Númenórean Sindarin: Difference between revisions

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'''[[Sindarin]] as spoken in [[Gondor]]''' was a dialect of the Elven language spoken by the [[Dúnedain]] of the south.  
<center>{{quote|Many used some other tongue than the [[Westron|Common Speech]], but it was not long before [[Peregrin Took|he]] learned at least what was meant by "Ernil i Pheriannath"...|Pippin in [[Minas Tirith]]<ref name="MT">{{RK|MT}}</ref>}}</center>
'''Gondor Sindarin'''<ref name="PE17100">{{PE|Eldarin}}, page 100</ref> was a dialect of [[Sindarin|the Elven language]] spoken by the [[Gondorians|Men]] of [[Gondor]].  


Sindarin was spoken by the nobility of Gondor, but many names were used in everyday speech, pronounced in their own way.
==Differences==
[[Westron]] was the first language of Gondor. The nobility usually learned Sindarin, and used it to be polite to other nobles and strangers alike.<ref name="L347">{{L|347}}</ref> Although an ancient form of Sindarin was taught in school (and regarded in high esteem), its daily use corrupted it in comparison to the Sindarin as spoken by the [[Elves]].<ref>{{PM|Atani}}, Note #74</ref> Because it was both an acquired and a learned language, it had some notable differences with "regular" [[Third Age]] Sindarin.
===Phonetical===
Like any acquired language, the second language's sound range is directly influenced by the speaker's original sound range. Westron did not possess ''ch''<ref name="CE49">{{UT|Cirion}}, note 49</ref> or ''y'',<ref name="AppE"/> and pronounced them differently.


Since [[Westron]] did not possess the sound ''ch'' frequent in Sindarin, Gondorians pronounced it as light ''h'', as in the case of ''[[Rohan]](d)'', a word which an Elf would pronounce properly as ''Rochan(d)''.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', "[[Cirion and Eorl]]", note 49</ref>
The ''y'' was pronounced by Sindarin Elves as [[wikipedia:International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] [y], a [[wikipedia:Close front rounded vowel|close front rounded vowel]]. Of all languages, only Sindarin had this sound, so it was problematic for speakers of other tongues. Gondorians generally pronounced it as an ''i'',<ref name="AppE">{{App|Vowels}}</ref> though it was sometimes substituted with an ''e'', as in the Gondorian plural for ''[[onod]]'', ''ened'' (rather than the usual ''enyd'').<ref name="L144">{{L|144}}</ref>


It is notable also that Gondorians did not pronounce the Sindarin vowel ''y'' properly, but understood it as a simple ''i'' instead''<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[The Lord of the Rings]] ''[[The Return of the King]]'', [[Appendix E]]</ref>.
Also frequent in Sindarin was the ''ch'', the [[wikipedia:velar fricative|velar fricative]], which the Gondorians also encountered among [[pre-Númenórean]] placenames such as [[Erech]]<ref name="L297">{{L|297}}</ref> and [[Eilenach]].<ref name="CE51">{{UT|Cirion}}, note 51</ref>


Whatever other variations in pronunciation or grammar, must have existed, but nothing else is known.
The most notable use of the voiceless velar fricative was in the name of Gondor's new northern neighbour, [[Rohan]]. Originally envisioned as ''Rochand'', in Gondor this became ''Rohan''. Though [[Rohirric|the tongue of the Éothéod]] did possess the voiced ''ch'', it adopted the southern use.<ref name="CE49"/> The voiced velar fricative, found in ''Rochand'', was pronounced as a sounded ''h'',<ref name="L144"/> while the voiceless variant, at the end of words, was pronounced as a ''k''. Those very learned would pronounced them correct, but forcibly so.<ref name="CE49"/>
==References==
<small><references/></small>


[[Category:Gondor]]
===Philological===
[[category:languages]]
Another notable difference from regular Sindarin was purely [[wikipedia:Philology|philological]]. Those Gondorians learned in lore wished to speak like [[Noldor]], and the Sindarin they spoke in the [[First Age]] was [[North Sindarin]]. At least one feature from North Sindarin was reintroduced: whereas "true Sindarin of the Elves" changed both the voiced and voiceless combination of a [[wikipedia:sonorant|sonorant consonant]] and a [[wikipedia:Fricative consonant|spirant]] to a long sonorant, the Gondor Sindarin retained the spirant. Thus in the case of the former, ''[[malt]]'' ("gold") and ''[[orn]]'' ("tree") became ''[[Mallorn]]'', in Gondor this remained ''Malthorn''.<ref name="VT4227">{{VT|42a}}, pages 5-31, esp. 27</ref><ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], ''[http://www.elvish.org/Tengwestie/articles/Hostetter/sindll.phtml The Two Phonetic Values of ''ll'' in Elvish Sindarin in ''The Lord of the Rings'']'', published on [http://www.elvish.org/Tengwestie/ Tengwestië], [[7 December|December 7]], [[2003]]</ref>
 
