Vanyarin: Difference between revisions

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===Vocabulary===
===Vocabulary===
Quenya borrowed some words from Valarin, like the names of the Valar and the names ''[[mahanaxar]]'' and ''[[ezellohar]]'', The Vanyar had this custom more frequently even in simple words. Some of them are the color words ''[[ulban]]'' (Q. ''[[luin]]''), ''[[ezella]]'' (Q. ''[[laiqua]]''), ''[[nasar]]'' (Q. ''[[carnë]]'') and ''[[tulka]]'' (Q. ''[[malina]]'').
Quenya borrowed some words from Valarin, like the names of the Valar and the names ''[[mahanaxar]]'' and ''[[ezellohar]]'', The Vanyar had this custom more frequently even in simple words. Some of them are the color words ''[[ulban]]'' (Q. ''[[luin]]''), ''[[ezella]]'' (Q. ''[[laiqua]]''), ''[[nasar]]'' (Q. ''[[carnë]]'') and ''[[tulka]]'' (Q. ''[[malina]]'').
Some other known [[Quenya]] words are said to bear some influence from [[Sindarin]]. For example ''[[orco]]'' derives from ''[[urco]]'', but after influence from Sindarin ''[[orch]]''. Such words should be ruled out from the Vanyarin vocabulary.


==Etymology==
==Etymology==

Revision as of 12:39, 29 September 2009

This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.

Vanyarin Quenya, also sometimes called Quendya to distinguish it from the Noldorin Quenya, is the dialect of the language as spoken by the Vanyar in Valimar.

History

The language Quenya evolved in Valinor, however a separation could also be observed there among the Vanyar and the Noldor, especially considering that the Vanyar decided to abandon Eldamar and come closer to the Valar.

The speech of the Vanyar (being closest to the Valar), had many Valarin loanwords in their language.[1] Furthermore, their dialect was more conservative than that of the Noldor who were more innovative.

However the Vanyarin loremasters would give their assent to changes introduced by the Noldor in order to be considered genuine Quenya in their common speech community.[2] One of those changes was the consonant -r in plural words instead of -i, which the Vanyar adopted.[1]

Concerning the parallel evolution of the two languages, we are told that Fëanor viewed the matter of the sound change of th to s by his people as a personal insult to the memory of his mother who was called Therindë, and resisted it[3]. On the other hand, the Vanyar also pronounced the sound f- very softly, threatening to merge it with hw-, and Fëanor jested them that they would pronounce his name as Hwëanáro[2].

Since the Noldor came to Middle-earth and their language became known among the Sindar, the Silvan and afterwards the Dunedain, Vanyarin is considered a less known, elusive language, spoken only in Valinor.

Variations

Not much is known about how distinct the speech of the Vanyar was from that of the Noldor other than some sound changes which we know occurred only to the latter. Therefore all our knowledge of Vanyarin comes only from comparison from the Noldor

Pronounciation

  • b, d: While (Noldorin) Quenya as we know it, does not contain the sounds /d/ and /b/, we know the words Aldudénië and ulban (borrowed form Valarin), which are associated with the Vanyar. Perhaps Vanyarin phonology did allow those sounds.
  • th > s: Shortly before the Rebellion of the Noldor, they had begun merging the sound /th/ with the sound /s/. The Vanyar retained that sound. V. Therindë N. Serindë
  • z > r: Around that time, also the Noldor merged the sound /z/ with /r/. Again, it was something not occurring among the Vanyar. V. ázë N. árë
  • ndy > ny: This is a particular sound change which we know occurred in the word Quenya while the Vanyar still pronounced this word Quendya, without the simplification. Presumably other complex clusters simplified in everyday Quenya speech, were retained in Vanyarin.
  • hw = f: Fëanor noted that initial /f/ was so soft that was often confused with /hw/ among the Vanyar. The Noldor opposed this change, helped by influence from the Telerin language, with which they had contact.
  • w > v: The Exiles also simplified initial /w/ to /v/. The Vanyar most presumably kept that distinction. V. wanwa N. vanwa
  • Ñ > N: After the Exile, the Noldor simplified the initial sound of /Ñ/ but this is not mentioned about Vanyarin. V. Ñoldo N. Noldo

Grammar

Nothing is known about what differences Vanyarin had from Noldorin, other than it retained the final long vowel in accusative (Eldá, ciryá etc), a feature dropped by the Noldor.

Originally, Primitive Elvish formed the plural with the ending -î. The Noldor invented the ending -r for words that end in a vowel (Valai > Valar) something that the Vanyar adopted. In adjectives, the -i was assimilated in Noldorin (vanima > vanimë) but it is not known if the Vanyar followed this.

Vocabulary

Quenya borrowed some words from Valarin, like the names of the Valar and the names mahanaxar and ezellohar, The Vanyar had this custom more frequently even in simple words. Some of them are the color words ulban (Q. luin), ezella (Q. laiqua), nasar (Q. carnë) and tulka (Q. malina).

Some other known Quenya words are said to bear some influence from Sindarin. For example orco derives from urco, but after influence from Sindarin orch. Such words should be ruled out from the Vanyarin vocabulary.

Etymology

The dialect of the Vanyar is not named distinctly by Tolkien. Quendya is the archaic name of the word Quenya which Tolkien said was still used among the Vanyar, therefore they would refer to their language as such. Although it still would encompass the dialects of the Noldor and the Teleri, it is sometimes used by the fans particularly for their dialect.

Other versions of the legendarium

In The Book of Lost Tales, the First Elves were called Lindar and their language was called Qenya. The other Elves spoke Old Noldorin (intead of Quenya) and Solosimpin (instead of Telerin).

References

External links