Quenya/Grammar: Difference between revisions

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==Phonology==
==Phonology==
Quenya was designed to have a Latin-like phonology, with sone of its phonological rules inspired by Finnish.
Quenya was designed to have Latin-like phonology, with some of its phonological rules inspired by Finnish.


===Consonants===
{| rules="all" style="text-align:center; border:1px solid darkgrey; border-collapse:collapse" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"
{| rules="all" style="text-align:center; border:1px solid darkgrey; border-collapse:collapse" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"
| bgcolor="lightgrey" | '''Letter'''
| bgcolor="white" |  
| bgcolor="lightgrey" | '''[[wikipedia:IPA|IPA]]'''
| bgcolor="lightgrey" | '''Labial'''
| bgcolor="lightgrey" | '''Example'''
| bgcolor="lightgrey" | '''Coronal'''
| bgcolor="lightgrey" | '''Notes'''
| bgcolor="lightgrey" | '''Palatal'''
| bgcolor="lightgrey" | '''Velar'''
| bgcolor="lightgrey" | '''Labiovelar'''
|-
|-
| a || {{IPA|a}} || [[Atan|'''A'''t'''a'''n]] || Quenya ''a'' is most like ''a'' in English ''father'' or ''a'' in Polish ''jajo''.  Either pronunciation is suitable.
| Voiceless Stops || {{IPA|p}} || {{IPA|t}} || [[Wikipedia:Voiceless palatal stop|c]] (ty) || {{IPA|k}} (c) || {{IPA|kʷ}} (qu)
|-
|-
| á || {{IPA|ä}} || [[Fëanor|Fëan'''á'''ro]] || Quenya ''á'' is pronounced just noticeably longer in duration than Quenya ''a'', but moved to the centre of the mouth cavity. As in English ''car'' or ''nyár'' in Hungarian.
| Voiced Stops || {{IPA|b}} || {{IPA|d}} || || {{IPA|g}} || {{IPA|ɡʷ}}
|-
|-
| ai || {{IPA|ai̯} || [[Ainur|'''Ai'''nu]] || Quenya ''ai'' is most like ''i'' in English ''light''. Or Italian ''baita''.
| Voiceless Fricatives || {{IPA|f}} || [[Wikipedia:Voiceless dental fricative|θ]] (þ) || [[Wikipedia:Voiceless palatal fricative|ç]] (hy) || [[Wikipedia:Voiceless velar fricative|x]] (χ > h) || [[Wikipedia:Voiceless labialized velar approximant|ʍ]] (hw)
|-
|-
| au || {{IPA|au, aʊ̯}} || [[Aulë|'''Au'''lë]] || Quenya ''au'' is most like ''ou'' in English ''our'' or like ''ow'' in English ''now''.  It is never pronounced like ''au'' in English ''cause''.
| Voiced Fricatives & Glides || {{IPA|v}} || || [[Wikipedia:Palatal approximant|j]] (y) || || {{IPA|w}}
|-
|-
| c, k || {{IPA|k}} || [[Melkor|Mel'''k'''or]] || Always hard ''c'' like in English ''cake''.  Never soft ''c'' like in English ''cell''.
| Nasals || {{IPA|m}} || {{IPA|n}} || [[Wikipedia:Palatal nasal|ɲ]] (ny) || [[Wikipedia:Velar nasal|ŋ]] (ñ) || {{IPA|ŋʷ}} (ñw)
|-
|-
| e, ë || {{IPA|ɛ}} || [[Eä|'''E'''ä']] || Quenya ''e'' is most like ''e'' in English ''bed'' or ''e'' in Spanish ''bene''.  Either pronunciation is suitable, but it ''never'' has a ''y'' off-glide like in English ''grey'', just like in Sindarin.
| Voiceless Liquids || || [[Wikipedia:Voiceless alveolar trill|r̥]], [[Wikipedia:Voiceless dental and alveolar lateral fricatives|ɬ]] (hr, hl) || || ||
|-
|-
| é || {{IPA|eː}} || [[yén|y'''é'''n]] || Quenya ''é'' is pronounced just noticeably longer in duration than Sindarin ''e'', and mouthed with the mouth stretched wider. Like in French ''beaut'''é''''' or German ''J'''ä'''ger''.
