Quenya

Constructed language

• Fictional languages Elvish languages ​​of Tolkien's world

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Art ( other constructed languages)

Qya

In the writings of JRR Tolkien's Middle Earth is mentioned a number of fictional languages. The best known are Quenya and Sindarin, spoken by the resident elves. It's not quite be determined whether Tolkien first invented language and subsequently immortalized in his stories, or whether it was his original intention to enrich the stories through the languages.

• 5.1 noun
• 5.2 Article
• 5.3 verbs 5.3.1 conjugacy
• 5.3.2 times
• 5.3.3 Numbers; people

Formation

Quenya was not the first language that Tolkien invented (he had previously about an evolution of the Gothic tried), but it was the first of those languages ​​, which he later integrated into its mythology. In 1912 Tolkien discovered the Finnish language itself. He was so impressed by the experience that gave him the reading of the Finnish national epic Kalevala, that he decided to invent based on the Finnish phonetics, which he felt was especially beautiful own language. " Basically," Tolkien wrote, " one could say that it is composed on a Latin basis with two other (main) ingredients that one, phonästhetisches ' ​​give me pleasure after all. Finnish and Greek "

Language development

The linguistic evolution occurs over a very long period in Tolkien's world of created. First, there is the great- Elvish, the first language spoken by the same language, which is also called primitive Quendisch. As the Elves to the call of the Valar to come to them in the West, their language, however, split into the three dialects of the same peoples ( Vanyarin, Noldorin, Telerin ). From one of these dialects, Quenya of the Noldor Elves evolved there in the West, while in Middle-earth was formed out Sindarin. So Sindarin was spoken already in the First Age of Middle-earth for the most part. In the Third Age Quenya was used almost exclusively for ritual purposes or in writing, as in Europe, the Latin in the Middle Ages or the Sanskrit in India. For example, the list of names of the kings was written in Quenya. Sindarin, however, was the spoken language Elbe, so are many geographical names and names in the Lord of the Rings on Sindarin. However, the names of many of the kings of the elves or people from Númenor originate predominantly from the Quenya. There is also the Waldelbisch, which also evolved from the original Elvish. It was spoken both in Lothlórien, and Mirkwood, in the diaper area King Thranduil.

A set of the Quenya is:

" Elen síla lúmenn ' omentielvo. A star shines on the hour of our meeting. "

However, the language is not similar in sound and grammar in some ways the Finnish, in the vocabulary. Tolkien Quenya from all his invented languages ​​by far the best documented, it is therefore relatively well reconstructed.

Quenya is called by the Elves as the old language, the standard language of the West or Hochelbisch and refers to the status of a language of the learned.

Characteristics

Unlike his successor Sindarin Quenya can be described as an inflectional language, which is inspired by the Finnish. It knows nine to ten ( the Respektiv is usually not used. ) Case and four numbers and thus has a more pronounced as the Indo-European proto-language Deklinationssystem. With five tenses, no distinct passive and only syntactically or indicated by particle modes, the verbal morphology, however, is severely limited compared with the Indo-European.

Phonetics

The Quenya knows 32 letters, 20 consonants and ten vowels.

Consonants

1 In addition, less frequently, " N" is used to "NG".

2 also is only rarely "h " instead of " hy" used.

Vowels

1 At the end of the word is instead " ë " written so that the pronunciation is not confused with the Schwa in German words (eg pine ).

Pronunciation

Grammar

Noun

Quenya knows four numbers, all of which are formed by appending suffixes: the singular, the "normal" plural, the partitive plural, which probably both, as well as some many may mean, and the dual, which stands for two things of something.

Quenya knows nine to ten case:

• Nominative
• Dative
• Accusative
• Partitive genitive ( Refers to the origin or property of an object )
• Possessive genitive ( Describes the owner of an object )
• Locative ( which means the place of action )
• Allative ( Refers to the direction / destination )
• Ablative ( Refers to the place of origin )
• Instrumental case ( Helps Identifies the agent used for the action)
• Respektiv (probably a second locative in Quenya )

The cases are formed by appending suffixes. Here, the nouns are divided into different classes, which mainly divided into the vocalic and consonantal the class. As the name suggests, forming nouns of one group on vowels ( -a,- ë - ië, -i,- o or -u) and the other on the consonants. In addition, there are nouns that have a special form in the nominative singular, which is not - as usually - is equal to the strain. An example is the word " olos ". It means in German dream. If it is now set for example in the nominative plural, change the "s" to an "r " ( rhotacism ): " olori " dreams. Also for all other forms of stem " olor " is needed.

