Elvish languages are constructed languages used by Elves in a fantasy setting. The philologist and fantasy author J. R. R. Tolkien created the first of these languages, including Quenya and Sindarin.
Tolkien's Elvish languages
The
philologist and
high fantasy author J. R. R. Tolkien created many languages for his Elves, leading him to create the mythology of his
Middle-earth books, complete with multiple divisions of the Elves, to speak the languages he had constructed. The languages have quickly spread in modern-day use. His interest was primarily
philology, and he stated that his stories grew out of his languages.
The languages were the first thing Tolkien created for his mythos, starting with what he originally called "Qenya", the first primitive form of Elvish. This was later called
Quenya (High-elven) and is one of the two most complete of Tolkien's languages (the other being
Sindarin, or Grey-elven). The phonology and grammar of Quenya are influenced by
Finnish language, while Sindarin is influenced by
Welsh language.
[From a letter to W. R. Matthews, dated 13–15 June 1964, published in Parma Eldalamberon (17), p. 135.]
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Primitive Quendian
the tongue of all Elves at Cuiviénen |
Common Eldarin
the tongue of the Elves during the March | Avarin
combined languages of the Avari (at least six), some later merged with Nandorin |
Quenya
the language of the Noldor and the Vanyar | Common Telerin
the early language of all the Lindar |
Quendya
also Vanyarin Quenya, daily tongue of the Vanyar | Exilic Quenya
also Ñoldorin Quenya, colloquial speech of the Noldor | Telerin
the language of the Teleri who reached the Undying Lands; a dialect of Quenya | Sindarin
language of the Sindar | Nandorin
languages of the Nandor, some were influenced by Avarin |
Tolkien conceived a family tree of Elvish languages, all descending from a common ancestor called Primitive Quendian. He worked extensively on how the languages diverged from Primitive Quendian over time, in phonology and grammar, in imitation of the development of real language families.[J. R. R. Tolkien, "Tengwesta Qenderinwa", Parma Eldalamberon 18, p. 72] In addition to Quenya and Sindarin, he sketched several other Elvish languages in far less detail, such as Telerin, Nandorin, and Avarin.
In addition to Tolkien's original lexicon, many fans have contributed words and phrases, attempting to create a language that can be fully used in reality.
Other Elvish languages
Since Tolkien, others have invented Elvish languages in their own fiction. Some have borrowed sounds, forms, and whole words from Tolkien's Elvish languages.
| + Elvish languages |
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| Used by elves and by the riders and other magic users to cast spells. It was the language of the now extinct Grey Folk. One cannot lie in the Ancient Language and one is bound by what one says in it.
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Has its own font. |
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Darnassian, Nazja, and Thalassian |
| Sometimes read in a spiral.
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The Elves, or Mer, use languages derived from ancient Ehlnofex, including Dunmeris, Pyandonean, Orcish (Orsimeris) and Bosmeris. |
| The language of the Dark Elves. Written in Todjydheenil runes, based on Nordic runes. |
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