Valarin: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
No edit summary
(9 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{cleanup}}'''Valarin''' is the tongue of the [[Ainur]]. As angelic beings with the ability to communicate through thought, strictly speaking the Valar had no need for a spoken language, but it appears that it was adopted as part of their assumption of physical, humanlike forms.
{{cleanup}}'''Valarin''', also called the '''Eldest Speech''',<ref>{{PE|18}}, p. 71</ref> was the tongue of the [[Ainur]].  
==Description==
As angelic beings with the ability to communicate through thought, strictly speaking the Valar had no need for a spoken language, but it appears that it was adopted as part of their assumption of physical, humanlike forms.


Valarin was extremely alien to the ears of the [[Elves]], sometimes to the point of genuine displeasure, and very few of them ever learned the language, only adopting some of the Valarin words into their own [[Quenya]]. The Valar learnt [[Quenya]] instead, and used that to converse with the Elves, or with each other if Elves were present. Valarin seemed to use long words, for example the Valarin word for [[Telperion]], Ibrîniðilpathânezel is eight syllables long. The [[Vanyar]] adopted more words from Valarin into their dialect ''Quendya'' than the [[Noldor]], as they lived closer to the Valar.
Valarin was extremely alien to the ears of the [[Elves]], sometimes to the point of genuine displeasure, and very few of them ever learned the language, only adopting some of the Valarin words into their own [[Quenya]]. The Valar learnt [[Quenya]] instead, and used that to converse with the Elves, or with each other if Elves were present. Valarin seemed to use long words, for example the Valarin word for [[Telperion]], ''[[Telperion#Names|Ibrīniðilpathānezel]]'' is eight syllables long. The [[Vanyar]] adopted more words from Valarin into their dialect ''Quendya'' than the [[Noldor]], as they lived closer to the Valar.


At least one word in the [[Black Speech]], ''nazg'' "ring", seems to be borrowed from Valarin '''na&#353;kad''' ([[Melkor]] was a [[Valar|Vala]] and [[Sauron]] was a [[Maiar|Maia]], so they had to know Valarin).
Valarin is unrelated to all the other [[Languages]] of [[Middle-earth]] as it arose outside of [[Arda]], and except for a few words (mainly proper names) nothing is known of the language. Before it, the only form of language was the [[Music of the Ainur]], the purest form of language, as it was thought itself, with no need for reference; Each thought was a definite article in and of itself, and as such, the Music was entirely self-sufficient structure. Eru only showed the Ainur their music in a different form by adding the final note to their song: ''[[Eä]]'', "Be".
 
Valarin is unrelated to all the other [[Languages]] of [[Middle-earth]] as it arose outside of [[Arda]], and except for a few words (mainly proper names) nothing is known of the language. Before it, the only form of language was the [[Music of the Ainur]], the purest form of language, as it was thought itself, with no need for reference; Each thought was a definite article in and of itself, and as such, the Music was entirely self-sufficient structure. Eru only showed the Ainur their music in a different form by adding the final note to their song: [[Eä]], "''Be''".


==Other versions of the Legendarium==
==Other versions of the Legendarium==
Line 11: Line 11:


==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==
* Possibly Babylonian.
 
{{quote|It has been suggested that Tolkien's inspiration for Valarin was ancient Babylonian; some feel that the general style of Valarin is reminiscent of such words as "Etemenanki", the name of the great tower (ziggurat) of Babylon. However, such views are purely conjectural, and we may rightly ask why Tolkien would use Babylonian as a model for the language of the gods of his mythos. More likely he simply aimed for a very peculiar style, since this is supposed to be a language wholly independent of the Elvish language family, and moreover a tongue developed and spoken by superhuman beings.|[[Helge Kåre Fauskanger]], [http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/valarin.htm]}}
[[Helge Fauskanger]] has noted suggestions that Valarin might have been influenced by [[Wikipedia:Akkadian language|ancient Babylonian]]:
 
