Quenya for yes/no?
 

Does anyone know what the Quenya words are for yes and no? I've looked around quite a bit and can't find anything.

There are none (though ú- is the prefix for not). The vocabulary for Elvish is incomplete.

It seem that JRRT considered using la to mean yes in Quenya. It also seems he considered using la to mean no in Quenya as well. This may give additional insight to the saying: "Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes."
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The Ardalambion website names la and va as being used to deny facts. It also lists the prefix vaquet- for forbidding or refusing things as with ava-.
As for the yes problem… I think the elves just shook their heads a lot.
They could have also said things like ilye anwa, that is true.

The late and great Ravendah (or was it Ravandah... I remember *one* spelling to be wrong and he corrected me on it) said in the late and great Language forum that there *was* no "yes" or "no." The answer should be formed with "I agree" or "That is not right." There wasn't one word answers. Yeah, maybe they did shake their heads. :grin:

-'Vana

PS Oh! and the u- prefix was only used in Sindarin. I know that much. Quenya is completely different.

[ May 07, 2003: Message edited by: DaughterofVana ]

For clarification, the information in my post above was drawn from the article 'Negation in Quenya' by Bill Welden, published in VT 42. It cites an unpublished vocabulary list by JRRT from ca. 1960 with the following quote:
"Q. lá 'yes'"
...and it also cites an unpublished essay from ca. 1970 with the following quote:
"Q. lá 'no'".