la

From Tolkien Gateway

la or (whenever stressed) is a negation adverb meaning "no, not".[1]

The word can get pronominal endings as if a negative verb when a verb is not expressed, apparently where the phrase "is not" is followed by a noun or an adjective as a predicate, or where some verb is understood , as in English "I do not".

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Root LA[2]

Forms[edit | edit source]

  • ala, ála "do not!"
  • lanye "I do not, am not" (melin sé apa lanye *"I love him but I do not him [that one]")[4]

See also[edit | edit source]

Other versions[edit | edit source]

In another conceptual phase of Tolkien's, had the opposite meaning "yes".[1]

Tolkien considered that the negation could receive tense markers however he later reconsidered it. The tenses where la was attested are:

  • la (aorist)
  • laia (present)
  • láne (past)
  • alaie (perfect)
  • lauva (future)

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

In Arabic languages, "no" is la'a. Tolkien said himself that this negative form "appears in Semitic".[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bill Welden, "Negation in Quenya", in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 42, July 2001, pp. 32-33
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies — Part One" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter and Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 45, November 2003, p. 25
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, "'Words of Joy': Five Catholic Prayers in Quenya — Part One" (edited by Patrick H. Wynne, Arden R. Smith, and Carl F. Hostetter), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 43, January 2002, p. 22
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals and Related Writings — Part Three" (edited by Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 49, June 2007, p. 15