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<center>{{quote|Many used some other tongue than the [[Westron|Common Speech]], but it was not long before [[Peregrin Took|he]] learned at least what was meant by "Ernil i Pheriannath"...|Pippin in [[Minas Tirith]]<ref name="MT">{{RK|MT}}</ref>}}</center>
{{quote|Many used some other tongue than the [[Westron|Common Speech]], but it was not long before [[Peregrin Took|he]] learned at least what was meant by "Ernil i Pheriannath"...|Pippin in [[Minas Tirith]]<ref name="MT">{{RK|MT}}</ref>}}
'''Númenórean Sindarin'''<ref name=UT>{{UT|Galadriel}}, note 16</ref> was a dialect of [[Sindarin]] spoken by the [[Númenóreans]] and later the [[Dúnedain]] in [[Middle-earth]].  
'''Númenórean Sindarin'''<ref name=UT>{{UT|Galadriel}}, note 16</ref> was a dialect of [[Sindarin]] spoken by the [[Númenóreans]] and later the [[Dúnedain]] in [[Middle-earth]].  


==Internal History==
==History==
When the [[Edain]] settled in [[Númenor]], the common speech of the new realm derived in the most part from the language of the [[People of Hador]], giving rise to a tongue known as [[Adûnaic]]. In the northwestern parts of the island, however, the newly settled [[Edain]] were mainly descended from the [[Bëorians]]. These people had early abandoned their own language for [[Sindarin]] and they preserved this tradition in [[Númenor]]. Thus a dialect of [[Sindarin]], Númenórean Sindarin, was preserved especially in [[Andustar]]. There was relatively little change in this version of [[Sindarin]] due to continued contact between the [[Númenóreans]] and the [[Eldar of Eressëa]].
When the [[Edain]] settled in [[Númenor]], the common speech of the new realm derived in the most part from the language of the [[People of Hador]], giving rise to the [[Adûnaic]] tongue. In the northwestern parts of the island, however, the newly settled Edain were mainly descended from the [[Bëorians]]. These people had early abandoned their own language for [[Sindarin]] and they preserved this tradition in [[Númenor]]. Thus a dialect of Sindarin, Númenórean Sindarin, evolved, especially in [[Andustar]]. There was relatively little change in this version of [[Sindarin]] due to continued contact between the [[Númenóreans]] and the [[Eldar of Eressëa]].


Although relations between the [[King of Númenórë|Númenórean rulers]] and the [[Elves]] declined in the later history of [[Númenor]], Númenórean Sindarin was kept alive, and survived in secret until the [[Downfall of Númenor]] more than four hundred years later.  
Although relations between the [[King of Númenórë|Númenórean rulers]] and the [[Elves]] declined in the later history of [[Númenor]], Sindarin was kept alive, and survived in secret until the [[Downfall of Númenor]] more than four hundred years later.  


Before the [[Downfall of Númenor|Downfall]], the [[Faithful]], who held dominions on the coast of [[Middle-earth]], used this tongue for all the names of places that  they gave  in [[Middle-earth]].<ref name=Atani>{{PM|Atani}}</ref> All men  of [[Númenórean]] descent and  all those who were taught to read and write used Númenórean Sindarin, even as  a daily tongue among themselves.<ref name=Atani/> In some families,  Númenórean Sindarin even became  the  native  tongue. The Sindarin was not  however taught  those of lesser race,  both because  it was held  a  mark  of  Numenorean  descent.<ref name=Atani/>
Before the [[Downfall of Númenor|Downfall]], the [[Faithful]], who held dominions on the coast of [[Middle-earth]], used this tongue for all the names of places that  they gave  in [[Middle-earth]].<ref name=Atani>{{PM|Atani}}</ref> All men  of [[Númenórean]] descent and  all those who were taught to read and write used Sindarin, even as  a daily tongue among themselves. In some families,  Sindarin even became  the  native  tongue. The Sindarin was not  however taught  those of lesser race,  both because  it was held  a  mark  of  Númenórean descent.<ref name=Atani/>


