North Germanic languages: Difference between revisions

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The '''North Germanic languages''', '''Norse''' or '''Scandinavian languages''' make up one of the three branches of the [[Germanic]] languages, a sub-family of the Indo-European languages, along with the West Germanic languages and the extinct East Germanic languages like [[Gothic]].  
The '''North Germanic languages''', '''Norse''' or '''Scandinavian languages''' make up one of the three branches of the Germanic languages, a sub-family of the Indo-European languages, along with the West Germanic languages and the extinct East Germanic languages like [[Gothic]].  


In a letter to [[Naomi Mitchison]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] wrote that:  
In a letter to [[Naomi Mitchison]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] wrote that:  
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{{quote|The [[Dalish|language of Dale]] and the [[Long Lake]] would, if it appeared, be represented as more or less Scandinavian in character; but it is only represented by a few names, especially those of the Dwarves that came from that region. These are all Old Norse Dwarf-names.|{{L|144}}}}
{{quote|The [[Dalish|language of Dale]] and the [[Long Lake]] would, if it appeared, be represented as more or less Scandinavian in character; but it is only represented by a few names, especially those of the Dwarves that came from that region. These are all Old Norse Dwarf-names.|{{L|144}}}}


Most of the non-English names in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' are Norse (mostly from a list of Dwarves found in ''Voluspa'' and the ''Gylfaginning'') although anglicized, such as [[Gandalf|Gandalfr]], [[Durin|Durinn]], [[Dwalin|Dvalinn]], [[Thrór|Þrór]], [[Oakenshield|Eikinskjaldi]], [[Arkenstone|Jarknasteinn]], [[Beorn]], [[Bard I|Bard]], [[Smaug]] and [[Golfimbul]].
Most of the non-English names in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' are Norse (mostly from a list of Dwarves found in ''Voluspa'' and the ''Gylfaginning'')<ref name="intro">''[[An Introduction to Elvish]]''</ref> although anglicized, such as [[Gandalf|Gandalfr]], [[Durin|Durinn]], [[Dwalin|Dvalinn]], [[Thrór|Þrór]], [[Oakenshield|Eikinskjaldi]], [[Arkenstone|Jarknasteinn]], [[Beorn]], [[Bard]], [[Smaug]] and [[Golfimbul]].


In the backstory developed for ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Tolkien explained that [[Durin's Folk]], after migrating to [[Erebor]], adopted the language of Dale for their names when interacting with [[Men]] because their secretive nature prevented them from using [[Khuzdul]]<ref>{{HM|AF}}</ref><ref>{{HM|PM}} p.304</ref>. Names in ''LotR'' like [[Gimli]], [[Narvi]] and [[Forn]] are also Norse.
In the backstory developed for ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Tolkien explained that [[Durin's Folk]], after migrating to [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]], adopted the language of Dale for their names when interacting with [[Men]] because their secretive nature prevented them from using [[Khuzdul]]<ref>{{HM|AF}}</ref><ref>{{HM|PM}} p.304</ref>. Names in ''The Lord of the Ring'' like [[Gimli]], [[Narvi]] and [[Tom Bombadil|Forn]] are also Norse.


Tolkien never gives the "original" Dalish forms, however the Norse translations fit conveniently their meaning; for example Dwarf relations - like father-son or brothers- have rhyming or similar names (cf. [[Glóin]]-[[Gróin]]-[[Óin]], [[Thrór]]-[[Frór]]-[[Grór]], [[Fili]]-[[Kili]] etc) possibly reflecting a similar relationship in their original forms.
Tolkien never gives the "original" Dalish forms, however the Norse translations fit conveniently their meaning; for example Dwarf relations - like father-son or brothers- have rhyming or similar names (cf. [[Glóin]]-[[Gróin]]-[[Óin]], [[Thrór]]-[[Frór]]-[[Grór]], [[Fíli]]-[[Kíli]] etc)<ref name="intro"/>  possibly reflecting a similar relationship in their original forms.


Norse used [[Runes]] for a writing system, however Tolkien in ''The Hobbit'' used [[Old English]] runes.
Norse used [[Runes]] for a writing system, however Tolkien in ''The Hobbit'' used [[Old English]] runes.
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*[[Khuzdul]]
*[[Khuzdul]]
*[[Gothic]]
*[[Gothic]]
Other non-germanic languages that appear in [[Tolkiennymy|Tolkien names]] are [[Celtic]] and [[:Category:Greco-Romance names|Greek or Latin]] (and derivatives).
{{references}}
{{references}}
==External links==
==External links==
*{{WP|Old Norse}}
*{{WP|North Germanic languages}}
*[http://www.heimskringla.no/wiki/Gylfaginning Gylfaginning text] with the Dwarf names (see section '''14''')
*[http://www.heimskringla.no/wiki/Gylfaginning Gylfaginning text] with the Dwarf names (section '''16''' and below)
*[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Poetic_Edda/V%C3%B6lusp%C3%A1 Voluspa text] with the Dwarf names (section '''9''' and below)
*[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Poetic_Edda/V%C3%B6lusp%C3%A1 Voluspa text] with the Dwarf names (section '''9''' and below)
[[CATEGORY:Languages (real-world)]]
[[CATEGORY:Languages (real-world)]]
[[de:Altnordische Sprache]]
[[fi:Muinaisnorja]]

Revision as of 20:36, 11 April 2015

The North Germanic languages, Norse or Scandinavian languages make up one of the three branches of the Germanic languages, a sub-family of the Indo-European languages, along with the West Germanic languages and the extinct East Germanic languages like Gothic.

In a letter to Naomi Mitchison, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote that:

"The language of Dale and the Long Lake would, if it appeared, be represented as more or less Scandinavian in character; but it is only represented by a few names, especially those of the Dwarves that came from that region. These are all Old Norse Dwarf-names."
J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 144, (dated 25 April 1954)

Most of the non-English names in The Hobbit are Norse (mostly from a list of Dwarves found in Voluspa and the Gylfaginning)[1] although anglicized, such as Gandalfr, Durinn, Dvalinn, Þrór, Eikinskjaldi, Jarknasteinn, Beorn, Bard, Smaug and Golfimbul.

In the backstory developed for The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien explained that Durin's Folk, after migrating to Erebor, adopted the language of Dale for their names when interacting with Men because their secretive nature prevented them from using Khuzdul[2][3]. Names in The Lord of the Ring like Gimli, Narvi and Forn are also Norse.

Tolkien never gives the "original" Dalish forms, however the Norse translations fit conveniently their meaning; for example Dwarf relations - like father-son or brothers- have rhyming or similar names (cf. Glóin-Gróin-Óin, Thrór-Frór-Grór, Fíli-Kíli etc)[1] possibly reflecting a similar relationship in their original forms.

Norse used Runes for a writing system, however Tolkien in The Hobbit used Old English runes.

See also

Other non-germanic languages that appear in Tolkien names are Celtic and Greek or Latin (and derivatives).

References

External links