| Liquids || || {{IPA|r}}, {{IPA|l}} || {{IPA|rʲ}}, [[Wikipedia:Palatal lateral approximant|ʎ]] (ry, ly) || ||  
|-
|-
| eu || {{IPA|eu, eu̯}} || c'''eu'''lë || Quenya ''eu'' is most like ''eu'' in Finnish ''leuto'' or Czech ''euro''. It has no English equivalent.
| Sibilants & Aspirates || || {{IPA|s}} || || {{IPA|h}} ||
|-
| f || {{IPA|f}} || [[Fëanor|'''F'''ëanáro]] || Quenya ''f'' is pronounced very similar to English ''f'', as in ''fire''.
|-
| h || {{IPA|h}} || [[Helcaraxë|'''H'''elcaraxë]] || Quenya ''h'' is pronounced very similarly to English ''h'', as in ''house''.
|-
| hw || {{IPA|ʍ}} || '''hw'''esta || Quenya ''hw'' is most like the traditional pronunciation of ''wh'' in English ''whale'', as it is still heard in Scotland, Ireland and parts of the southern United States.  It is also similar to ''ju'' in Mexican Spanish ''Juan''.  If you fail to pronounce the sound, try pronouncing ''w'' while whispering, or just pronouncing it as the usual ''w''.
|-
| hr || {{IPA|r̥}} || [[hroa|'''hr'''oa]] || Quenya ''hr'' is pronounced like ''hrafn'' in Icelandic or ''Rhagfyr'' in Welsh.  If you fail to pronounce the sound, try pronouncing ''r'' while whispering, or just pronouncing it as the usual ''r''.
|-
| hl || {{IPA|ɬ}} || [[dragons|'''hlócë''']] || Quenya ''hl'' is pronounced as Welsh ''ll'' in words like ''Llandudno''. If you fail to pronounce the sound, try pronouncing ''l'' while whispering, or just pronouncing it as the usual ''l''.
|-
| hy || {{IPA|ç}} || '''hy'''armen || Quenya ''hy'' is pronounced like ''hu'' in English ''hue'' or ''j'' in Danish ''pjaske''.
|-
| ht || {{IPA|ht}} || [[Mahtan|Ma'''ht'''an]] || Quenya ''ht'' is pronounced as the combination of sounds ''h'' and ''t''.
|-
| i || {{IPA|i}} || [[Tirion|T'''i'''r'''i'''ron]] || Quenya ''i'' is usually pronounced as the ''i'' in ''sick''.
|-
| í || {{IPA|iː}} || [[Írime|'''Í'''rimë]] || Quenya ''í'' is pronounced noticeably longer in duration than Quenya ''i'', and has a different quality.  Quenya ''í'' is most like ''ee'' in English ''keen'' or like ''í'' in Spanish ''víz''.  Either pronunciation is suitable.
|-
| l || {{IPA|l}} || [[Laurelin|'''L'''aure'''l'''in]] || Quenya ''l'' is pronounced very similar to English ''l'', as in ''laugh''.
|-
| ll || {{IPA|lː}} || [[Thingol|Singo'''ll'''o]] || Quenya ''ll'' is pronounced for an even longer duration than Quenya ''l'', but otherwise is pronounced the same.
|-
| ld || {{IPA|ld}} || [[Orome|A'''ld'''aron]] ||  
|-
| ln || {{IPA|ln}} ||   ||  
|-
| lp || {{IPA|lp}} || [[Telperion|Te'''lp'''erion]] ||  
|-
| ls || {{IPA|ls}} || 'ma''ls'''a ||  
|-
| lt || {{IPA|lt}} || [[Meneltarma|Mene'''lt'''arma]] ||  
|-
| lv || {{IPA|lv}} || [[Kelvar|ke'''lv'''a]] ||  
|-
| lw || {{IPA|lw}} || [[Elwe|E'''lw'''ë]] ||  
|-
| m || {{IPA|m}} || [[Manwe|'''M'''anwe]] ||  
|-
| mb || {{IPA|mb}} || [[Ambar|A'''mb'''ar]] ||  
|-
| mn || {{IPA|mn}} || [[Utumno|Utu'''mn'''o]] ||  
|-
| mp || {{IPA|mp}} || a'''mp'''a ||  
|-
| ms || {{IPA|ms}} ||   ||  
|-
| mt || {{IPA|mt}} || ca'''mt'''a ||  
|-
| mm || {{IPA|mː}} || [[Elemmírë|Ele'''mm'''írë]] || Quenya ''mm'' is pronounced for an even longer duration than Quenya ''m'', but otherwise is pronounced the same.
|-
| n || {{IPA|n}} || [[Námo|'''N'''ámo]] ||  
|-
| nd || {{IPA|nd}} || [[Ainulindalë|Ainuli'''nd'''alë]] ||  
|-