"''[...] some feel that the general style of Valarin is reminiscent of such words as "Etemenanki", the name of the great tower (ziggurat) of Babylon. However, such views are purely conjectural, and we may rightly ask why Tolkien would use Babylonian as a model for the language of the gods of his mythos. More likely he simply aimed for a very peculiar style, since this is supposed to be a language wholly independent of the Elvish language family, and moreover a tongue developed and spoken by superhuman beings.''"<ref>[[Helge Fauskanger]], "[http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/valarin.htm Valarin - like the glitter of swords]", [[Ardalambion]] (accessed 2 July 2011)</ref>
 
==See also==
 
*[[:Category:Valarin words|Category:Valarin words]]


==External links==
==External links==
* [[Helge Kåre Fauskanger]], "[http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/valarin.htm Valarin - like the glitter of swords]", [[Ardalambion]]
* [[Helge Fauskanger]], "[http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/valarin.htm Valarin - like the glitter of swords]", [[Ardalambion]]
*[http://www.jrrvf.com/~glaemscrafu/english/valarin.html Valarin sound samples] at [[Glǽmscrafu]]
{{references}}
{{ainur}}
{{ainur}}
[[Category:Valarin| ]]
[[Category:Valarin| ]]
[[fr:encyclo/langues/valarin]]
[[fr:encyclo/langues/valarin]]

Revision as of 13:40, 13 December 2015

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.

Valarin, also called the Eldest Speech,[1] was the tongue of the Ainur.

Description

As angelic beings with the ability to communicate through thought, strictly speaking the Valar had no need for a spoken language, but it appears that it was adopted as part of their assumption of physical, humanlike forms.

Valarin was extremely alien to the ears of the Elves, sometimes to the point of genuine displeasure, and very few of them ever learned the language, only adopting some of the Valarin words into their own Quenya. The Valar learnt Quenya instead, and used that to converse with the Elves, or with each other if Elves were present. Valarin seemed to use long words, for example the Valarin word for Telperion, Ibrīniðilpathānezel is eight syllables long. The Vanyar adopted more words from Valarin into their dialect Quendya than the Noldor, as they lived closer to the Valar.

Valarin is unrelated to all the other Languages of Middle-earth as it arose outside of Arda, and except for a few words (mainly proper names) nothing is known of the language. Before it, the only form of language was the Music of the Ainur, the purest form of language, as it was thought itself, with no need for reference; Each thought was a definite article in and of itself, and as such, the Music was entirely self-sufficient structure. Eru only showed the Ainur their music in a different form by adding the final note to their song: , "Be".

Other versions of the Legendarium

In older versions of The Silmarillion and in the Lhammas, Valarin is further subdivided in Oromëan, Aulëan and Melkian. In this conception, all Elvish languages arose from Oromëan, but this view was later dropped.

Inspiration

Helge Fauskanger has noted suggestions that Valarin might have been influenced by ancient Babylonian:

"[...] some feel that the general style of Valarin is reminiscent of such words as "Etemenanki", the name of the great tower (ziggurat) of Babylon. However, such views are purely conjectural, and we may rightly ask why Tolkien would use Babylonian as a model for the language of the gods of his mythos. More likely he simply aimed for a very peculiar style, since this is supposed to be a language wholly independent of the Elvish language family, and moreover a tongue developed and spoken by superhuman beings."[2]

See also

External links

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Tengwesta Qenderinwa and Pre-Fëanorian Alphabets Part 2", in Parma Eldalamberon XVIII (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, and Patrick H. Wynne), p. 71
  2. Helge Fauskanger, "Valarin - like the glitter of swords", Ardalambion (accessed 2 July 2011)
Ainur
Valar Lords Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · Melkor
Valier Varda · Yavanna · Nienna · Estë · Vairë · Vána · Nessa
Maiar Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen
Úmaiar Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs
Concepts and locations Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar