Elvish inquiry... - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

**lindil** · 04-18-2003, 11:13 AM

Well, not to be a nit picker Guy, but Sindarin was the far more widespread Elvish language. It was spoken as the main language everywhere in M-E except perhaps in some isoplated Avari communities, and perhaps in Thranduil's realm where the Silvan tounge may have been pre-dominant. I forget, as JRRT went back and forth on whether Silvan had been abandoned in Lorien/Mirkwood or not.

But regardless, Quenya was only spoken by the remaining Noldor which by the time of the LotR where a small group indeed. And not only where they [and the uppercrust of the Dunedain] the only speakers, they did not use it as an everyday language, but as a sort of Elf-latin.

Be all that as it may be, your point re: which language to learn still stands, as Quenya was developed far more fully by JRRT that Sindarin. Thus it gets far more exposure and usage by latter day linguists.

Good luck with the course! I hope to embark on it one day myself.

04-18-2003, 11:13 AM	#1
lindil Seeker of the Straight Path Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: a hidden fastness in Big Valley nor cal Posts: 1,680	Well, not to be a nit picker Guy, but Sindarin was the far more widespread Elvish language. It was spoken as the main language everywhere in M-E except perhaps in some isoplated Avari communities, and perhaps in Thranduil's realm where the Silvan tounge may have been pre-dominant. I forget, as JRRT went back and forth on whether Silvan had been abandoned in Lorien/Mirkwood or not. But regardless, Quenya was only spoken by the remaining Noldor which by the time of the LotR where a small group indeed. And not only where they [and the uppercrust of the Dunedain] the only speakers, they did not use it as an everyday language, but as a sort of Elf-latin. Be all that as it may be, your point re: which language to learn still stands, as Quenya was developed far more fully by JRRT that Sindarin. Thus it gets far more exposure and usage by latter day linguists. Good luck with the course! I hope to embark on it one day myself. __________________ The dwindling Men of the West would often sit up late into the night exchanging lore & wisdom such as they still possessed that they should not fall back into the mean estate of those who never knew or indeed rebelled against the Light.