| ñ || {{IPA|ŋ}} || [[Noldor|'''Ñ’’’oldie]] || Pronounced as ''ng'' in English, as seen in ''king''
|-
| ng || {{IPA|ŋɡ}} || i'''ng'''olmo || Represents {{IPA|[ŋɡ]}} between two vowels (like ''ng'' in English ''finger''), and {{IPA|[ŋ]}} everywhere else (like ''ng'' in English ''singer'').  It is never pronounced like ''ng'' in English ''ginger''.
|-
| nk, nc || {{IPA|nk}} || [[Gandalf|I'''nc'''ánus]] ||  
|-
| nn || {{IPA|nː}} || [[Annatar|A'''nn'''atar]] || Quenya ''nn'' is pronounced for an even longer duration than Quenya ''n'', but otherwise is pronounced the same.
|-
| np || {{IPA|np}} ||   ||  
|-
| ns || {{IPA|ns}} || i'''ns'''a ||  
|-
| nt || {{IPA|nt}} || [[Atalantë|Atala'''nt’''ë]] ||  
|-
| nv || {{IPA|nv}} || [[Aragorn|E'''nv'''inyatar ||  
|-
| nw || {{IPA|nw}} || [[Finwë|Fi'''nw'''ë]] ||  
|-
| ny || {{IPA|ɲ}} || [[Quenya|Que'''ny'''a]] || As in Spanish ''ñ'', like in '’español''.
|-
| o, ö || {{IPA|ɔ}} || [[Gorgoroth|G'''o'''rg'''o'''r'''o'''th]] || Sindarin ''o'' is most like ''o'' in English ''hot'', but with rounder lips.  It can also be pronounced like the ''o'' in the Italian word ''notte''.  Either pronunciation is suitable, but it ''never'' has a ''w'' off-glide like ''ow'' in English ''show''.
|-
| ó || {{IPA|ɔː}} || [[Dor-lómin|Dor-l'''ó'''min]] || Sindarin ''ó'' is pronounced just noticeably longer in duration than Sindarin ''o'', but otherwise is pronounced the same.
|-
| ô || {{IPA|ɔːː}} ||   || Sindarin ''ô'' is pronounced for an even longer duration than Sindarin ''ó'', usually in single-syllable words.  But it is permissible to pronounce it the same as ''ó''.
|-
| oe || {{IPA|o͡e}} ||   || Sindarin ''oe'' is somewhat like ''oi'' in English ''join''.  Though this is not ''completely'' accurate because ''oe'' ends with an off-glide that sounds like Sindarin ''e'', it is a suitable pronunciation because there is no Sindarin ''oi'' to contrast with.  Alternately, ''oe'' is like ''oe'' in Hawaiian ''Aloha ʻOe''.
|-
| œ || {{IPA|ø}} || [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad|Nírnaeth Arn'''œ'''diad]] || An Archaic Sindarin sound, at one time pronounced like French ''eu'', ''oe'' or ''oeu'' or like German/Swedish ''ö'' or like Danish/Norwegian ''ø''.  In the [[Third Age]] it is pronounced just like Sindarin ''e'', so it is suitable to pronounce it like ''e''.  Mostly found in [[First Age]] Sindarin words, and most famously in ''[[Nirnaeth Arnoediad|Nírnaeth Arnœdiad]]''.  [[Lord of the Rings]]-style Third Age Sindarin spellings do not use ''œ'' at all, only ''e'', such as ''[[Ered Luin]]'' instead of ''*Œrœd Luin''.
|-
| p || {{IPA|p}} || [[Pengolodh|'''P'''engolodh]] ||  
|-
| ph || {{IPA|f, fː}} || [[Ephel Dúath|E'''ph'''el Dúath]] || Represents {{IPA|[f]}} when final, {{IPA|[fː]}} everywhere else.
|-
| r || {{IPA|r}} || [[Boromir|Bo'''r'''omi'''r''']] || Sindarin ''r'' is always trilled or at least flapped wherever possible, like in Scottish English.  It is not pronounced like General English ''r'', but this is still often a suitable pronunciation because Sindarin has no other rhotic consonant besides ''rh''.
|-
| rh || {{IPA|r̥}} || [[Rhovanion|'''Rh'''ovanion]] || There is no parallel for Sindarin ''rh'' in English.  But it is like Welsh ''rh'', or [[Quenya]] ''hr''.  If nothing else works, try pronouncing ''r'' while whispering.
