Did J.R.R. Tolkien Create All the Languages in Lord of the Rings?

Many readers are surprised to learn that J.R.R. Tolkien did not create all the languages featured in The Lord of the Rings. While the bulk of the narrative is written in modern English, Tolkien's linguistic creativity extends to his creation of fictional languages that enrich the world of Middle-earth. This article explores the languages Tolkien did create and those that already existed, offering insights into his unique approach to language construction.

English in The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings is primarily written in English, a language that predated Tolkien by more than 1500 years. For the most part, the novel is composed of the English language we know today. However, Tolkien did use elements from Old English and Old Norse to represent the languages of Hobbits, the Rohirrim, and the Men of Dale. This incorporation of existing languages adds a rich historical and cultural dimension to the narrative, but the majority of the fictional languages in the book are original creations by Tolkien.

Fictional Languages in The Lord of the Rings

Tolkien's linguistic genius is evident in his creation of fictional languages like Sindarin, Elven Quenya, Black Speech, Entish, and Dwarvish. These languages are not merely invented on the spot but are developed with their own grammatical structures, vocabularies, and even scripts. Sindarin and Quenya, in particular, are detailed and complex, with their own unique characteristics and nuances.

Sindarin and Quenya are based on Tolkien’s extensive knowledge of comparative linguistics and philology. He drew inspiration from various languages, blending elements to create these fictional tongues. For instance, Sindarin has a phonology that is reminiscent of Finnish, while its verbal morphology is inspired by Greek. Noun morphology in Sindarin is a blend of Latin and Finnish, with some choices influenced by Turkish. The languages also have distinct features, such as giving adjectives a separate ending from nouns, a concept borrowed from Esperanto.

For example, the word tengwesta in Quenya means 'the method of communication which uses spoken or written words rather than the direct transmission of meaning via telepathy.' Given that humans are not inherently telepathic, no single word in modern languages directly corresponds to this concept. Tolkien's creation of tengwesta showcases his linguistic creativity and his ability to create new terms to reflect the desires of his narrative.

Creating Tolkien's Fictional Languages

Tolkien's construction of these languages was inspired by a wide range of comparative linguistics and his extensive knowledge of various languages. One can see the influence of Finnish in the vowel harmony and phonological structure of Sindarin. The verbal morphology in Sindarin is inspired by Greek, while the noun morphology ranges between Latin and Finnish, akin to Turkish, with some Greek and Polish influences. Vocabulary was also carefully chosen, with many words borrowed from different languages to create a holistic and cohesive language system.

For example, in Sindarin, the word for “swan” is “álqua”, which is similar to the Icelandic “álft”, a cognate of the Sindarin word “alph”. This shows a direct influence from Icelandic on Sindarin. In Quenya, the word for “mouth” is “npé”, which is derived from Hebrew. The word for “no” in Quenya is “nlá”, a word that does not have a direct equivalent in English.

Other words like “hand or arm” (ranca) in Quenya are derived from Lithuanian, and the word for “I come” (tulen) is similar to Finnish. The word for “thick” (ranca) is taken from Scandinavian languages, and “blood” (serce) is a blend of Greek “sarka” and Polish “serce,” meaning both flesh and heart.

Through careful construction and blending of various linguistic influences, Tolkien was able to create fully developed fictional languages that serve the narrative of The Lord of the Rings while also remaining unique and original.

Conclusion

While the main narrative of The Lord of the Rings is written in modern English, Tolkien's linguistic creativity is evident in his creation of fictional languages. These languages are not just invented on the spot but are painstakingly developed with their own grammatical structures, vocabularies, and even scripts. Each word has a meaning and purpose, reflecting Tolkien's profound understanding of linguistic principles.

Tolkien's approach to language creation is both inspired and original, drawing from a wide array of linguistic influences while maintaining the integrity and uniqueness of each fictional language. His efforts in this area have made The Lord of the Rings a rich and immersive world, filled with-depth and detail.