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Sauron created the Black Speech, as an artificial language, to be the sole language of all the servants of Mordor, replacing the many different varieties of [[Orkish]] and other languages used by his servants. Tolkien describes the language as existing in two forms, the ancient "pure" forms used by Sauron himself, the [[Nazgûl]], and the [[Olog-hai]], and the more "debased" form used by the soldiery of the [[Barad-dûr]] at the end of the [[Third Age]]. The only example given of "pure" Black Speech is the inscription upon the [[One Ring]]:
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The '''Black Speech''' was created by [[Sauron]] during the [[Dark Years]] to be the sole language of all the servants of Mordor, replacing the many different varieties of [[Orkish]] and other languages used by his servants. When Sauron was overthrown at the end of the [[Second Age]] the ancient "pure" form was forgotten by all but the [[Nazgûl]]. When Sauron returned it was once again made the official language of [[Barad-dûr]]. However, a more "debased" form was used by the soldiery of [[Barad-dûr]] at the end of the [[Third Age]].<ref name="Trans">{{App|Translation}}</ref> The only example given of "pure" Black Speech is the inscription upon [[the One Ring]]<ref>{{FR|II2}}</ref>:


:''Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,''
{{blockquote|Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,<br />
:''ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.''
ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.}}


When translated into [[English language|English]], these words form the lines:
When translated into English, these words form the lines:


:''One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,''
{{blockquote|One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,<br />
:''One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.''
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.}}


These are the first two lines from the end of a verse about the [[Rings of Power]].
These are the first two lines from the end of a [[Ring Verse|verse]] about the [[Rings of Power]].


Many Orkish dialects had adopted words from it. The Black Speech was at least in part based on [[Valarin]].
Many Orkish dialects had adopted words from it.<ref name="Trans"/> The Black Speech was at least in part based on [[Valarin]].


It is from this short translation that infamous one-man [[Black Metal]] machine [[Burzum]] got his name, black speech for darkness. Tolkien is a theme in a number of his songs.
==Inspiration==
Commenting on the Ring Inscription, Tolkien explains:
{{blockquote|The Black Speech was not intentionally modeled on any style, but was meant to be self ­consistent, very different from Elvish, yet organized and expressive, as would be expected of a device of Sauron before his complete corruption. It was evidently an agglutinative language, and the verbal system must have included pronominal suffixes expressing the object, as well as those indicating the subject. [...] I have tried to play fair linguistically, and it is meant to have a meaning and not to be a mere casual group of nasty noises, though an accurate translation would even nowadays only be printable in the higher and artistically more advanced forms of literature. According to my taste such things are best left to Orcs, ancient and modern.<ref>{{PE|Eldarin}}, pp. 11-12</ref>}}


In real life, [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] created this language with the intention of making it harsh and ugly, although people who speak the European languages that he emulated may disagree with his methods.  The Black Speech is unfortunately one of the more incomplete languages in Tolkien's novels, because the forces of good refuse to utter it, as it attracts the attention of the [[Eye of Sauron]]. Unlike [[Elvish language|Elvish]], there are no poems or songs written in it (apart from the Ring's inscription), and because Tolkien designed it to be unpleasant in his own eyes (or ears?), he did not enjoy writing in it. The result is a random collection of words that are hard to actually use in day-to-day conversation. We learn from the text in the ring and its translation that the Black Speech is a strongly [[agglutinating language]].
Tolkien linguist [[Helge Fauskanger]] has noted a theory proposed by Russian historian Alexander Nemirovski, that the Black Speech, according to the shape of words, agglutination and grammar, shares many similarities with the ancient Mesopotamian language [[Wikipedia:Hurrian language|Hurrian]].<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Helge Fauskanger]]|articleurl=http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/orkish.htm|articlename=Orkish and the Black Speech - base language for base purposes|dated=|website=Arda|accessed=12 January 2013}}</ref>


For [[The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy]], the [[linguist]] [[David Salo]] used what little is known of the Black Speech to create enough of a language for use in the movies. This is usually referred to by [[Tolkienist]]s as neo-Black Speech.
==Portrayal in adaptations==
 
'''2001-03: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
: Linguist [[David Salo]] used what little is known of the Black Speech to create enough of a language for use in the films.<ref>[http://www.elvish.org/gwaith/movie_archives_4.htm Language in The Lord of the Rings Movie (August 12, 2003)] at [http://www.elvish.org/ Elvish.org] (accessed 26 December 2010)</ref> This is usually referred to by [[Tolkienists]] as neo-Black Speech.
 
