Drúadan language

From Tolkien Gateway

Drúadan was a Mannish language that was spoken by the Drúedain.[1]

Characteristics[edit | edit source]

The language of the Drúedain was completely alien to Westron speakers.[2] It sounded throaty and strange to Meriadoc Brandybuck.[3]

The word gorgûn was possibly derived from the Elvish words for Orcs.[4]

The voices of the Drúedain have been described as "deep and guttural".[5].

Wordlist[edit | edit source]

Other names[edit | edit source]

J.R.R. Tolkien simply referred to the language as the "tongue of the Druedain" in an essay that was written in the years 1959-60.[4]

Scholars and fans have often used the unattested name Drúedainic to refer to the same tongue.[6][7][8]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

The tongue of the Woses is called Pûkael, said to be "ideally suited to their voices and... alien to that of other Men".[9] Pûkael is nearly impossible for other people to pronounce, and the Woses are not willing to teach it.[10]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), entries "Druadan: gorgûn" and "Druadan: Ghân buri Ghân", p. 99
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of Men", p. 1129
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Ride of the Rohirrim", p. 834
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Appendix C. Elvish names for the Orcs", p. 391
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Drúedain"
  6. Helge Fauskanger, "Various Mannish Tongues - the sadness of Mortal Men?" at Ardalambion (accessed 28 December 2010)
  7. Andreas Moehn, Etymologies of the Atani Languages at Middle-earth Science Pages (accessed 18 January 2024) (archived: Wayback Machine)
  8. Robert Wilson, "Drúedainic (152.39)" dated 2 May 2022, Elfling (accessed 23 September 2022)
  9. S. Coleman Charlton (1993), Middle-earth Role Playing (2nd edition, softcover) (#2001), p. 175
  10. Mark Rabuck (1992), Northwestern Middle-earth Gazetteer (#4002), p. 27
Languages and scripts in Tolkien's works
Elvish Angerthas (Angerthas Daeron) · Avarin · Cirth (Certhas Daeron) · Common Eldarin · Mátengwië · Moon-letters · Nandorin · Primitive Quendian · Quenya (Exilic · Valinorean · Vanyarin) · Sarati · Silvan Elvish · Sindarin (Doriathrin · Falathrin · Númenórean · Mithrimin · Old) · Telerin (Common) · Tengwar
Mannish Adûnaic · Dalish · Drúadan · Dunlendish · Halethian · Northern Mannish · Pre-Númenórean · Rohanese · Taliska · Westron (Bucklandish · Hobbitish · Stoorish)
Dwarvish Angerthas (Erebor · Moria) · Aulëan · Iglishmêk · Khuzdul
Other Black Speech · Old Entish · Orkish · Valarin · Warg-language
Earlier legendarium Gnomish · Gnomic Letters · Gondolinic Runes · Ilkorin · Keladian · Noldorin (Kornoldorin) · Melkian · Oromëan · Qenya · Valmaric script
Outside the legendarium Animalic · Arktik · Goblin Alphabet · Mágol · Naffarin · New English Alphabet · Nevbosh · Privata Kodo Skauta
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"A Secret Vice" (book) · "The Lhammas" · "The Tree of Tongues" · Sub-creation