|-
| rr || {{IPA|rː}} ||   || Sindarin ''rr'' is pronounced for an even longer duration than Sindarin ''r'', but otherwise is pronounced the same.  For this reason, ''rr'' is always trilled, because a flap ''r'' cannot be pronounced long.
|-
| s || {{IPA|s}} || [[Sirion|'''S'''irion]] || Sindarin ''s'' is always pronounced like ''s'' in English ''safe'', and never like ''s'' in English ''ease''.  There is no ''z'' in Sindarin.
|-
| ss || {{IPA|sː}} || [[Ossiriand|O'''ss'''iriand]] || Sindarin ''ss'' is pronounced for an even longer duration than Sindarin ''s'', but otherwise is pronounced the same.
|-
| t || {{IPA|t}} || [[Túrin|'''T'''úrin]] ||  
|-
| th || {{IPA|θ}} || [[Ecthelion|Ec'''th'''elion]] || Sindarin ''th'' is always pronounced ''th'' in English ''think'', and never like ''th'' in English ''these''—the latter sound is used for the separate Sindarin consonant ''dh''.
|-
| u || {{IPA|ʊ}} || [[Curufin|C'''u'''r'''u'''fin]] || Sindarin ''u'' is most like ''u'' in English ''put'' or the vowel sound in the word ''good''. It is never pronounced like ''u'' in English ''gut'', or like ''u'' in English ''rude''.
|-
| ú || {{IPA|uː}} || [[Lúthien|L'''ú'''thien]] || Sindarin ''ú'' is pronounced just noticeably longer in duration than Sindarin ''u'', and has a different quality. It is pronounced like ''u'' in the English word ''dude'' or like ''u'' in Spanish ''mundo''.
|-
| û || {{IPA|uːː}} || [[Barad-dûr|Barad-d'''û'''r]] || Sindarin ''û'' is pronounced for an even longer duration than Sindarin ''ú'', usually in single-syllable words.  But it is permissible to pronounce it the same as ''ú''.
|-
| ui || {{IPA|u͡ɪ}} || [[Orodruin|Orodr'''ui'''n]] || Sindarin ''ui'' is most like ''oo y'' in English ''too young'', pronounced all in one syllable.  ''ui'' is always counted as one syllable, and never split into two syllables ''u i''.
|-
| v || {{IPA|v}} || [[Tinúviel|Tinú'''v'''iel]] ||  
|-
| w || {{IPA|w}} || [[Gwaihir|G'''w'''aihir]] ||  
|-
| y || {{IPA|y}} || [[Emyn Muil|Em'''y'''n Muil]] || Pronounced like the French ''u'' or the German ''ü''.  It is also permissible to pronounce it like Sindarin ''i'', if at least because Sindarin ''i'' and ''y'' become pronounced the same during the [[Third Age]].
|-
| ý || {{IPA|yː}} ||   || Sindarin ''ý'' is pronounced just noticeably longer in duration than Sindarin ''y'', but otherwise is pronounced the same.
|-
| ŷ || {{IPA|yːː}} ||   || Sindarin ''ŷ'' is pronounced for an even longer duration than Sindarin ''ý'', usually in single-syllable words.  But it is permissible to pronounce it the same as ''ý''.
|}
|}
* '''ñ''', '''ñw''', '''hr''' and '''hl''' can only occur in the beginning of a word.
*'''p''', '''t''', '''ty''', '''c''', '''qu''', '''f''', '''þ''', '''hy''', '''v''', '''y''', '''w''', '''m''', '''n''', '''ny''', '''r''', '''l''', '''ry''', '''ly''', '''s''', '''h''', '''hw''', '''ps''', '''ts''' and '''x''' (cs) may occur at the beginning or in the middle of a word.
*'''b''', '''d''', '''g''' and '''gw''' can only occur in clusters.
*'''t''', '''n''', '''nt''', '''r''', '''l''' and '''s''' may occur at the end of a word.
*'''ñ''' '''þ''' are archaic and often replaced by '''n''' '''s'''.<ref> {{PE|19}} (''þ'' > ''s'') </ref>
===Vowels===