After the [[Downfall of Númenor|Downfall]], Númenórean Sindarin was the regular spoken tongue of the [[Exiles of Númenor]]. When they arrived on the coasts of [[Middle-earth]], few among the colonists on the coasts remembered Númenórean Sindarin since [[Adûnaic]] was used as a ''lingua franca'' among the native Men of Middle-earth and it developed into the [[Westron]] tongue.<ref name=Atani/><ref name=languages>{{App|Men}}</ref>
After the Downfall, Sindarin was the regular spoken tongue of the [[Exiles of Númenor]]. When they arrived on the coasts of [[Middle-earth]], few among the colonists on the coasts remembered Sindarin since the neglected [[Adûnaic]] was used as a ''lingua franca'' among the native Men of Middle-earth and it developed into the [[Westron]] tongue.<ref name=Atani/><ref name=languages>{{App|Men}}</ref>


The [[Dúnedain]] of [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]; the  kings and  high lords, and  indeed  all  those  of  [[Númenorean]] blood  in any  degree, used this tongue.<ref>{{PM|Languages}}</ref> Many of the [[Men of Gondor]] could also speak this tongues, a notable distinction and characteristic among the [[Dúnedain of the South]].<ref name=languages/> Númenórean Sindarin had long ceased to be a "first language" in [[Gondor]], but was learned in youth (by those claiming [[Númenórean]] descent) from loremasters, and used by them as a mark of rank and high-blood.<ref name="Elendil">{{PM|Elendil}}</ref> Although an ancient form of Sindarin was taught in school (and regarded in high esteem), its daily use corrupted it in comparison to the Sindarin as spoken by the [[Elves]].<ref>{{PM|Atani}}, Note #74</ref> It had changed very little since the [[Downfall of Númenor]] and though the Men of [[Gondor]] altered some of the sounds, they could still understand the [[Elves]] and be understood by them.<ref name="Elendil"/> [[Westron]] became used more and more by the Dúnedain of Gondor themselves, so that at the time of the [[War of the Ring]], Númenórean Sindarin was known to only a small part of the peoples of Gondor (and spoken daily by fewer); they dwelt mostly in [[Minas Tirith]] and the adjacent townlands, and in the land of the tributary princes of [[Dol Amroth]].<ref name=languages/> Númenórean Sindarin was used to be polite, especially in [[Minas Tirith]].<ref name="quenya">{{L|347}}</ref>
The [[Dúnedain]] of [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]; the  kings and  high lords, and  indeed  all  those  of  Númenorean  blood  in any  degree, used this tongue.<ref>{{PM|Languages}}</ref> Many of the [[Men of Gondor]] could also speak this tongues, a notable distinction and characteristic among the [[Dúnedain of the South]].<ref name=languages/> Númenórean Sindarin had long ceased to be a "first language" in [[Gondor]], but was learned in youth (by those claiming [[Númenórean]] descent) from loremasters, and used by them as a mark of rank and high-blood.<ref name="Elendil">{{PM|Elendil}}</ref> Although an ancient form of Sindarin was taught in school (and regarded in high esteem), its daily use corrupted it in comparison to the Sindarin as spoken by the [[Elves]].<ref>{{PM|Atani}}, Note #74</ref> It had changed very little since the [[Downfall of Númenor]] and though the Men of Gondor altered some of the sounds, they could still understand the [[Elves]] and be understood by them.<ref name="Elendil"/> [[Westron]] became used more and more by the Dúnedain of Gondor themselves, so that at the time of the [[War of the Ring]], Númenórean Sindarin was known to only a small part of the peoples of Gondor (and spoken daily by fewer); they dwelt mostly in [[Minas Tirith]] and the adjacent townlands, and in the land of the tributary princes of [[Dol Amroth]].<ref name=languages/> Númenórean Sindarin was used to be polite, especially in [[Minas Tirith]].<ref name="quenya">{{L|347}}</ref>
 
==Peculiarities==
==Phonetical==
===Phonetical===
Like any acquired language, the second language's sound range is directly influenced by the speaker's original sound range. Westron did not possess ''ch''<ref name="CE49">{{UT|Cirion}}, note 49</ref> or ''y'',<ref name="AppE"/> and pronounced them differently.=
Like any acquired language, the second language's sound range is directly influenced by the speaker's original sound range. Westron did not possess ''ch''<ref name="CE49">{{UT|Cirion}}, note 49</ref> or ''y'',<ref name="AppE"/> and pronounced them differently.=


