Vanyarin: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
(34 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{unnamed}}
'''Vanyarin''',<ref>{{PE|19}}, pp. 88, 128</ref><ref>{{VT|42a}}, p. 26</ref> or '''Vanyarin Quenya''' and also sometimes called '''Quendya''' (pron. {{IPA|[ˈkʷeɲɟa]}}) to distinguish it from the [[Noldorin]] [[Quenya]], is the dialect of the language as spoken by the [[Vanyar]] in [[Valimar]].  
'''Vanyarin Quenya''', also sometimes called '''Quendya''' to distinguish it from the [[Noldorin]] [[Quenya]], is the dialect of the language as spoken by the [[Vanyar]] in [[Valimar]].  


==History==
==History==
Since the Noldor came to [[Middle-earth]] and their language became known among the [[Sindar]], the [[Silvan]] and afterwards the [[Dunedain]], Vanyarin is considered a less known, elusive language, spoken only in [[Valinor]].
The language Quenya evolved in [[Valinor]], but a separation could also be observed there among the [[Vanyar]] and the [[Noldor]], especially considering that the Vanyar decided to abandon [[Eldamar]] and come closer to the [[Valar]] while the Noldor stayed in closer contact with the [[Falmari]] and [[Telerin|their language]].


The speech of the Vanyar was more conservative than that of the Noldor who were more innovative. The Vanyarin loremasters should give their assent before any changes introduced by the Noldor should be considered genuine Quenya in their common speech community.<ref name="V">[[Vinyar Tengwar 41]]</ref> One of those changes was the consonant -r in plural words instead of -i, which the Vanyar adopted.<ref name="P">''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'', [[Quendi and Eldar]]</ref>
The speech of the Vanyar (being closest to the Valar), had many [[Valarin]] loanwords in their language.<ref name="P"/> Furthermore, their dialect was more conservative than that of the Noldor who were more innovative.  


Also the Vanyar being closest to the [[Valar]], had many [[Valarin]] loanwords in their language.<ref name="P"/>
However, the Vanyarin loremasters would give their assent to changes introduced by the Noldor in order to be considered genuine Quenya in their common speech community.<ref name="V">{{VT|41}}</ref> One of those changes was the consonant -r in plural words instead of -i, which the Vanyar adopted.<ref name="P">{{WJ|quendi}}</ref>
 
Concerning the parallel evolution of the two languages, we are told that [[Fëanor]] viewed the matter of the sound change of ''þ'' to ''s'' by his people as a personal insult to the memory of his mother who was called [[Míriel|Þerindë]], and resisted it<ref>{{PM|Shibboleth}}</ref>. On the other hand, the Vanyar also pronounced the sound ''f-'' very softly, threatening to merge it with ''hw-'', and Fëanor jested them that they would pronounce his name as ''Hwëanáro''<ref name="V"/>.
 
Since the Noldor came to [[Middle-earth]] and their language became known among the [[Sindar]], the [[Silvan Elves|Silvan]] and afterwards the [[Dúnedain]], Vanyarin was considered a less known, elusive dialect, spoken only in Valinor.


[[Fëanor]] viewed the matter of the sound change of ''th'' to ''s'' by the Ñoldor as a personal insult to the memory of his mother who was called [[Míriel Serindë|Therindë]], and resisted it<ref>[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]], [[The Shibboleth of Fëanor]]</ref>. The Vanyar also pronounced the sound f- very softly, threatening to merge it with hw-, and Fëanor jested them that they would pronounce his name as ''Hwëanáro''<ref name="V"/>.
==Variations==
==Variations==
Not much is known about how distinct the speech of the Vanyar was from that of the Noldor other than some sound changes which we know occurred only to the latter. Therefore all our knowledge of Vanyarin comes only from comparison from the Noldor
Not much is known about how distinct the speech of the Vanyar was from that of the Noldor other than some sound changes which we know occurred only to the latter. Therefore all our knowledge of Vanyarin comes only from comparison from Noldorin.
===Pronounciation===
 
*th > s: Shortly before the [[Rebellion of the Noldor]], they had begun merging the sound /th/ with the sound /s/. The Vanyar retained that sound. V. Therindë N. Serindë
In one note, Tolkien wrote that "[Vanyarin and Ñoldorin] were virtually identical languages, and the differences before the [[Exile of the Noldor|Exile]] were few and of minor importance".<ref>{{PE|19}}, p. 70 (footnote 14)</ref>
*z > r: Around that time, also the Noldor merged the sound /z/ with /r/. Again, it was something not occurring among the Vanyar. V. ázë N. árë
 