'''2012-14: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
: In the 2013 film, ''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]]'', [[Gandalf]] showed a promissory note to [[Thorin]]. The note that promised payment for Thorin's head was written in Black Speech.
 
==See also==
 
*[[:Category:Black Speech words|Category: Black Speech words]]


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/orkish.htm Orkish and the Black Speech - base language for base purposes]
*[http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/orkish.htm Orkish and the Black Speech - ''base language for base purposes''],  at [[Ardalambion]]
*[http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/blackspeech.htm Black Speech analysis by Craig Daniel]
*[http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/blackspeech.htm Black Speech analysis by Craig Daniel]
*[http://www.redhandorcs.org/html/contentid-9.html Orcs of the Red Hand Black Speech]
*[http://glaemscrafu.jrrvf.com/english/blackspeech.html Texts and  sound samples] at [[Glǽmscrafu]]
*[http://darktongue.cjb.net/ Land of Shadows Black Speech]
*[http://at.mansbjorkman.net/teng_general_black_speech.htm Tengwar – Black Speech General Use] by [[Måns Björkman]]
 
{{references}}
[[Category:Languages]]
{{languages}}
[[Category:Black Speech| ]]
[[de:Schwarze Sprache]]
[[fi:Musta kieli]]
[[fr:encyclo/langues/parler noir]]

Revision as of 05:58, 24 February 2021

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.


The Black Speech was created by Sauron during the Dark Years to be the sole language of all the servants of Mordor, replacing the many different varieties of Orkish and other languages used by his servants. When Sauron was overthrown at the end of the Second Age the ancient "pure" form was forgotten by all but the Nazgûl. When Sauron returned it was once again made the official language of Barad-dûr. However, a more "debased" form was used by the soldiery of Barad-dûr at the end of the Third Age.[1] The only example given of "pure" Black Speech is the inscription upon the One Ring[2]:

Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,
ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.

When translated into English, these words form the lines:

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

These are the first two lines from the end of a verse about the Rings of Power.

Many Orkish dialects had adopted words from it.[1] The Black Speech was at least in part based on Valarin.

Inspiration

Commenting on the Ring Inscription, Tolkien explains:

The Black Speech was not intentionally modeled on any style, but was meant to be self ­consistent, very different from Elvish, yet organized and expressive, as would be expected of a device of Sauron before his complete corruption. It was evidently an agglutinative language, and the verbal system must have included pronominal suffixes expressing the object, as well as those indicating the subject. [...] I have tried to play fair linguistically, and it is meant to have a meaning and not to be a mere casual group of nasty noises, though an accurate translation would even nowadays only be printable in the higher and artistically more advanced forms of literature. According to my taste such things are best left to Orcs, ancient and modern.[3]

Tolkien linguist Helge Fauskanger has noted a theory proposed by Russian historian Alexander Nemirovski, that the Black Speech, according to the shape of words, agglutination and grammar, shares many similarities with the ancient Mesopotamian language Hurrian.[4]

Portrayal in adaptations

2001-03: The Lord of the Rings (film series):

Linguist David Salo used what little is known of the Black Speech to create enough of a language for use in the films.[5] This is usually referred to by Tolkienists as neo-Black Speech.

2012-14: The Hobbit (film series):

In the 2013 film, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Gandalf showed a promissory note to Thorin. The note that promised payment for Thorin's head was written in Black Speech.

See also

External links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "On Translation"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings: Eldarin Roots and Stems", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), pp. 11-12
  4. Helge Fauskanger, "Orkish and the Black Speech - base language for base purposes", Ardalambion (accessed 12 January 2013)
  5. Language in The Lord of the Rings Movie (August 12, 2003) at Elvish.org (accessed 26 December 2010)
Languages and scripts in Tolkien's works
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