Line 22: Line 22:
The most notable use of the voiceless velar fricative was in the name of Gondor's new northern neighbour, [[Rohan]]. Originally envisioned as ''Rochand'', in Gondor this became ''Rohan''. Though [[Rohirric|the tongue of the Éothéod]] did possess the voiced ''ch'', it adopted the southern use.<ref name="CE49"/> The voiced velar fricative, found in ''Rochand'', was pronounced as a sounded ''h'',<ref name="L144"/> while the voiceless variant, at the end of words, was pronounced as a ''k''. Those very learned would pronounce them correctly, but forcibly so.<ref name="CE49"/>
The most notable use of the voiceless velar fricative was in the name of Gondor's new northern neighbour, [[Rohan]]. Originally envisioned as ''Rochand'', in Gondor this became ''Rohan''. Though [[Rohirric|the tongue of the Éothéod]] did possess the voiced ''ch'', it adopted the southern use.<ref name="CE49"/> The voiced velar fricative, found in ''Rochand'', was pronounced as a sounded ''h'',<ref name="L144"/> while the voiceless variant, at the end of words, was pronounced as a ''k''. Those very learned would pronounce them correctly, but forcibly so.<ref name="CE49"/>


==Philological==
===Philological===
Another notable difference from regular Sindarin was purely [[wikipedia:Philology|philological]]. Those Gondorians learned in lore wished to speak like [[Noldor]], and the Sindarin they spoke in the [[First Age]] was [[North Sindarin]]. At least one feature from North Sindarin was reintroduced: whereas "true Sindarin of the Elves" changed both the voiced and voiceless combination of a [[wikipedia:sonorant|sonorant consonant]] and a [[wikipedia:Fricative consonant|spirant]] to a long sonorant, the Gondor Sindarin retained the spirant. Thus in the case of the former, ''[[malt]]'' ("gold") and ''[[orn]]'' ("tree") became ''[[Mallorn]]'', in Gondor this remained ''Malthorn''.<ref name="VT4227">{{VT|42a}}, pages 5-31, esp. 27</ref><ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], ''[http://www.elvish.org/Tengwestie/articles/Hostetter/sindll.phtml The Two Phonetic Values of ''ll'' in Elvish Sindarin in ''The Lord of the Rings'']'', published on [http://www.elvish.org/Tengwestie/ Tengwestië], [[7 December|December 7]], [[2003]]</ref>=
Another notable difference from regular Sindarin was purely [[wikipedia:Philology|philological]]. Those Gondorians learned in lore wished to speak like [[Noldor]], and the Sindarin they spoke in the [[First Age]] was [[North Sindarin]]. At least one feature from North Sindarin was reintroduced: whereas "true Sindarin of the Elves" changed both the voiced and voiceless combination of a [[wikipedia:sonorant|sonorant consonant]] and a [[wikipedia:Fricative consonant|spirant]] to a long sonorant, the Gondor Sindarin retained the spirant. Thus in the case of the former, ''[[malt]]'' ("gold") and ''[[orn]]'' ("tree") became ''[[Mallorn]]'', in Gondor this remained ''Malthorn''.<ref name="VT4227">{{VT|42a}}, pages 5-31, esp. 27</ref><ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], ''[http://www.elvish.org/Tengwestie/articles/Hostetter/sindll.phtml The Two Phonetic Values of ''ll'' in Elvish Sindarin in ''The Lord of the Rings'']'', published on [http://www.elvish.org/Tengwestie/ Tengwestië], [[7 December|December 7]], [[2003]]</ref>=


Revision as of 11:47, 19 June 2020

"Many used some other tongue than the Common Speech, but it was not long before he learned at least what was meant by "Ernil i Pheriannath"..."
― Pippin in Minas Tirith[1]

Númenórean Sindarin[2] was a dialect of Sindarin spoken by the Númenóreans and later the Dúnedain in Middle-earth.

History

When the Edain settled in Númenor, the common speech of the new realm derived in the most part from the language of the People of Hador, giving rise to the Adûnaic tongue. In the northwestern parts of the island, however, the newly settled Edain were mainly descended from the Bëorians. These people had early abandoned their own language for Sindarin and they preserved this tradition in Númenor. Thus a dialect of Sindarin, Númenórean Sindarin, evolved, especially in Andustar. There was relatively little change in this version of Sindarin due to continued contact between the Númenóreans and the Eldar of Eressëa.