==Nouns==
==Nouns==
Nouns are declined for ten cases: the nominative, accusative, genitive, possessive, dative, instrumental, locative, allative, ablative, and a tenth case sometimes called the respective.


The nominative and accusative cases are almost identically analogous in Quenya.  The nominative is used to mark the subject of a verb. In Middle Earth, the nominative took over the accusative case.  The accusative marks the direct object of a verb. It is not used in spoken Quenya, but appears in writing. But even in writing, the only difference between the nominative and accusative is the final vowel is lengthened, so in words ending in a consonant, the accusative is not distinguishable from the nominative.
===Noun Cases===
Nouns are declined for ten cases: the nominative, accusative, genitive, possessive, dative, instrumental, locative, allative, ablative, and a tenth case sometimes called the respective or the s-case.
 
The nominative and accusative cases are almost identically analogous in Quenya.  The nominative is used to mark the subject of a verb. In Middle Earth, the nominative took over the accusative case.  The accusative marks the direct object of a verb. It is not used in spoken Quenya (i.e. Tarquesta), but appears in writing. But even in writing (i.e. Parmaquesta), the only difference between the nominative and accusative is that the final vowel is lengthened, so in words ending in a consonant, the accusative is not distinguishable from the nominative.<ref> {{VT|6}} </ref>
 
In Quenya there are two cases that are used to express possession: the genitive and the possessive.  To be more specific, the genitive is mainly used to mark origin (e.g. the best smiths ''of'' ''Tirion''), while the possessive is used to denote ownership (e.g. ''Fëanor’s'' Silmarils). The two cases are very similar and can be interchangeable in most cases.<ref> {{WJ|P4|C}} </ref>
 
The dative, ablative, allative, instrumental, and locative cases are the prepositional cases of Quenya. 
* The dative marks the indirect object of the verb and is used to indicate beneficiary or purpose, which can often be translated as "to" and "for".
* The ablative expresses motion away from an object and can be translated as "from" or "out of". 
* The allative case is used when indicating motion towards something, and is translated as "into", "onto", "against", "to", or "upon".
* The instrumental case denotes the means of the cause of why something happened, often translated as "by means of", "with" or "because".
* The locative case expresses the position of an object, translated as "in", ''at'' or "on".
 
There is a tenth case called the respective case or the s-case.  The respective case is a mysterious case because it is not clear what it is used for.  Many scholars in Quenya guess that this case is used as a more abstract locative case.  Others think the case can be translated with the words "about" or "regarding".  Fortunately, the respective case is very rarely used, so it does not pose such a large problem.


In Quenya there are two cases that are used to express possession: the genitive and the possessive.  To be more specific, the genitive is mainly used to mark origin (e. g. the best smiths ''of'' ''Tirion''), while the possessive is used to denote ownership.  The two cases are very similar and very often overlap.
===Expressing Numbers===
There are four ways to express numbers in Quenya: the singular, dual, plural, and partitive plural<ref> {{WJ|P4|AB}} </ref>.


The dative, ablative, allative, instrumental, and locative cases are the prepositional cases of Quenya.  The dative marks the indirect object of the verb, which can often be translated as "to" and "for". The ablative expresses motion away from an object and can be translated with "from" or "out of".  The allative case is used when indicating motion towards something, and is translated with an "into", "onto", "against", "to", or "upon". The instrumental case denotes the means of cause of why something happened, often translated with the words "by", "with", "because", and in rare cases "in".  The locative case expresses the position of an object, translated by using the words "in" or "on".
====Plural Form====
The plural form is used to mark more than one specific thing. Nouns ending in ''-a'', ''-o'', ''-i'', ''-u'', ''-ië'' or a consonant forms a plural with the ending ''-r''. For example, the word ''Elda'' has the plural form Eldar; the word ''Ainu'' has the plural form ''Ainur'' etc.