The purest vocalic declensions are the-u and - ië declination. You have exactly the same forms, apart from the stem vowel. All other vocalic declensions deviate more or less from these " Musterdeklinationen " from.

Two other possible locatives are

• Alde, pl. Aldie, in the interior of the tree / trees '
• Aldala pl. aldaila, on the tree / the Bäumem '

A consonant -stem word that shows no deviations from the normal consonantal declension is, for example, " coron " ball

In contrast to the u -declension, whose root u holds through the entire declination, the vowels that are only connecting vowels in the consonantal declension change. Often in the singular and dual "e " is used, and in the plural, "i", if a vowel is necessary. Not entirely clear is the allative singular. It could be that the ending has contracted with the tribe, which would mean that the n -declension would own declination.

It is difficult to divide the consonantal words in typical classes, as is done in the vowel, since it depends not only on the final consonant of the word, but also to other irregularities, such as the already above-mentioned " two- master ". In addition, an extension through assimilation of the final consonant in many cases grown into the trunk, so that there would be your own exceptions for each consonant.

A special dual form possess certain that the vocalic declension nouns that hold before the final vowel a "d" or "t" and likewise those nouns whose stem auslautet to a " d" or "t". Throughout the Dualdeklination continues to this. This has the consequence that vocalic and consonantal words carry the same endings. An example is the word " haryat " shoe. Here the dual Konjuagtion ( the other forms follow the same pattern as " coron " ):

Article

There is only one article, " i", the definite article. It is identical in singular and plural and is not inflected.

Verbs

Conjugacy

• A conjugation (also A- verbs): verbs of the A- conjugation verbs that end in "-a". So called because the stem ends in -a, for example, lanta - fall or ranya - hike.

• Consonantal conjugation ( even regular verbs; simple verbs ): verbs of Konsonatischen conjugation are the verbs that end in a consonant. So called because the stem ends in a consonant, eg quet - say tul - come or tir - see.

Times

Verbs are conjugated by means of suffixes in the five different tenses of Quenya.

• Aorist: (comparable to the English Simple Present, not the Greek aorist ) A-verbs, the endings just hang on ( I fall lantanye, ranyalye her travels ). Ordinary verbs add -i as a joint vocal: I quetinye speak, you tulitye come, we tirimme see.

• Present tense: (comparable to the English Present Progressive ) A- verbs replace their final-a by -ea and add the endings: I lanteanye fall, you ranyeatye wander. Ordinary verbs lengths their vocal and add a joint vowel-a -, the personal endings after: I quétanye say túlamme we come tíralve you see.

• Preterite: A- verbs add - ne and then the personal endings: lantanenye I fell, we wandered ranyanemme. Stem verbs in-r ,-m or -n - paste also ne to: tirnetye you saw. Stem verbs in - l add -le to: tullenye I came. Stem verbs in -p,- t or -c replace this final consonant by - mpe, or nth - nce: her quentelve Voices.

• Perfect: Perfect for all forms of stem-vowel is provided as an augment before the tribe. A-verbs, replacing the final-a by -ie, A- verbs in -ya replace the whole ending: alantienye I 'm like, we araniemme have migrated. Stem verbs add also -ie lengths and their stem vowel: equétietye you 've said utúlienye I came, and itírielve you have seen.

• Future tense: The future tense is formed by adding- uva ( again is at A - verbs the final-a is lost ): lantuvatye you 'll fall, I 'll tell quetuvanye, we tiruvamme will see.

The negation lá is achieved either by the negative verb trees or by the particle.

Numbers; people

If the subject of the sentence is a noun so only the number is distinguished.

Originally, the plural was formed in Elvish by appending a " -i ". For nouns ending in the trunk on a vowel ( a, o, u ) end, changed in Quenya plural ending to " -r ". Only those nouns that end with an " e " or a consonant, therefore, still form the plural form " -i ".

Sometimes male nouns by appending of " -e " or " -i " to feminine forms, such as Tár = King, Tare, Tari = queen. In the form of " -i " can no longer distinguish between Tari = Kings and the TARI = Queen (s) will be different, so that this word should be translated rather than Royal.