Although relations between the Númenórean rulers and the Elves declined in the later history of Númenor, Sindarin was kept alive, and survived in secret until the Downfall of Númenor more than four hundred years later.

Before the Downfall, the Faithful, who held dominions on the coast of Middle-earth, used this tongue for all the names of places that they gave in Middle-earth.[3] All men of Númenórean descent and all those who were taught to read and write used Sindarin, even as a daily tongue among themselves. In some families, Sindarin even became the native tongue. The Sindarin was not however taught those of lesser race, both because it was held a mark of Númenórean descent.[3]

After the Downfall, Sindarin was the regular spoken tongue of the Exiles of Númenor. When they arrived on the coasts of Middle-earth, few among the colonists on the coasts remembered Sindarin since the neglected Adûnaic was used as a lingua franca among the native Men of Middle-earth and it developed into the Westron tongue.[3][4]

The Dúnedain of Arnor and Gondor; the kings and high lords, and indeed all those of Númenorean blood in any degree, used this tongue.[5] Many of the Men of Gondor could also speak this tongues, a notable distinction and characteristic among the Dúnedain of the South.[4] Númenórean Sindarin had long ceased to be a "first language" in Gondor, but was learned in youth (by those claiming Númenórean descent) from loremasters, and used by them as a mark of rank and high-blood.[6] Although an ancient form of Sindarin was taught in school (and regarded in high esteem), its daily use corrupted it in comparison to the Sindarin as spoken by the Elves.[7] It had changed very little since the Downfall of Númenor and though the Men of Gondor altered some of the sounds, they could still understand the Elves and be understood by them.[6] Westron became used more and more by the Dúnedain of Gondor themselves, so that at the time of the War of the Ring, Númenórean Sindarin was known to only a small part of the peoples of Gondor (and spoken daily by fewer); they dwelt mostly in Minas Tirith and the adjacent townlands, and in the land of the tributary princes of Dol Amroth.[4] Númenórean Sindarin was used to be polite, especially in Minas Tirith.[8]

Peculiarities

Phonetical

Like any acquired language, the second language's sound range is directly influenced by the speaker's original sound range. Westron did not possess ch[9] or y,[10] and pronounced them differently.=

The y was pronounced by Sindarin Elves as IPA [y], a close front rounded vowel. Of all languages, only Sindarin had this sound, so it was problematic for speakers of other tongues. Gondorians generally pronounced it as an i,[10] though it was sometimes substituted with an e, as in the Gondorian plural for onod, ened (rather than the usual enyd).[11]

Also frequent in Sindarin was the ch, the velar fricative, which the Gondorians also encountered among pre-Númenórean placenames such as Erech[12] and Eilenach.[13]

The most notable use of the voiceless velar fricative was in the name of Gondor's new northern neighbour, Rohan. Originally envisioned as Rochand, in Gondor this became Rohan. Though the tongue of the Éothéod did possess the voiced ch, it adopted the southern use.[9] The voiced velar fricative, found in Rochand, was pronounced as a sounded h,[11] while the voiceless variant, at the end of words, was pronounced as a k. Those very learned would pronounce them correctly, but forcibly so.[9]

Philological

Another notable difference from regular Sindarin was purely philological. Those Gondorians learned in lore wished to speak like Noldor, and the Sindarin they spoke in the First Age was North Sindarin. At least one feature from North Sindarin was reintroduced: whereas "true Sindarin of the Elves" changed both the voiced and voiceless combination of a sonorant consonant and a spirant to a long sonorant, the Gondor Sindarin retained the spirant. Thus in the case of the former, malt ("gold") and orn ("tree") became Mallorn, in Gondor this remained Malthorn.[14][15]=

See also

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", note 16
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "The Atani and their Languages"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of Men"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "II. The Appendix on Languages"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "The Atani and their Languages", Note #74
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 347, (dated 17 December 1972)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", note 49
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Pronunciation of Words and Names", "Vowels"
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 144, (dated 25 April 1954)
  12. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 297, (dated August 1967)
  13. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", note 51
  14. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 42, July 2001, pages 5-31, esp. 27
  15. ↑ Carl F. Hostetter, The Two Phonetic Values of ll in Elvish Sindarin in The Lord of the Rings, published on Tengwestië, December 7, 2003
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