There is a tenth case called the respective.  The respective case is a mysterious case, because it is not clear for what it is used.  The most likely use for the respective is an alternate locative case.  Others think the case can be translated with the words "about" or "regarding". Fortunately, the respective case is very rarely used, so it does not pose such a large problem.
Nouns ending in ''-ë'' forms the plural form by having the plural suffix ''-i'' replace the final vowel. For example, the word ''Quendë'' has the plural form ''Quendi''.<ref> {{WJ|P4|B}} </ref>


There are four numbers in Quenya: the singular, dual, plural, and partitive plural.
====Partitive Plural====
The partitive plural is used to express some of the things in question. It is formed by adding the suffix ''-li'' to the end of the noun. For example, ''Eldali'', the partitive plural of ''Elda'', means “some Elda”.<ref> {{VT|49}} </ref>


In Quenya, there are two ways to denote one of something. The singular refers to one object, and is self-explanatory.  The partitive plural is used to denote someone or something out of a larger group.
====Dual Form====
The dual form is used to mark two specific things. One type of dual form is called the ''u-form''. The “u-form” is originally used with nouns which describe things that form natural pairs; or put it simply, it is used on two things or people that naturally belonging together as a logical couple.<ref> {{L|427}} </ref> For example, the word for lip ''pé'' has the dual form ''peu'', which refers to one person’s pair of lips.<ref> {{VT|39}} </ref> The noun for tree ''alda'' occurs in dual form with reference to the [[Two Trees of Valinor]]: ''Aldu''. When the ending -u is added to a noun ending in a vowel, the vowel will be displaced, as can be seen with ''Aldu''.<ref> {{MR|P2|P2j}} </ref>


Another type of dual form is called the “t-form”. This form was originally used to only denote two things that are only causally related to each other. Yet it soon it became to only reference natural or logical pairs, which means that the functions of both the “u-form” and the “t-form” had merged.<ref> {{L|427}} </ref>


Quenya has more than one way of denoting more than one of something.  The dual refers to two of something. The plural is a bit trickier.  To refer to all the members of a specific type or race (so when talking about all of elves) you would use the plural ''without'' an article.  But when you wish to denote more than one of something, you would use the plural in conjunction with an article.
The choice of using either form is decided by euphony, or put it simply, by what sounded well. Though the “u-form” is preferred to the “t-form” when the word that is to receive a dual ending already contains a ''t'' or the similarly sounding ''d''.<ref> {{L|427}} </ref>


===Vocalic Declension===
===Vocalic Declension===
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Aside from inclusive and exclusive modes in the first person plural, there is also a dual mode, denoted by ''emmë'', ''-mmë''. The pronouns can be declined much like the regular nouns; for instance, the dative form of ''emmë'' is ''emmen''. This appears to be mostly regular, except for ''te'', "they", which takes the dative form ''tien''.
Aside from inclusive and exclusive modes in the first person plural, there is also a dual mode, denoted by ''emmë'', ''-mmë''. The pronouns can be declined much like the regular nouns; for instance, the dative form of ''emmë'' is ''emmen''. This appears to be mostly regular, except for ''te'', "they", which takes the dative form ''tien''.


{{references}}
[[Category:Quenya]]
[[Category:Quenya]]
[[de:Quenya#Grammatik]]
[[de:Quenya#Grammatik]]
[[fi:Quenyan lyhyt kielioppi]]
[[fi:Quenyan lyhyt kielioppi]]

Revision as of 10:57, 24 January 2019

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Note: these rules apply only to Noldorin Quenya, being the only dialect spoken in Middle-earth.

Quenya was an agglutinative SVO language. It had a relatively free word order since most information was expressed morphologically rather than syntactically. The different word classes of Quenya are explained below.

Phonology

Quenya was designed to have Latin-like phonology, with some of its phonological rules inspired by Finnish.

