Twenty-Two Words You Never Thought Tolkien Would Provide

Meta
Title:	Twenty-Two Words You Never Thought Tolkien Would Provide
Creator:	Darth Fingon
Date(s):	May 2009
Medium:	online
Fandom:	The Silmarillion, The Lord of the Rings
Topic:	language
External Links:	@ Silmarillion Writers' Guild
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Twenty-Two Words You Never Thought Tolkien Would Provide is an essay by Darth Fingon in the Tolkien fandom, written in 2009. It won the 'Genres: Non-Fiction' category of the 2009 Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards. It is archived at The Silmarillion Writers' Guild as part of the series 'Linguistic Foolery', which was originally released as a newsletter.

The essay covers words in the Tolkien's invented Elvish languages of Quenya and Gnomish, an early form of Sindarin, based on Parma Eldalamberon 11, 12 & 13. Darth Fingon warns that they are not necessarily compatible with the latest versions of the languages. The words include those for genitalia and sexual & bodily functions, as well as less obviously humorous words, such as those for poverty, government & lawyer.

Excerpt

17) Shave: to shave (G thas- 11-72)

You may well ask why Elves needed a word for 'shave'. How's that for a plotbunny?

16) Temple (G alchar 13-109, Q alkar 12-30, Q korda 12-48)

There are actually quite a few religious ideas showing up in the early wordlists, including 'temple', 'shrine', 'sacred fire', 'idol', 'blessed', 'worshipful', and more. These date back to a time when the word Vala was translated as 'god', indicating that, at one time, Tolkien did envision the Elves as having a pagan-style religion.

Reception & Reviews

The essay was generally well received. In addition to the humour, reviewers particularly praised the insight into Tolkien's early, more earthy conception of the Elves. Amy Fortuna criticised the essay for translating a word as 'hermaphrodite' rather than 'intersex'.

While some of the words on this list didn't surprise me all that much after all - I will never understand why people keep assuming that modern-day perceptions about "dirty" words (such as harmless anatomic terms) were always valid, especially as Tolkien took much of his inspiration from Anglo-Saxon stories that were not exactly known for their prudery, to name just one thing - others were very fascinating indeed. I do wonder where an Elvish word for "hermaphrodite" or "lawyer" would ever have come into use? ["Too bad we'll never know"] indeed. It would be too entertaining to read the texts those words were intended for! Either way I admire the effort and determination that must have gone into the research for this article, and I had a very amusing read even if it sparked a tiny little rant. Darth Fingon's linguistic articles are always good for a surprise or two, and this one was probably the most fascinating of the lot - whether or not I would have expected a few of the twenty-two words in question. Darth Fingon's snarky, tongue-in-cheek commentary is an additional joy, repeatedly making me snicker immaturely. Besides, it doubtlessly proves some of the more uptight (and often rather militant) fans wrong, and that alone is a very good thing! (Lyra)

I have Parma Eldalamberon 11 and 13 but not 12! As a student of Tolkien’s Elvish languages, that makes it very frustrating, especially when other ‘lambengolmor’ refer to something found in the Qenya Lexicon. So, I am grateful for Darth Fingon for providing this short list of some of the more interesting words that appear in QL, besides the Gnomish words, which I can readily look up. This essay is amusing on two levels: first is the list itself, and second, is Darth Fingon’s commentary. I especially enjoyed his commentary on "Bandoth Gwi". A very unfortunate homonym indeed! No doubt Vaire finds it amusing even if the Lord of Mandos does not. Darth Fingon is correct that not all these words are necessarily compatible with later Sindarin and Quenya, although some of them have been adapted into these languages. Some words were completely replaced (drog/norka became mul/mol) or changed their meanings entirely (“mis” was later translated as the adverbial particle “less”). This is what makes studying Tolkien’s evolving concepts of these two languages so interesting and fun, as well as frustrating. The Tolkien of the Qenya and Gnomish Lexicons was a much younger man, newly married and with a growing family, than the image of the staid Oxford don that most of us associate with the Professor. This list offers us a glimpse into the psyche of the creator of hobbits and balrogs that few of us are privileged to see. So thanks, Darth Fingon, for providing us with this glimpse. (Fiondil)

Most fanfic authors like to add the odd Elvish word to their story to make it feel more authentic, but few people go far beyond "adar" or "mae govannen". Not too surprising, because Tolkien never published complete language grammars and dictionaries to go with the wonderful world he created. Thankfully, he left tons of notes, out of which linguists and people who have spent many hours doing research and piecing bits together have produced courses and wordlists in Quenya and Sindarin, and even less common Middle-earth languages. So that with some (not trivial) effort we (average people) can even attempt to recreate what our favourite characters' would say, in their native language! But... there is always a nagging curiosity about certain words that we know exist in all languages. Surely someone who invented a greeting such as "the stars shine at the hour of our meeting" would not have thought of these other words as well, would he? This essay is not about words that you can place in your tale, the author is very clear about that, but it gives a surprising insight into Tolkien's mind by providing proof that, in his amazing attention to detail, or perhaps just for fun, had indeed thought of THOSE words. So as well as a very instructive reading, it is humorous to think of Elves, wondrous, immortal beings, speaking of certain things that we, mere mortals, have in common with them.... Thank you, Darth Fingon! (Russandol)

