 minutes since it was hard, long, and slightly boring (just like spanish class). Go to this site called The Tongues of Arda. Its real name is like Ardalambion or summit like that.

[Falmon]

No one can speak any invented language of Tolkien fluently, as we don't have enough vocabulary.

[Mirkgirl]

I have enough troubles with English and German to try an imaginary language

[Fatty]

Though you don't need the whole vocabulary to speak Tolkien's languages. Most words can be worked out from the rules he supplied, this is why you see online Sindarin/Quenya dictionaries with many more words than Tolkien ever wrote.

In actaul fact it is rather interesting since it means that the languages are still developing. Which is something unusual for a madup language.

[Falmon]

But surely the expansions can't be considered cononical?

[Fatty]

Well I think they can, with language anyway. If they follow the rules gven in the language why not. Any active language constantly expands and changes. I think tolkien woud have been all to aware of this. A single man even given a life time would be hard pushed to create a vocabulary the size of say the English language, much smarter to define rules and then create new words from them....I guess.

But thats just my thoughts, some people will only consider them proper if Tolkien wrote them, but I think that consigns all his anguages to the dustbin and leaves it impossible to construct that many coherant sentences.

[PrinceImrahil]

I think Tolkien would be astounded that people are actually attempting to speak his languages and would be behind expansion 100%

[A! Elbereth]

I would do anything to learn elvish! Does any one know how I could start?

[Fatty]

There is a site with a load of lessons you can download and work through. I think its in our links, maybe not. I will get back to you.or if someone else knows the link?

[Falmon]

Sounds like the Quenya Course (http://www.uib.no/people/hnohf/qcourse.htm) on the Ardalambion (http://www.uib.no/people/hnohf/).

[Bonos-Girl]

the funny thing about the ardalambion is that the word is actually wrong, they thought it was right at first but by the time they realised it was wrong they couldn't be bothred to change it!!!

[Falmon]

What word? "Ardalambion"? There's nothing wrong with that. Ardalambion = Of the Tongues of Arda.

[Bonos-Girl]

weeeell.... (oh god, i'm starting to sound like pil!!) i didn't work it out myself but it says somewhere in the quenya courses (maybe i'm just going mad...)

[Walter]

H.K. Fauskanger's website Ardalambion (http://www.ardalambion.com) seems very well done and a good source for information about Tolkien's languages.

I also own Ruth S. Noel's book "The Languages of Tolkien's Middle Earth", but I'm not quite happy with it. Can anyone recommend a better book about this matter?

[Pil]

Hmmmmmm..... I'm ashamed to say i don't know much about these books.....but AM making up my own language...but people will just laugh at me... :(

[Bonos-Girl]

no they won't..just don't tell kirsty!!!

[HobbitFriend]

Pil, u actually making up your own language? awesome! When you're done, you'll have to teach it to us ;)

[Fatty]

Actually any of you who have studied Sindarin, Quenya etc a bit, and are interested in helping out in something rather large we are up to, give me a shout. It is serious academic stuff though so be warned. Mail me if you are interested.............thanks

Fatty

[Catz]

i think BG is right about the name Ardalambion....i think i read something about that ages ago......
Anyway, as far as language goes, i would say that changes are what make a language live, rather than a relic or a curiosity.....the Elvish tongues were a curiosity when JRR developed them, but they are now , what i at least, would call languages, changing and evolving....i totally agree with Fatty on that....good lord....thats twice in one week..... :elfeek: :elfeek: ;) lol
and yeah.....anyone interested in the languages of the LOTR should visit Ardalambion....its an ecellent resource
:catz:

[Pil]

lol :catz:

Fatty...i know that bonos-girl is VERY HOT on learning quenya...she down loaded lessons or summut...oh its all above me...but i dunno if she could help out. I'll ask her wen she gets back from france. :( mecry :p

HobbitFriend...why yes i AM making up my own language. It would be WELL hard to teach unless i could put some audio thing up (bonos-girl is already confooosed and she's very good at picking up languages! :huh: )

I don't reckon i'll end up finishing it...there are so MANY words! I reckon Tolkien was only able to do it cos he had that understanding of language..well, i I'm not actually sitting down thinking...what's the word for stream...they just come to me during the day...'Always have a notebook!' Go read my story in fanfic and find out wot i'm on about! (I know that was COMPLETELY unsubtle...sorry! :embarras: ) :dragon: :read:

[LúthienTinúviel]

*waves* Hey all. I know a fair bit of Quenya and am working my tush off on Sindarin. I mod the Language section over at There and Back Again (http://www.thereandbackagain.net) . I compiled a huge resource list a while ago. You can view it HERE (http://www.thereandbackagain.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=000039) if you wish.

Good luck with the studying!

~Lúth