Language Influences - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Elianna · 10-03-2004, 04:22 PM

We all know of the heavy influences of Finnish on Quenya and Welsh on Sindarin, but how do you think the other languages Tolkien knew influenced his Middle-earth languages?

I've found that in Númenor, they added '-nya' to the end of words to make it an affectionate diminuitive (ie 'onya': son plus this ending, and 'tatanya': father plus this ending.) These words are from "Aldarion and Erendis" in The Unfinished Tales. This seems similar to Russian, of which Tolkien had a working knowledge (ie Rodion -> Rodya, Sofya -> Sonya).

I've also noticed that Elvish 'ae', 'au', and 'ei' are pronounced the same as those vowel combonations would be pronounced in Latin.

What other connections have you guys made?

10-03-2004, 04:22 PM	#1
Elianna Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ad finem itineris Posts: 384	Language Influences We all know of the heavy influences of Finnish on Quenya and Welsh on Sindarin, but how do you think the other languages Tolkien knew influenced his Middle-earth languages? I've found that in Númenor, they added '-nya' to the end of words to make it an affectionate diminuitive (ie 'onya': son plus this ending, and 'tatanya': father plus this ending.) These words are from "Aldarion and Erendis" in The Unfinished Tales. This seems similar to Russian, of which Tolkien had a working knowledge (ie Rodion -> Rodya, Sofya -> Sonya). I've also noticed that Elvish 'ae', 'au', and 'ei' are pronounced the same as those vowel combonations would be pronounced in Latin. What other connections have you guys made? __________________ Enyale cuilenya, ú-enyale mandenya.