In addition to singular and plural, there is a dual form in Quenya. Here (doubling) " -t " or " -at " and natural mating ( same or similar type ) " - u " is a distinction between numerical Cooperative. Often, however, the ending is used, which sounds better in the sentence. Natural couple, for example, hendu, eyes ', quanu, ears ', Talu, feet ', but equally Napat, tolpat, two fingers ' or' thumb ' and MAPAT, two hands '.

Doubling is also yú - achieved with a prefix Yuyo is doubly 'as yucale in the word what, twilight ' means. It is often used in the form atyucale, wherein additionally the prefix is ​​at- prefixed words, the second half-light '. This evening is meant. Originally, this term referred to the light of the Two Trees in Valinor that shone alternately every twelve hours. If the tree was a darker and the other lighter, twice a day, this mixture was formed of gold and silver light. Other prefixes are " yo ", " yó - " or " - o ", for example, in the word yomenna, come together ' or omentië, meeting ', but this may be more than two parties or people. These prefixes are therefore more for each other or together with several, as in this example set.

Is the subject of the sentence is a pronoun is hung a Pronominalendung to the verb. These are explained in the following section.

Pronoun

Where - nye for ' I ',- tye for ' you ',- mme for ' we ' and lye for ' her '. There are several pronouns that were changed frequently by Tolkien, and therefore sometimes have to be reconstructed. They are in general, such as in the Hungarian appended suffixes. It is noteworthy that the Quenya both of inclusive and exclusive "we" is different ( -lmë/-lvë ), ( such as the Dravidian and Austronesian languages), as well as a dual "we" ( = " (only ) you and I " ) knows ( MME ) (such as the Philippine languages).

Adjectives

Adjectives are usually placed before the noun in Quenya. They are used only if put in the plural (also not in every case), so have no KNG - congruence on. How many adjectives in English are also compound words, for example, pure-blood 'or' hochadlig 'is formed.

Examples of an adjective formation:

A aina Faire is accordingly, holy spirit ', where the word fair is derived from a root Phay / SPHAN / FAYA who die includes separate, so the soul of a deceased person or body not bound mind thinks. It give a variety of adjectives that often end in- a.

Although the adjective laica an identical notation has, it comes from two different roots and therefore has several meanings.

• Laicahenya means sharp-sighted ',' perceptive ' or, with piercing eyes ', are hendu, two eyes '.
• Laicalassea or lasselaica is grünbelaubt ', grünblättrig ' or ' green leaf ', ' foliage green '. However, it can also ' be because the word let / laste also view' perspicacious means.
• Laicahlastea, however, can also scharfohrig 'or' spitzohrig ' hot, since the root LAS belongs both to leaf, as well as to the ear.

Therefore, some word meanings often only arise from the context of a sentence or rewrite whole groups of properties. If ( Quenyaschreibweise the name Legolas ) is spoken by the Elves Laicolas, Laicalasse, it may be characterized, for example, varied by this word. They are very perceptive when it comes to his eyes, ears and brain, but its also a friend of the green foliage ( wood-elf ) and possibly a little wet behind the ears, so a relatively young Elf. And all summarized in one word.

A comparative form of the adjective is often " on, on " achieved by adding the suffix " - ima " or prepending the prefix.

This is at the exclamation Frodo " Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima! " - " Behold, Earendil, the star Allerhellster! " visible.

Elvish name

There are several types of Elvish name.

• Ataresse - Father's name, the father of the child selects and which is usually used as a nickname.
• Amilesse, Mamilesse, Emil Esse - mother names that are also called Name of foresight or knowledge because they say something about the later character or properties.
• Epesse, anesse - honorary name, property name, last name or nickname, for example, the Graceful, or Large.
• Yalme, YAME - nicknames, pet names.
• Cilmesse - dial names - which one selects itself.

Add to that a system of naming which is divided as follows:

• Essecarme - the name or names Creation creation, such as a compound word.
• Essecilme - naming names or choice.
• Esse Centa - name recognition or name recognition, which is particularly true of mother names.

So one chooses for his child a name like Ambarto, redhead 'as the sixth son Feanáros ( Sindarin Feanor ) was called with mother name you'll prophesies virtually an eventful future, because this word also means the Fateful ' why he Umbarto, was called uncertain fate '. Therefore, he was usually called by his patronymic Pityafinwe, Smallest Finwe ' or Sindarin Amrod the redhead ' to not tempt fate. Twins usually have names with an identical meaning, so was his brother Ambarussa or Ambartan ( Sindarin Amras ), which also, redhead means'. His father 's name was Telufinwe, Last Finwe '. Of course, both had red hair.