Consonants

  Labial Coronal Palatal Velar Labiovelar
Voiceless Stops p t c (ty) k (c) kʷ (qu)
Voiced Stops b d g ɡʷ
Voiceless Fricatives f θ (þ) ç (hy) x (χ > h) ʍ (hw)
Voiced Fricatives & Glides v j (y) w
Nasals m n ɲ (ny) ŋ (ñ) ŋʷ (ñw)
Voiceless Liquids r̥, ɬ (hr, hl)
Liquids r, l rʲ, ʎ (ry, ly)
Sibilants & Aspirates s h
  • ñ, ñw, hr and hl can only occur in the beginning of a word.
  • p, t, ty, c, qu, f, þ, hy, v, y, w, m, n, ny, r, l, ry, ly, s, h, hw, ps, ts and x (cs) may occur at the beginning or in the middle of a word.
  • b, d, g and gw can only occur in clusters.
  • t, n, nt, r, l and s may occur at the end of a word.
  • ñ þ are archaic and often replaced by n s.[1]

Vowels

Nouns

Noun Cases

Nouns are declined for ten cases: the nominative, accusative, genitive, possessive, dative, instrumental, locative, allative, ablative, and a tenth case sometimes called the respective or the s-case.

The nominative and accusative cases are almost identically analogous in Quenya. The nominative is used to mark the subject of a verb. In Middle Earth, the nominative took over the accusative case. The accusative marks the direct object of a verb. It is not used in spoken Quenya (i.e. Tarquesta), but appears in writing. But even in writing (i.e. Parmaquesta), the only difference between the nominative and accusative is that the final vowel is lengthened, so in words ending in a consonant, the accusative is not distinguishable from the nominative.[2]

In Quenya there are two cases that are used to express possession: the genitive and the possessive. To be more specific, the genitive is mainly used to mark origin (e.g. the best smiths of Tirion), while the possessive is used to denote ownership (e.g. Fëanor’s Silmarils). The two cases are very similar and can be interchangeable in most cases.[3]

The dative, ablative, allative, instrumental, and locative cases are the prepositional cases of Quenya.

  • The dative marks the indirect object of the verb and is used to indicate beneficiary or purpose, which can often be translated as "to" and "for".
  • The ablative expresses motion away from an object and can be translated as "from" or "out of".
  • The allative case is used when indicating motion towards something, and is translated as "into", "onto", "against", "to", or "upon".
  • The instrumental case denotes the means of the cause of why something happened, often translated as "by means of", "with" or "because".
  • The locative case expresses the position of an object, translated as "in", at or "on".

There is a tenth case called the respective case or the s-case. The respective case is a mysterious case because it is not clear what it is used for. Many scholars in Quenya guess that this case is used as a more abstract locative case. Others think the case can be translated with the words "about" or "regarding". Fortunately, the respective case is very rarely used, so it does not pose such a large problem.

Expressing Numbers

There are four ways to express numbers in Quenya: the singular, dual, plural, and partitive plural[4].

Plural Form

The plural form is used to mark more than one specific thing. Nouns ending in -a, -o, -i, -u, -ië or a consonant forms a plural with the ending -r. For example, the word Elda has the plural form Eldar; the word Ainu has the plural form Ainur etc.

Nouns ending in -ë forms the plural form by having the plural suffix -i replace the final vowel. For example, the word Quendë has the plural form Quendi.[5]

Partitive Plural

The partitive plural is used to express some of the things in question. It is formed by adding the suffix -li to the end of the noun. For example, Eldali, the partitive plural of Elda, means “some Elda”.[6]

Dual Form

The dual form is used to mark two specific things. One type of dual form is called the u-form. The “u-form” is originally used with nouns which describe things that form natural pairs; or put it simply, it is used on two things or people that naturally belonging together as a logical couple.[7] For example, the word for lip pé has the dual form peu, which refers to one person’s pair of lips.[8] The noun for tree alda occurs in dual form with reference to the Two Trees of Valinor: Aldu. When the ending -u is added to a noun ending in a vowel, the vowel will be displaced, as can be seen with Aldu.[9]

Another type of dual form is called the “t-form”. This form was originally used to only denote two things that are only causally related to each other. Yet it soon it became to only reference natural or logical pairs, which means that the functions of both the “u-form” and the “t-form” had merged.[10]

