Development of the Linguistics of Tolkien's Elvish Languages

Tolkien attempted to rewrite "Quenta Silmarillion" after The Lord of the Rings was published. The most definitive work published to date is "Quendi and Eldar", from The War of the Jewels, volume XI of The History of Middle-earth. The essay explores the evolution of early Elven to the various dialectal forms and provides historical information which is nowhere else to be found. Unfortunately, it also contains some material which is contradicted by other sources.

Other Sources of Elvish Linguistics

The first authoritative source on the Elven languages came in the appendices of The Lord of the Rings. There are also Elven phrases throughout the book for which translations are provided. These were, for years, the only real source on the Elven languages.

Then in the 1960s Tolkien published The Road Goes Ever On, a small book which provided music for some of the songs from the book. Tolkien provided notes which shed new light on the languages. Sadly, this book has been out of print for many years.

A Tolkien Compass, a collection of essays about Tolkien's work, contributed a guide to translation of names and words. But there the primary sources ended. J.R.R. Tolkien died before he could provide anything else to his fans.

After his father's death in 1973, Christopher Tolkien took up the task of preparing a Silmarillion for publication. When The Silmarillion was finally published in 1977, Christopher's included index and appendix became the first definitive works on the subject from a hand other than Tolkien's. In 1980 Christopher published Unfinished Tales, and that book provided more new words.

Finally, in 1981 Humphrey Carpenter published The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, from the pages of which some further linguistic gems may be mined.

Helpful Online Resources

Ardalambion

The Elvish Linguistic Fellowship - Publishes the Vinyar Tengwar journal.

Parma Eldalamberon - Carries the work of authors who have access to Tolkien's unpublished linguistic material.

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