Language of Dale

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The Language of Dale was the tongue spoken by the Men of Dale. It was from this tongue that came the "outer" names of the Dwarves of Durin's Folk, who used to keep their true, original Khuzdul names secret to other races.[1][2]

The writing system used by the Men of Dale was an old and simple form of the Cirth.[3]

It also told that it was a tradition in some Hobbit families (in particular those with ties to the Fallohide clan) to give first-names resembling the names of the Men of Dale (and other places near the ancient dwelling-places of the Hobbits, like the Mark and the Vale of Anduin).[2]

In Tolkien's stories, the language of Dale was translated into Old Norse, a language related to Old English and modern English as the tongue of Dale was related to Rohirric and Westron.[2][1]

A suggested name for the language of Dale is Dalian.[4] Another "invented" name commonly used by fans is Dalish.[5][6]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 144, (dated 25 April 1954)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "On Translation"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing"
  4. Andreas Moehn, "Etymologies of the Atani Languages" (accessed 26 March 2011)
  5. "Breelendish, a Welsh-style Conlang" (message 33106; 12 March, 2006) at Elfling mailing list (accessed 27 March 2011)
  6. "Scandinavians in Middle-earth?" (message 1075; 15 July 1999) at Elfling mailing list (accessed 27 March 2011)