The choice of using either form is decided by euphony, or put it simply, by what sounded well. Though the “u-form” is preferred to the “t-form” when the word that is to receive a dual ending already contains a t or the similarly sounding d.[11]

Vocalic Declension

a-, i-, ie-, o-, and u-stems e-stems
Singular Dual Plural Part. Plural Singular Dual Plural Part. Plural
Nominative yulma yulmat yulmar yulmali aurë auret auri aureli
Accusative yulmá yulmat yulmai yulmalí auré ?auret aurí aurelí
Genitive yulmo yulmato yulmaron yulmalion aurëo aureto aurion aurelion
Dative yulman yulmant yulmain yulmalin auren aurent aurín aurelín
Instrumental yulmanen yulmanten yulmainen yulmalínen aurenen aurenten aurínen aurelínen
Possessive yulmava yulmatwa yulmaiva yulmalíva aureva auretwa auríva aurelíva
Locative yulmassë yulmatsë yulmassen yulmalissë auressë auretsë auressen aurelissë
Allative yulmanna yulmanta yulmannar yulmalinna aurenna aurenta aurennar aurelinna
Ablative yulmallo yulmalto yulmallon yulmalillo aurello aurelto aurellon aurelillo
Respective yulmas yulmates yulmais yulmalis aures auretes aurís aurelís

Consonantal Declension

Singular Dual Plural Part. Plural
Nominative nat natu nati nateli
Accusative nat natú natí natelí
Genitive nato natuo nation natelion
Dative naten natun natin natelin
Instrumental natenen natunen natinen natelínen
Possessive natwa natuva nativa natelíva
Locative natsë natussë natissen natelissë
Allative natenna natenta natinnar natelinnar
Ablative natello natelto natillon natelillo
Respective nates natus natis natelis

Verbs

There are two main types of verbs: basic verbs, those which are formed from the basic verbal base, such as tirë (tiri-) "watch" from *TIR, and derivative verbs, which are formed either by putting verbal suffixes to a base like tulta- "summon", from *TUL "come", or derived from non-verbal bases like cúna- "bend", originally an adjective "bent".

Derivative verbs Basic verbs
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Infinitive tulta (tulta-) tirë (tir-) palo (palu-)
Aorist/Simple present tulta tultar tirë (tiri-) tirir palo (palu-) palur
Present continuative tultëa tultëar tíra tírar pálua páluar
Past tultanë tultaner tirnë tirner pallë paller
Future tultuva tultuvar tiruva tiruvar palúva palúvar
Perfect utultië utultier itírië itírier apálië apálier

Pronouns

Pronouns are seen as both independent words and enclitics; however the rules for this are not completely understood, although evidence sugests that independent forms are more emphatic in nature, while enclitics are the forms in use normally. What is known is that for intransitive verbs, the pronoun can appear as either an independent word or an enclitic. The enclitics often come in two different forms, long and short. The following table outlines the different forms attested. Hypothetical or reconstructed forms are indicated by either question marks or asterisks. Those forms that cannot be determined are not included and their absence is indicated by an emdash.

Independent Enclitic Independent Example Enclitic Example
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
First Person Inclusive ni, inyë *elvë, *elwë -n, -nyë -lvë,
-lwë		 inyë tirë elvë/elwë tirir tirinyë, tirin tirilvë, tirilwë
Exclusive *elmë -lmë elmë tirir tirilmë
Second Person le, elyë le, ellë -l, -lyë ?-llë elyë tirë ?ellë tirir, elyë tirir tiril, tirilyë ?tirillë, tirilyë
Third Person se te -s, -ryë -t,
-ntë		 se tirë ?entë tirir tiris, tiriryë tirit, tirintë

Aside from inclusive and exclusive modes in the first person plural, there is also a dual mode, denoted by emmë, -mmë. The pronouns can be declined much like the regular nouns; for instance, the dative form of emmë is emmen. This appears to be mostly regular, except for te, "they", which takes the dative form tien.

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Quenya Phonology", in Parma Eldalamberon XIX (edited by Christopher Gilson) (þ > s)
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar"
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar"
  6. ↑ Vinyar Tengwar, Number 49, June 2007
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ Vinyar Tengwar, Number 39, July 1998
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman"
  10. ↑
  11. ↑
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