Learning Quenya - Discussion Thread - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Feanor of the Peredhil · 07-22-2005, 08:39 AM

I've thought of an all-important question: what is the nationality of the guy who wrote this tutorial? Because I'm having trouble with pronunciation and when I read the words he gives (examples being "for" and box" to help with [size=2]ó) it occurs to me that I pronounce the "o"s in those words differently. But then it occured to me that to try and explain the differences would make zilch sense to an English English speaker.[/size]

I mean... for me, "box" rhymes with "rocks". But since I'm sure it does also for all of you, it's a bad example. The best way of stating the difference is that "box" sounds like "bah-ks" whereas "for" sounds like "foe-er". And these are two very different sounds.

Ah versus oh. So... is [size=2]ó ah or oh? And then there's those darned follow up sentences. I say the words he gives aloud several times, finally think I've got it right, and the next sentence proceeds to tell me that under no circumstances should I be saying it like that.
[/size]

Kath · 07-22-2005, 09:32 AM

So basically Fea, you're screwed unless you can get an audio version of how these thigs are supposed to be said.

Feanor of the Peredhil · 07-22-2005, 09:35 AM

You got that right. Nevertheless, on I plod.

Kath · 07-22-2005, 09:37 AM

Didn't someone on one of the thread actually have an audio version? It might have been on this but it might have been on the original sign-up thread.

dancing spawn of ungoliant · 07-22-2005, 10:20 AM

Quote:

So basically Fea, you're screwed unless you can get an audio version of how these thigs are supposed to be said.

But we can't let you to be "screwed", now can we? From Ardalambion:

"H is pronounced [x] (German ach-Laut) before t, unless this combination ht is preceded by one of the vowels e or i, in which case h is sounded like German ich-Laut. Otherwise, h may be pronounced like English h; the digraphs hy and hw however represent ich-Laut and unvoiced w (like American English wh), respectively. The combinations hl and hr originally represented unvoiced l, r, but by the Third Age, these sounds had come to be pronounced like normal l and r. "

And some audio samples for the assiduous student.

Examples: thúle (archaic), silme, formen, halla, aha, Mahtan, tehta, hyarmen, hwesta

ps. Lhuna and I are moving on to the exercises of lesson 2. We're catching up!

Feanor of the Peredhil · 07-22-2005, 10:53 AM

Thanks Spawn.

Since our meet-up time got screwed up last week (she had to work and I had to play

) Encai and I are doubling up today on lessons one and two. So we're catching up also.

the guy who be short · 07-22-2005, 02:25 PM

I'm quite wary of external sources 'n' courses, as I think the Ardalambion course is best researched. Feel free to do so yourself, though.

Now, I have found a recording of Tolkien reciting the Namarie poem. You can save it to your computer, it is free, and the best imaginable source of information of pronunciation! Enjoy.

07-22-2005, 08:39 AM	#1
Feanor of the Peredhil La Belle Dame sans Merci Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: perpetual uncertainty Posts: 5,517	I've thought of an all-important question: what is the nationality of the guy who wrote this tutorial? Because I'm having trouble with pronunciation and when I read the words he gives (examples being "for" and box" to help with [size=2]ó) it occurs to me that I pronounce the "o"s in those words differently. But then it occured to me that to try and explain the differences would make zilch sense to an English English speaker.[/size] I mean... for me, "box" rhymes with "rocks". But since I'm sure it does also for all of you, it's a bad example. The best way of stating the difference is that "box" sounds like "bah-ks" whereas "for" sounds like "foe-er". And these are two very different sounds. Ah versus oh. So... is [size=2]ó ah or oh? And then there's those darned follow up sentences. I say the words he gives aloud several times, finally think I've got it right, and the next sentence proceeds to tell me that under no circumstances should I be saying it like that. [/size] __________________ peace

07-22-2005, 09:32 AM	#2
Kath Everlasting Whiteness Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perusing the laminated book of dreams Posts: 4,533	So basically Fea, you're screwed unless you can get an audio version of how these thigs are supposed to be said. __________________ “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

07-22-2005, 09:35 AM	#3
Feanor of the Peredhil La Belle Dame sans Merci Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: perpetual uncertainty Posts: 5,517	You got that right. Nevertheless, on I plod. __________________ peace

07-22-2005, 09:37 AM	#4
Kath Everlasting Whiteness Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perusing the laminated book of dreams Posts: 4,533	Didn't someone on one of the thread actually have an audio version? It might have been on this but it might have been on the original sign-up thread. __________________ “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

07-22-2005, 10:53 AM	#6
Feanor of the Peredhil La Belle Dame sans Merci Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: perpetual uncertainty Posts: 5,517	Thanks Spawn. Since our meet-up time got screwed up last week (she had to work and I had to play ) Encai and I are doubling up today on lessons one and two. So we're catching up also. __________________ peace

07-22-2005, 02:25 PM	#7
the guy who be short Shadowed Prince Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Thulcandra Posts: 2,343	Tolkien Speaketh! I'm quite wary of external sources 'n' courses, as I think the Ardalambion course is best researched. Feel free to do so yourself, though. Now, I have found a recording of Tolkien reciting the Namarie poem. You can save it to your computer, it is free, and the best imaginable source of information of pronunciation! Enjoy.