*Ñ > N: After the Exile, the Noldor simplified the initial sound of /Ñ/. There is no reason to assume that the same happened in Vanyarin. V. Ñoldo N. Noldo
===Pronunciation===
*w > v: The Exiles also simplified initial /w/ to /v/. The Vanyar most presumably kept that distinction. V. wanwa N. vanwa
;lb: Equivilent to Noldorin /lv/. While (Noldorin) Quenya as we know it, does not allow /lb/, we know the word ''[[ulban]]'' (borrowed form Valarin), which is associated with the Vanyar. Perhaps Vanyarin phonology did allow /lb/.
*ch > h: We are told that in some cases, /h/ derives from earlier ancient /ch/. Perhaps this simplification did not occur in Vanyarin.
;ndy: This is a particular sound change which we know occurred in the word ''Quenya'' while the Vanyar still pronounced this word ''Quendya'', without the simplification. Presumably other complex clusters simplified in everyday Quenya speech, were retained in Vanyarin.
*ndy > ny: This is a particular sound change which we know occurred in the word ''Quenya'' while the Vanyar still pronounced this word ''Quendya'', without the simplification. Presumably other complex clusters simplified in everyday Quenya speech, were retained in Vanyarin.
;f = ''almost'' hw: Fëanor noted that initial /f/ was so soft (bilabial {{IPA|[ɸ]}}) that it was often confused with /hw/ (labiovelar {{IPA|[ʍ]}}) to Noldorin ears. The Noldor opposed this tendency, helped by influence from the [[Telerin]] language, with which they had contact.  Whether the Vanyar ever actually did merge /hw/ with /f/ is unclear&mdash;it's possible they did not, considering that the equivilent voiced phonemes /w/ (labiovelar {{IPA|[w]}}) and /v/ (bilabial {{IPA|[β]}}) did not merge among the Vanyar.
*hw = f: Fëanor noted that initial /f/ was so soft that was often confused with /hw/ among the Vanyar. The Noldor opposed this change, helped by influence from the [[Telerin]] language, with which they had contact.
;þ (or th): Shortly before the [[Rebellion of the Noldor]], they had begun merging the sound /þ/ (dental {{IPA|[θ]}}) with the sound /s/ (alveolar {{IPA|[s]}}). The Vanyar retained that sound, as did [[Fëanor]] along with [[Sons of Fëanor|his sons]] for a time. V. Þerindë N. Serindë
*b, d: While (Noldorin) Quenya as we know it, does not contain the sounds /d/ and /b/, we know the words ''[[Aldudénië]]'' and ''ulban'' (borrowed form Valarin), which are associated with the Vanyar. Perhaps Vanyarin phonology did allow those sounds.
;z: Around that time, also the Noldor merged the sound /z/ with /r/. Again, it was something not occurring among the Vanyar. V. ázë N. árë
;w: The Exiles (after the [[First Age]]) also simplified initial /w/ to /v/. The Vanyar most presumably kept that distinction. Whether [[Finarfin]]'s Noldor in [[Tirion]] also did this is unclear. V. wanwa N. vanwa
;ñ: After the [[Second Age]] among the Exile, the Noldor simplified the initial sound of /ñ/ (velar {{IPA|[ŋ]}}) to /n/ (coronal {{IPA|[n]}}), but this is not mentioned about Vanyarin. Again, whether this occurred in Tirion is unclear. V. Ñoldo N. Noldo
 
===Grammar===
===Grammar===
Nothing is known about what differences Vanyarin had from Noldorin, other than it retained the final long vowel in accusative (Eldá, ciryá etc), a feature dropped by the Noldor.
Nothing is known about what differences Vanyarin had from Noldorin, other than it retained the final long vowel in accusative (Eldá, ciryá etc), a feature dropped by the Noldor.


Originally, [[Primitive Elvish]] formed the plural with the ending -î, which retained in the [[Elvish]] languages. The Noldor invented the ending -r for words that end in a vowel (Valai > Valar) something that the Vanyar adopted. In adjectives, the -i was assimilated in Noldorin (vanima > vanimë) but it is not known if the Vanyar followed this.
Originally, [[Primitive Elvish]] formed the plural with the ending -î. The Noldor invented the ending -r for words that end in a vowel (Valai > Valar) something that the Vanyar adopted. In adjectives, the -i was assimilated in Noldorin (vanima > vanimë) but it is not known if the Vanyar followed this.
===Vocubulary===
===Vocabulary===
The Vanyar used to introduce words from Valarin. Some of them are the color words [[ulban]] (Q. [[luin]]), [[ezella]] (Q. [[laiqua]]), [[nasar]] (Q. [[carnë]]) and [[tulka]] (Q. [[malina]]).
Quenya borrowed some words from Valarin, like the names of the Valar and the names ''[[Máhanaxar]]'' and ''[[Ezellohar]]''. The Vanyar had this custom more frequently even in simple words. Some of them are the color words ''[[ulban]]'' (Q. ''[[luin]]''), ''[[ezello]]'' (Q. ''[[laiqua]]''), ''[[nasar]]'' (Q. ''[[carnë]]'') and ''[[tulka]]'' (Q. ''[[malina]]'').
 
