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'''Adûnaic''' ("language of the west") was the language of the [[Men]] of [[Númenor]] during the [[Second Age]].
'''Adûnaic''' ("Language of the West") was the '''Númenórean''' language, spoken by the [[Men]] of [[Númenor]] during the [[Second Age]].
==Origins and family==
Adûnaic was derived from the [[House of Hador|Hadorian]] tongue, related to the [[House of Bëor|Bëorian]]—collectively called [[Taliska]]. It was more distantly related to the languages of the [[Middle Men]] of the east, such as the [[Northmen]].<ref name=men>{{App|F1ii}}</ref> During the [[First Age]] these languages were much influenced by [[Khuzdul]],<ref>{{PM|Dwarves}}, p. 317</ref> [[Avarin]], but also by the languages of the [[Eldar]], as the [[Elf-friends]] spoke [[Sindarin]].<ref>{{S|17}}</ref>


Adûnaic derived from the related [[House of Bëor|Bëorian]] and [[House of Hador|Hadorian]] tongues—collectively called [[Taliska]]—of the [[Atani]], and during the Second Age a Bëorian accent still survived in parts of Númenor, most notably in [[Emerië]] and around the harbour of [[Andúnië]]. Most of the House of Bëor had been killed after the [[Dagor Bragollach]] ("Battle of Sudden Flame"), and therefore the Hadorian accent had become most prevalent.
Taliska was not related to the [[Haladin]] tongue at all, therefore when the Númenóreans returned to [[Middle-earth]] in the [[Second Age]], they did not recognise the peoples of [[Enedwaith]] and [[Minhiriath]] as their distant kin, who spoke [[Pre-Númenórean|unrelated]] languages.
==History==
Adûnaic was generally considered to be a language of less prestige than the [[Elvish|Elven tongues]]. Most locations of Númenor, and most of the lords and ladies of the [[Dúnedain]], had also [[Quenya]] or [[Sindarin]] names beside their native ones.<ref name=ak>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref> Even most commoners knew Sindarin to some degree.  


Adûnaic seems not to have been influenced by the language of the Second House of Men, the [[Haladin]] tongue, at all: when the Númenóreans returned to Middle-earth in the Second Age, they did not recognise the peoples of [[Enedwaith]] and [[Minhiriath]] as their distant kin, because these spoke Haladin languages.
Most of the House of Bëor had been killed after the [[Dagor Bragollach]],<ref>{{S|Fingolfin}}</ref> but even during the Second Age a Bëorian accent of Adûnaic still survived in parts of Númenor, most notably in [[Emerië]] and around the harbour of [[Andúnië]].
===Days of Pride===
About 2,000 years into the Second Age, the Númenóreans began to envy the immortality of the [[Firstborn]], which extended to the languages of the Elves; the Kings their [[King's Men|followers]], used the Elven tongues less and less. Though the Kings and Queens had all taken their names in Quenya, after some time their supporters used their Adûnaic names to refer to them.  


The [[Westron]] or [[Common Speech]], widely spoken in [[Middle-earth]] during the [[Third Age]], was largely derived from Adûnaic. The [[Black Númenóreans]] of the [[Haven of Umbar]] and other Númenórean colonies spoke a related tongue during the Third Age called '''Black Adûnaic''', which was closer to the old tongue as it was not enriched with Elvish influences.
Eventually [[Ar-Adûnakhôr]] took his name in Adûnaic and forbade anyone to speak the Elven tongues in his presence. Adûnaic was now the language of the royal court. Its supremacy was most strongly enforced by [[Ar-Gimilzôr]]: he outlawed the use of Elvish anywhere in Númenor, which antagonized the few [[Faithful]] Númenóreans still living in the land.


