Lenition: Difference between revisions
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'''Lenition''' is a phonological and grammatical aspect of [[Sindarin]] which reflects the phonological mutations of the language in its evolution from [[Old Sindarin]]. | '''Lenition''' is a phonological and grammatical aspect of [[Sindarin]] which reflects the phonological mutations of the language in its evolution from [[Old Sindarin]]. | ||
==Historical background== | ==Historical background== | ||
In the phonological development of Sindarin, lenition refers (primarily) to the mutation of medial consonants, occurring usually between two vowels (VCV). It affected the Old Sindarin sounds '''p, t, k, b, d, g, m''' and '''s'''. | |||
More specifically, the evolution of these sounds can be visualized in these examples: | More specifically, the evolution of these sounds can be visualized in these examples: | ||
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;b > v: OS *''ja'''b'''asse'' > S ''[[Iavas]]'' "autumn"<ref group="note" name="Q">Similar softening occurred in [[Quenya]] also.</ref> | ;b > v: OS *''ja'''b'''asse'' > S ''[[Iavas]]'' "autumn"<ref group="note" name="Q">Similar softening occurred in [[Quenya]] also.</ref> | ||
;d > dh: OS *'' | ;d > dh: OS *''e'''d'''elo'' > S ''[[Edhel]]'' "Elf" | ||
;g > ∅: OS *''khu'''g'''o'' > *''huȝo''<ref group="note">The intermediate stage of ''g'' to extinction was [[yogh]]</ref> > S ''[[hû]]'' "dog"<ref group="note" name="Q"/> | ;g > ∅: OS *''khu'''g'''o'' > *''huȝo''<ref group="note">The intermediate stage of ''g'' to extinction was [[yogh]]</ref> > S ''[[hû]]'' "dog"<ref group="note" name="Q"/> | ||
;m > v: OS *'' | ;m > v: OS *''A'''m'''ān'' > S ''[[Avon]]'' "Aman" | ||
;s > ∅: OS *'' | ;s > ∅: OS *''a'''s'''(a)'' > *''ah(a)'' > S ''[[a|ah]]'' "and" | ||
==In compounds== | ==In compounds== | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/sindarin.htm#mutations Soft mutation] from the [[Ardalambion]] article on Sindarin by [[Helge Fauskanger]] | *[http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/sindarin.htm#mutations Soft mutation] from the [[Ardalambion]] article on Sindarin by [[Helge Fauskanger]] | ||
*[http://www.fa-kuan.muc.de/SINDARIN.RXML Some Questions on Sindarin Lenition] by Alfred W. Tueting | |||
{{references|note}} | {{references|note}} | ||
[[Category:Linguistic terms]] | [[Category:Linguistic terms]] | ||
[[Category:Sindarin]] | [[Category:Sindarin]] |
Latest revision as of 11:08, 5 May 2022
Lenition is a phonological and grammatical aspect of Sindarin which reflects the phonological mutations of the language in its evolution from Old Sindarin.
Historical background[edit | edit source]
In the phonological development of Sindarin, lenition refers (primarily) to the mutation of medial consonants, occurring usually between two vowels (VCV). It affected the Old Sindarin sounds p, t, k, b, d, g, m and s.
More specifically, the evolution of these sounds can be visualized in these examples:
- p > b
- OS *kelepe > S celeb "silver"
- t > d
- OS *atar > S adar "father"
- k > g
- OS beleka > S beleg "great"
- b > v
- OS *jabasse > S Iavas "autumn"[note 1]
- d > dh
- OS *edelo > S Edhel "Elf"
- g > ∅
- OS *khugo > *huȝo[note 2] > S hû "dog"[note 1]
In compounds[edit | edit source]
As a consequence, this process took place also in Old Sindarin compounds, when the initial letter of a word was no longer initial in a compound. Even in later compounds that would be pure Sindarin, the lenition was solidified as a rule, envisioning retroactively the lenition process from a theoretical Old Sindarin compound.
For example the word athrabeth "debate, converse (lit. 'across-word')" can be analyzed both as a derivative of OS word *athrapettha but also as a compound of Sindarin words athra- "across" + peth "word".
The fact that the above sounds mutated when medially was solidified as a rule
- thind + coll > Thingol (< ?OS *Thindakollo)
- cair + tân > Cirdan (< ?OS *Kiriatâno)
- fanui + dol > Fanuidhol (< ?OS *Fanoidolo)
- Edhel + sarn > Edhelharn (< ?OS *Edelosarno)
- har- + Gondor > Harondor (< ?OS *Kharagonddor)
- ar- + gwend > Arwen (< ?OS *Arwende; no g would evolve between ar- and wende)
- or- + hall > orchal (< ?OS *orkhalna; kh would not lenite as h inside a word)
Grammatical and Syntactical significance[edit | edit source]
This article or section is a stub. Please help Tolkien Gateway by expanding it. |
Inspiration[edit | edit source]
Sindarin, being inspired from the Welsh language, also borrowed heavily from its mutation system[1]. The grammatical lenition is generally prominent in the Celtic languages.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Soft mutation from the Ardalambion article on Sindarin by Helge Fauskanger
- Some Questions on Sindarin Lenition by Alfred W. Tueting
Notes
References
- ↑ Jim Allan (ed.) An Introduction to Elvish "Sindarin grammar"