Books on Tolkien linguistics? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

William Cloud Hicklin · 01-17-2008, 11:50 AM

By history, do you mean internal or external?

Internally, the most detailed is the Lhammas, published in HME V The Lost Road (although superseded by later writing). Externally, the best approach would be to buy the relevant issues of Parma Eldalamberon wherein Tolkien's linguistic papers are being published starting with the Qenya Lexicon of ca. 1915 and working forward.

If you want to 'learn Elvish', the best Quenya course is Helge Fauskanger's at www.ardalambion.com. For Sindarin, there's nothing out there better than David Salo's book "Gateway to Sindarin." Be advised, though, that both represent synthesized 'neo-Eldarin,' making up forms to fill the gaps Tolkien left, and sloughing over the fact that JRRT's languages were constantly being changed and revised throughout his lifetime, so there's no 'one' Quenya or Sindarin. You might want to read Carl Hostetter's "Elvish as She Is Spoke", at www.elvish.org.

Who are the best? In one corner, Carl Hostetter, Christopher Gilson, Arden Smith, Patrick Wynne and Bill Welden. In the other corner, Fauskanger and Salo. Be advised, there is very bad blood between the two groups! The Hostetter group are the designated editors of Tolkien's linguistic manuscripts.

01-17-2008, 11:50 AM	#2
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	By history, do you mean internal or external? Internally, the most detailed is the Lhammas, published in HME V The Lost Road (although superseded by later writing). Externally, the best approach would be to buy the relevant issues of Parma Eldalamberon wherein Tolkien's linguistic papers are being published starting with the Qenya Lexicon of ca. 1915 and working forward. If you want to 'learn Elvish', the best Quenya course is Helge Fauskanger's at www.ardalambion.com. For Sindarin, there's nothing out there better than David Salo's book "Gateway to Sindarin." Be advised, though, that both represent synthesized 'neo-Eldarin,' making up forms to fill the gaps Tolkien left, and sloughing over the fact that JRRT's languages were constantly being changed and revised throughout his lifetime, so there's no 'one' Quenya or Sindarin. You might want to read Carl Hostetter's "Elvish as She Is Spoke", at www.elvish.org. Who are the best? In one corner, Carl Hostetter, Christopher Gilson, Arden Smith, Patrick Wynne and Bill Welden. In the other corner, Fauskanger and Salo. Be advised, there is very bad blood between the two groups! The Hostetter group are the designated editors of Tolkien's linguistic manuscripts. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.