==See also==
 
*[[:Category:Gondor Sindarin words|Category: Gondor Sindarin words]]
 
{{references}}
{{languages}}
[[Category:Gondor|Sindarin]]
[[Category:Sindarin]]

Revision as of 11:18, 10 March 2019

"Many used some other tongue than the Common Speech, but it was not long before he learned at least what was meant by "Ernil i Pheriannath"..."
― Pippin in Minas Tirith[1]

Gondor Sindarin[2] was a dialect of the Elven language spoken by the Men of Gondor.

Differences

Westron was the first language of Gondor. The nobility usually learned Sindarin, and used it to be polite to other nobles and strangers alike.[3] Although an ancient form of Sindarin was taught in school (and regarded in high esteem), its daily use corrupted it in comparison to the Sindarin as spoken by the Elves.[4] Because it was both an acquired and a learned language, it had some notable differences with "regular" Third Age Sindarin.

Phonetical

Like any acquired language, the second language's sound range is directly influenced by the speaker's original sound range. Westron did not possess ch[5] or y,[6] and pronounced them differently.

The y was pronounced by Sindarin Elves as IPA [y], a close front rounded vowel. Of all languages, only Sindarin had this sound, so it was problematic for speakers of other tongues. Gondorians generally pronounced it as an i,[6] though it was sometimes substituted with an e, as in the Gondorian plural for onod, ened (rather than the usual enyd).[7]

Also frequent in Sindarin was the ch, the velar fricative, which the Gondorians also encountered among pre-Númenórean placenames such as Erech[8] and Eilenach.[9]

The most notable use of the voiceless velar fricative was in the name of Gondor's new northern neighbour, Rohan. Originally envisioned as Rochand, in Gondor this became Rohan. Though the tongue of the Éothéod did possess the voiced ch, it adopted the southern use.[5] The voiced velar fricative, found in Rochand, was pronounced as a sounded h,[7] while the voiceless variant, at the end of words, was pronounced as a k. Those very learned would pronounced them correct, but forcibly so.[5]

Philological

Another notable difference from regular Sindarin was purely philological. Those Gondorians learned in lore wished to speak like Noldor, and the Sindarin they spoke in the First Age was North Sindarin. At least one feature from North Sindarin was reintroduced: whereas "true Sindarin of the Elves" changed both the voiced and voiceless combination of a sonorant consonant and a spirant to a long sonorant, the Gondor Sindarin retained the spirant. Thus in the case of the former, malt ("gold") and orn ("tree") became Mallorn, in Gondor this remained Malthorn.[10][11]

See also

References

Languages and scripts in Tolkien's works
Elvish Angerthas (Angerthas Daeron) · Avarin · Cirth (Certhas Daeron) · Common Eldarin · Mátengwië · Moon-letters · Nandorin · Primitive Quendian · Quenya (Exilic · Valinorean · Vanyarin) · Sarati · Silvan Elvish · Sindarin (Doriathrin · Falathrin · Númenórean · Mithrimin · Old) · Telerin (Common) · Tengwar
Mannish Adûnaic · Dalish · Drúadan · Dunlendish · Halethian · Northern Mannish · Pre-Númenórean · Rohanese · Taliska · Westron (Bucklandish · Hobbitish · Stoorish)
Dwarvish Angerthas (Erebor · Moria) · Aulëan · Iglishmêk · Khuzdul
Other Black Speech · Old Entish · Orkish · Valarin · Warg-language
Earlier legendarium Gnomish · Gnomic Letters · Gondolinic Runes · Ilkorin · Keladian · Noldorin (Kornoldorin) · Melkian · Oromëan · Qenya · Valmaric script
Outside the legendarium Animalic · Arktik · Goblin Alphabet · Mágol · Naffarin · New English Alphabet · Nevbosh · Privata Kodo Skauta
Real-world Celtic · English (Old · Middle · AB) · Finnish · Germanic · Gothic · Hebrew · Runic alphabet · Welsh
"A Secret Vice" (book) · "The Lhammas" · "The Tree of Tongues" · Sub-creation