Westron and Mordern English - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

03-27-2003, 05:23 PM

As you say, English represents Westron, just as Old English represents the language of the Rohirrim, which in its genuine form is an archaic version of Westron. But Tolkien really developed the genuine Westron. See especially the end of Appendix F to the Lord of the Rings, where it is said, for example, that:
- the "true" name of Meriadoc is Kalimak (Merry being Kali)
- the word "hobbit" is also an "English translation" by Tolkien,the word which was actually used in the Shire being "Kuduk"
- in the Lord of the Rings we see the Rohirrim using an archaic form of the word 'hobbits': 'holbytlan'. This is a translation in Old English of the true Rohirian name: Kûd-dûkan (note the similarity between the Westron/English 'kuduk' / 'hobbit' and the Rohirian/Old English 'kûd-dûkan' / 'holbytlan'

Much more information about genuine Westron was published in Tyalie Tyelelliéva issue 17.

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03-27-2003, 05:23 PM	#4
Eldacan Guest Posts: n/a	As you say, English represents Westron, just as Old English represents the language of the Rohirrim, which in its genuine form is an archaic version of Westron. But Tolkien really developed the genuine Westron. See especially the end of Appendix F to the Lord of the Rings, where it is said, for example, that: - the "true" name of Meriadoc is Kalimak (Merry being Kali) - the word "hobbit" is also an "English translation" by Tolkien,the word which was actually used in the Shire being "Kuduk" - in the Lord of the Rings we see the Rohirrim using an archaic form of the word 'hobbits': 'holbytlan'. This is a translation in Old English of the true Rohirian name: Kûd-dûkan (note the similarity between the Westron/English 'kuduk' / 'hobbit' and the Rohirian/Old English 'kûd-dûkan' / 'holbytlan' Much more information about genuine Westron was published in Tyalie Tyelelliéva issue 17.