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Old 04-18-2003, 11:13 AM   #12
lindil
Seeker of the Straight Path
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: a hidden fastness in Big Valley nor cal
Posts: 1,680
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Sting

Well, not to be a nit picker Guy, but Sindarin was the far more widespread Elvish language. It was spoken as the main language everywhere in M-E except perhaps in some isoplated Avari communities, and perhaps in Thranduil's realm where the Silvan tounge may have been pre-dominant. I forget, as JRRT went back and forth on whether Silvan had been abandoned in Lorien/Mirkwood or not.

But regardless, Quenya was only spoken by the remaining Noldor which by the time of the LotR where a small group indeed. And not only where they [and the uppercrust of the Dunedain] the only speakers, they did not use it as an everyday language, but as a sort of Elf-latin.

Be all that as it may be, your point re: which language to learn still stands, as Quenya was developed far more fully by JRRT that Sindarin. Thus it gets far more exposure and usage by latter day linguists.

Good luck with the course! I hope to embark on it one day myself.
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