Where Have All the Translators Gone? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Galin · 12-06-2007, 10:58 PM

A famous example of Grelvish, often enough found on Tolkien boards, is 'vedui' said to mean 'greetings'.

This is lifted out of the books from a greeting however (Glorfindel's greeting), and actually means 'last' (note also Arvedui) -- and the Sindarin word is actually medui with the initial consonant mutated by a preposition (in Glorfindel's example anyway).

Thus the confusion, simplification, distortion, and this is but one word lifted directly out of the book! Of course if one doesn't claim anything is supposed to be based on Tolkien's inventions, then OK, it's for role-players anyway, as noted... but this is just an example as I say.

I recommend starting at Elvish.org

12-06-2007, 10:58 PM	#1
Galin Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,036	A famous example of Grelvish, often enough found on Tolkien boards, is 'vedui' said to mean 'greetings'. This is lifted out of the books from a greeting however (Glorfindel's greeting), and actually means 'last' (note also Arvedui) -- and the Sindarin word is actually medui with the initial consonant mutated by a preposition (in Glorfindel's example anyway). Thus the confusion, simplification, distortion, and this is but one word lifted directly out of the book! Of course if one doesn't claim anything is supposed to be based on Tolkien's inventions, then OK, it's for role-players anyway, as noted... but this is just an example as I say. I recommend starting at Elvish.org