All of Darth’s language articles are fascinating to me. I was so excited to see he is publishing them regularly on the Silmarillion Writers Guild. This one is particularly interesting to me. It’s hilarious in the sly way in which it smashes the common fanon of the ethereal elf, which does not take into account personal conflict, bodily functions or numerous social questions. Tolkien spent his entire life developing his languages. He worked on both the tale of The Silmarillion and the languages of Arda beginning as a young man and continuing until his death. He understood that the heart of building the characterization of any of the individuals of his created world is necessarily reflected in their languages. The ways in which they operate must be reflected in the grammatical structure and vocabulary of the language(s) they speak. Anyone who has lived in more than one culture or even simply used different languages realizes that concepts that may be important or even indispensable to one may not exist in another. In fact, the vocabulary to even discuss them may be lacking. (Oshun)

When delving into the subtext of Tolkien's legendarium and the nature of its peoples for the purposes of fan fiction, the best clues are to be found in his languages, which were obviously the Oxford philologist's forté. In [Twenty-Two Words You Never Thought Tolkien Would Provide], Darth illustrates a wealth of such clues from Tolkien's Elvish languages and does so in his characteristic analytical manner (much appreciated by this analytical reader) coupled with humor. On a more serious note, when the battlecries of "Elves would *never* do that" are sounded, it would behoove those who assert that Elves are always ethereal beings or imply that the Firtborn are not in fact human to have a good hard look at this corpus of words. (Pandemonium_213)

This might be one of the must fun linguistic essays I have ever read - I have been forced to take courses in linguistics and came away with a great dislike for the dryness of it all, yet ever since I began to read more deeply into Tolkien's work, I've begun to regret that. This essay shows just how much fun etymology can be, and how the sometimes unexpected results like the translation of [balfaug] are not only amusing, but often lead to further questions and insights into the culture the language is connected to. I'm especially grateful for my personal favourite [Hermaphrodite (G gwegwin 11-44)], which only supports my belief in intersexed elves. ;) (Esteliel)

It really isn't often you find an erudite discussion on Tolkien's created languages that makes you laugh out loud. My hat off to Darth for providing it. The entertaining gloss makes for a most amusing read. One can only imagine why some of the words were invented (Well, for personal amusement, at a good guess!) but thankfully JRRT did provide them and now they are here for our enjoyment. And, of course, here there be plot bunnies - as you have never before imagined! You have been warned. (Moreth)

This is the only linguistic essay that's ever made me giggle like an immature twelve-year old, as the author gives us a list of a number of words that many fanfiction authors thought the very proper Oxford don was too stodgy to invent. Perhaps he wasn't as stodgy as we thought, because there are a number of very 'improper' words here. One fact that I perhaps enjoyed more than I should have is the fact that there's both a 'proper' and a 'poetic' name for a certain male body part. Fun and clever and useful all at the same time. (SurgicalSteel)

A delightful look at some unusual pieces of Elvish vocabulary. There is the quasi-proverbial 'sealed envelope', and then there is this, which provides the contents of said envelope (with some exceptions) along with tongue-in-cheek linguistic commentary. The last word does indeed take cake for unusual findings, even among such surprising things as poetical elvish reprotuctive anatomy, lawyers, and temples - who would have thought about hermaphrodites in Middle-earth?! (Elleth)

This is a fun, yet useful, essay, especially for those who like to write Elf romances. A list of words that the average person would think the fuddy-duddy old professor to be too stuffy to provide. Apparently not. Just going down the list of words is funny, but in addition there are the author's humorous commentaries on most of the words. I giggled at most of them, but this one made me LOL: ["And, of course, it would be silly to have a word for poop but not for pee."] *snerk* (Dreamflower)

Darth Fingon serves up a list, with delightful and informative commentary, of the words for some of the less lofty aspects of Elven life created by Tolkien himself - interesting that JRRT did imagine a more visceral and gritty side of Quenya and Elven life, or enough of it that he came up with some Elvish vocabulary. Darth Fingon is a consummate linguist; and his erudition, and sense of humor, are in play here. Well written and researched. (Raksha the Demon)

An absolutely delightful essay showing that many of our fannish receptions of Tolkien's Elves - especially the tendency to idealize them or see them as oddly asexual beings - is pretty ungrounded. Usually, language rules say that if they had a word for it, it was something that was important to them and occurred. Darth proves that very thing for a number of things here that fanon usually shuns from connecting with Tolkien's Elves. Great work! (Crowdaughter)

I've found this list of 22 words very inspiring indeed! As someone who is intersex myself, I'm intrigued by the thought that Tolkien came up with a word for it, and wonder if he intended to use it in any way - the existence of the word itself seems to contradict what he says elsewhere about sex being an innate part of a person!

I do wish, however, that you had defined 'gwegwin' as 'intersex' rather than 'hermaphrodite' as, technically speaking, our species can't be actual hermaphrodites (as in, have two working sets of sexual organs at the same time), and, socially speaking, the term is considered misleading and offensive.

There are a wide variety of intersex conditions, and I would imagine that Elves, just like Men, could have any of them. But I wouldn't like to see stories out there where the concept of 'gwegwin' is used to justify mpreg or claim that Elves have two working sets of genitals or something - it feels too much like using the concept of intersex for titillation.

Obviously this was posted several years ago now, so I'm aware it probably won't be updated, but to anyone who is interested in writing about gwegwin and reading these comments - please do some research into intersex conditions at least before making stuff up for your fanfic. (Amy Fortuna)

• Several more shorter reviews are archived at the MEFAs site