However, his son Inziladûn took a Quenya name again, [[Tar-Palantir]], repealed the ban on the Elven tongues and gave peace to the Faithful. His daughter [[Tar-Míriel|Míriel]] would probably have continued his reforms, but her cousin [[Ar-Pharazôn|Pharazôn]] seized power and, in addition, gave her an Adûnaic name (Ar-Zimraphel).<ref name=ak/>
===Decline===
With the [[Downfall of Númenor]] came the end of classical Adûnaic. The study and preservation of the language was neglected by the Exiles of Númenor, because they associated it with the rebellious and repressive Númenórean Kings.<ref>{{PM|Dwarves}}, p. 315</ref>
However, the Men of [[Middle-earth]] who descended from the early Númenórean sailors and colonists still spoke it as a [[Wikipedia:creole language|Common Speech]]. This language eventually evolved into the [[Westron]] tongue widely spoken during the [[Third Age]].<ref>{{L|144}}</ref><ref name=men/>
==Structure==
{{stub}}
==Etymology==
Adûnaic is an Anglicized name of the language.
{{references}}
== External Links ==
== External Links ==
*[http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/adunaic.htm Ardalambion on Adûnaic]
*[http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/adunaic.htm Ardalambion Article on Adûnaic]
 
*[http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Grammar.html Lalaith's Guide to Adûnaic Grammar]
[[Category:Languages]]
*[http://www.phy.duke.edu/~trenk/elvish/index.html#course_adunaic Ni-bitha Adûnâyê] - an Adûnâic course
*[http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dc25cq9n_6gvtpq26p Wordlist]
[[Category:Adûnaic| ]]
[[de:Adûnaïsch]]
[[fr:encyclo/langues/adunaique]]
[[fi:Adûnaic]]

Revision as of 16:17, 17 November 2014

Adûnaic ("Language of the West") was the Númenórean language, spoken by the Men of Númenor during the Second Age.

Origins and family

Adûnaic was derived from the Hadorian tongue, related to the Bëorian—collectively called Taliska. It was more distantly related to the languages of the Middle Men of the east, such as the Northmen.[1] During the First Age these languages were much influenced by Khuzdul,[2] Avarin, but also by the languages of the Eldar, as the Elf-friends spoke Sindarin.[3]

Taliska was not related to the Haladin tongue at all, therefore when the Númenóreans returned to Middle-earth in the Second Age, they did not recognise the peoples of Enedwaith and Minhiriath as their distant kin, who spoke unrelated languages.

History

Adûnaic was generally considered to be a language of less prestige than the Elven tongues. Most locations of Númenor, and most of the lords and ladies of the Dúnedain, had also Quenya or Sindarin names beside their native ones.[4] Even most commoners knew Sindarin to some degree.

Most of the House of Bëor had been killed after the Dagor Bragollach,[5] but even during the Second Age a Bëorian accent of Adûnaic still survived in parts of Númenor, most notably in Emerië and around the harbour of Andúnië.

Days of Pride

About 2,000 years into the Second Age, the Númenóreans began to envy the immortality of the Firstborn, which extended to the languages of the Elves; the Kings their followers, used the Elven tongues less and less. Though the Kings and Queens had all taken their names in Quenya, after some time their supporters used their Adûnaic names to refer to them.

Eventually Ar-Adûnakhôr took his name in Adûnaic and forbade anyone to speak the Elven tongues in his presence. Adûnaic was now the language of the royal court. Its supremacy was most strongly enforced by Ar-Gimilzôr: he outlawed the use of Elvish anywhere in Númenor, which antagonized the few Faithful Númenóreans still living in the land.

However, his son Inziladûn took a Quenya name again, Tar-Palantir, repealed the ban on the Elven tongues and gave peace to the Faithful. His daughter Míriel would probably have continued his reforms, but her cousin Pharazôn seized power and, in addition, gave her an Adûnaic name (Ar-Zimraphel).[4]

Decline

With the Downfall of Númenor came the end of classical Adûnaic. The study and preservation of the language was neglected by the Exiles of Númenor, because they associated it with the rebellious and repressive Númenórean Kings.[6]

However, the Men of Middle-earth who descended from the early Númenórean sailors and colonists still spoke it as a Common Speech. This language eventually evolved into the Westron tongue widely spoken during the Third Age.[7][1]

Structure

"...there is much else that may be told." — Glóin
This article or section is a stub. Please help Tolkien Gateway by expanding it.

Etymology

Adûnaic is an Anglicized name of the language.

References

External Links