Sindarin
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(See also Sindarin words)
Sindarin was the Elvish language most commonly spoken in Middle-earth in the Third Age.
History
Sindarin was the language of the Sindar, those Teleri which had been left behind on the Great Journey of the Elves. It was derived from an earlier language called Common Telerin. When the Noldor came back to Middle-earth, they adopted the Sindarin language, although they believed their native Quenya more beautiful. Before the downfall, most of the Men of Númenor also knew the language, though their common language was Adûnaic. Knowledge of it was kept in the Númenórean realms-in-exile Arnor and Gondor, especially amongst the learned. While Westron (descended from Adûnaic) became the most common language in Middle-earth during the Third Age, Sindarin remained the everyday language of Elves and Rangers.
Sindarin became the language of the Noldor because of the command of King Elu Thingol of Doriath. Upon learning of the Kinslaying at Alqualondë, he declared that Quenya, the language of the Noldor, should be prohibited in his lands. As the Noldor were dwelling in a Sindarin-speaking land, and because of the decree of Thingol though it did not directly affect them, they gradually switched entirely to Sindarin. Their names were also changed to Sindarin, such as Finwë-Ñolofinwë to Fingolfin, and Turukáno to Turgon.
When the Elves of Beleriand first encountered the dwarves, they could not understand a word of the tongue of the Dwarves. Dwarves were swift to learn and indeed were more willing to learn Sindarin than to teach their own to those of alien race.[1]
The written script alphabet of the Elven languages is typically Tengwar, although Cirth (itself originally intended specifically for Sindarin) can also be used.
Inspiration
Tolkien originally imagined that the language which would become Sindarin was spoken by the Noldor. However, Tolkien he decided that it was the language of the Sindar. For this reason it is called "Noldorin" in the older material, such as the Etymologies. When Noldorin became Sindarin, it also adopted some features of the originally unrelated language Ilkorin. Tolkien based the sound and some of the grammar of his Noldorin/Sindarin on Welsh, and Sindarin displays of the consonant mutations that characterise the Celtic (especially Brythonic) languages. The language was also probably influenced to an extent by the Germanic languages, as Tolkien was a scholar of both Old English and Old Norse.
External Links
- Sindarin – The Noble Tongue, by Helge Kåre Fauskanger
- I Lam Arth - The Noble Tongue, a technical study of Sindarin
- Sindarin sound samples at Glǽmscrafu
- Eldamo — a Tolkien language lexicon
- Vinyë Lambengolmor — a Discord server about Tolkien’s languages
