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'''Tarkil''' was a [[Quenya]] word, borrowed by speakers of the [[Common Tongue]] to describe the [[Men of the West]], those noble [[Men]] of [[Númenórean]] descent. The word came ultimately from a root form thought to be ''tára-kil'', meaning literally ''high follower'' (the [[Elves]] referred to Men as ''[[followers]]'' because they were the [[Afterborn]] [[Children of Ilúvatar]]).  
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'''''tarkil''''' is a [[Quenya]] word, used in the [[Westron|Common Tongue]] as a name for a [[Men|Man]] of [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] descent.<ref name=App>{{App|F1}}</ref><ref name=RC>{{HM|RC}}, p. 603</ref><ref name=PE17>{{PE|17}}, p. 101</ref>


The [[Orcs]] twisted the word to their own ends, and as ''tark'' they used it as an insulting term for the Gondorians. 'Tarkil' also probably lies behind the meaning of the name of [[Tarcil]], the sixth [[King of Arnor]], one of Aragorn's distant ancestors and an [[Heir of Isildur]] in his own right. In [[The Lord of the Rings]], the word is seen only in a note among the linguistic appendices, though at one time it was destined for more prominence: in the early drafts of the work, Aragorn himself is known as 'the Tarkil', but this is changed to 'the Dúnadan' in the published text.
The [[Orcs]] corrupted the word, and used ''[[tark]]'' as an insulting term for a [[Gondorians|Gondorian]].<ref name=App/><ref name=RC/><ref>{{App|Other}}, fifth paragraph, p. 1131</ref>


[[Category:Quenya words]]
The spelling [[Tarcil]] is used for the name of the sixth [[King of Arnor]].<ref name=Arda>[http://www.encyclopedia-of-arda.com/t/tarkil.html Tarkil] at [http://www.encyclopedia-of-arda.com/ The Encyclopedia of Arda] (accessed 14 May 2011)</ref>
 
==Etymology==
 
In the [[The Etymologies|''Etymologies'']], ''tark'' derives from [[Primitive Quendian]] ''tāra-khil'' ([[Sundocarme|roots]] [[TUR]] and [[KHIL]]).<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, pp. 364, 395</ref><ref group="note">''tarkil'' as related to the root [[KHIL]] also appears in a later manuscript, cf. {{PE|17}}, p. 101.</ref> It has been suggested that ''tarkil'' means "literally 'high follower' ([since] the [[Elves]] referred to Men as ''[[Men|followers]]'' because they were the [[Afterborn]] [[Children of Ilúvatar]])".<ref name=Arda/><ref group="note">Cf. [[TUR]] for the connection to "high" and [[KHIL]] for the connection to "follower".</ref>
 
==Other versions of the legendarium==
In ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', the word appears only in a footnote (added in the [[George Allen and Unwin|Allen & Unwin]] second edition, 1966) in [[Appendix F]]. However, at one time it was destined for more prominence: in the early drafts of the work, [[Aragorn]] himself is known as "the Tarkil", but this was changed to "the Dúnadan" in the published text.<ref name=RC>{{HM|RC}}, p. 603</ref><ref>{{HM|TI}}, p. 8</ref>
 
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[[Category:Quenya nouns]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[Category:Westron words]]

Latest revision as of 09:58, 12 September 2023

tarkil is a Quenya word, used in the Common Tongue as a name for a Man of Númenórean descent.[1][2][3]

The Orcs corrupted the word, and used tark as an insulting term for a Gondorian.[1][2][4]

The spelling Tarcil is used for the name of the sixth King of Arnor.[5]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

In the Etymologies, tark derives from Primitive Quendian tāra-khil (roots TUR and KHIL).[6][note 1] It has been suggested that tarkil means "literally 'high follower' ([since] the Elves referred to Men as followers because they were the Afterborn Children of Ilúvatar)".[5][note 2]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In The Lord of the Rings, the word appears only in a footnote (added in the Allen & Unwin second edition, 1966) in Appendix F. However, at one time it was destined for more prominence: in the early drafts of the work, Aragorn himself is known as "the Tarkil", but this was changed to "the Dúnadan" in the published text.[2][7]

Notes

  1. tarkil as related to the root KHIL also appears in a later manuscript, cf. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 101.
  2. Cf. TUR for the connection to "high" and KHIL for the connection to "follower".

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 603
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 101
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of Other Races", fifth paragraph, p. 1131
  5. 5.0 5.1 Tarkil at The Encyclopedia of Arda (accessed 14 May 2011)
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", pp. 364, 395
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, p. 8