La

Latest revision as of 20:58, 19 October 2012

la or lá (whenever stressed) is a negation adverb meaning "no, not".^[1]

The word can get pronominal endings as if a negative verb when a verb is not expressed, apparently where the phrase "is not" is followed by a noun or an adjective as a predicate, or where some verb is understood , as in English "I do not".

[edit] Etymology

Root LA^[2]

[edit] Forms

• ala, ála "do not!"
  • alalye^[3]
  • alame "do not to us"
• lanye "I do not, am not" (melin sé apa lanye hé *“I love him but I do not him [that one]”)^[4]

[edit] See also

• ú-
• áva
• al-

[edit] Other versions

In another conceptual phase of Tolkien's, lá had the opposite meaning "yes".^[1]

Tolkien considered that the negation could receive tense markers however he later reconsidered it. The tenses where la was attested are:

• la (aorist)
• laia (present)
• láne (past)
• alaie (perfect)
• lauva (future)

[edit] Inspiration

In Arabic languages, "no" is la'a. Tolkien said himself that this negative form "appears in Semitic".^[1]

[edit] References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Bill Welden, "Negation in Quenya", in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 42, July 2001, pp. 32-33
2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies — Part One" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter and Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 45, November 2003, p. 25
3. ↑ Vinyar Tengwar, Number 43, January 2002
4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals and Related Writings — Part Three" (edited by Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 49, June 2007, p. 15