Some other known Quenya words are said to bear some influence from [[Sindarin]] which happened only to the Noldorin exiles. For example ''[[Orcs|orco]]'' derives from ''[[Orcs|urco]]'', but after influence from Sindarin ''[[orch]]''. Such words should be ruled out from the Vanyarin vocabulary.
 
==Etymology==
==Etymology==
The dialect of the Vanyar is not named distinctly by Tolkien. ''Quendya'' is the archaic name of the word Quenya which Tolkien said was still used among the Vanyar, therefore they would refer to their language as such. Although it still would encompass the dialects of the Noldor and the Teleri, it is sometimes used by the fans particularly for their dialect.
 
''Quendya'' is the archaic name of the word Quenya which Tolkien said was still used among the Vanyar, therefore they would refer to their language as such. Although it still would encompass the dialects of the Noldor and the Teleri, it is sometimes used by [[Fandom|fans]] particularly for their dialect.
 
==Other versions of the legendarium==
==Other versions of the legendarium==
In [[The Book of Lost Tales]], the First Elves were called [[Lindar]] and their language was called [[Qenya]]. The other Elves spoke [[Old Noldorin]] (intead of Quenya) and [[Solosimpin]] (instead of Telerin).
In ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part One]]'', the First Elves were called [[Lindar]] and their language was called [[Qenya]]. The other Elves spoke [[Old Noldorin]] (intead of Quenya) and [[Solosimpin]] (instead of Telerin).
{{references}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.phy.duke.edu/~trenk/elvish/vanyarin_quenya.html Vanyarin Quenya] article by [[Thorsten Renk]]
*[http://www.phy.duke.edu/~trenk/elvish/vanyarin_quenya.html Vanyarin Quenya] article by [[Thorsten Renk]]
[[category:languages]]
 
{{references}}
 
[[Category:Quenya]]
[[Category:Quenya adjectives]]
[[Category:Quenya nouns]]
[[Category:Vanyar]]

Revision as of 23:52, 31 December 2012

Vanyarin,[1][2] or Vanyarin Quenya and also sometimes called Quendya (pron. [ˈkʷeɲɟa]) to distinguish it from the Noldorin Quenya, is the dialect of the language as spoken by the Vanyar in Valimar.

History

The language Quenya evolved in Valinor, but a separation could also be observed there among the Vanyar and the Noldor, especially considering that the Vanyar decided to abandon Eldamar and come closer to the Valar while the Noldor stayed in closer contact with the Falmari and their language.

The speech of the Vanyar (being closest to the Valar), had many Valarin loanwords in their language.[3] Furthermore, their dialect was more conservative than that of the Noldor who were more innovative.

However, the Vanyarin loremasters would give their assent to changes introduced by the Noldor in order to be considered genuine Quenya in their common speech community.[4] One of those changes was the consonant -r in plural words instead of -i, which the Vanyar adopted.[3]

Concerning the parallel evolution of the two languages, we are told that Fëanor viewed the matter of the sound change of þ to s by his people as a personal insult to the memory of his mother who was called Þerindë, and resisted it[5]. On the other hand, the Vanyar also pronounced the sound f- very softly, threatening to merge it with hw-, and Fëanor jested them that they would pronounce his name as Hwëanáro[4].

Since the Noldor came to Middle-earth and their language became known among the Sindar, the Silvan and afterwards the Dúnedain, Vanyarin was considered a less known, elusive dialect, spoken only in Valinor.

Variations

Not much is known about how distinct the speech of the Vanyar was from that of the Noldor other than some sound changes which we know occurred only to the latter. Therefore all our knowledge of Vanyarin comes only from comparison from Noldorin.

In one note, Tolkien wrote that "[Vanyarin and Ñoldorin] were virtually identical languages, and the differences before the Exile were few and of minor importance".[6]

Pronunciation

lb
Equivilent to Noldorin /lv/. While (Noldorin) Quenya as we know it, does not allow /lb/, we know the word ulban (borrowed form Valarin), which is associated with the Vanyar. Perhaps Vanyarin phonology did allow /lb/.
ndy
This is a particular sound change which we know occurred in the word Quenya while the Vanyar still pronounced this word Quendya, without the simplification. Presumably other complex clusters simplified in everyday Quenya speech, were retained in Vanyarin.
f = almost hw
Fëanor noted that initial /f/ was so soft (bilabial [ɸ]) that it was often confused with /hw/ (labiovelar [ʍ]) to Noldorin ears. The Noldor opposed this tendency, helped by influence from the Telerin language, with which they had contact. Whether the Vanyar ever actually did merge /hw/ with /f/ is unclear—it's possible they did not, considering that the equivilent voiced phonemes /w/ (labiovelar [w]) and /v/ (bilabial [β]) did not merge among the Vanyar.
þ (or th)
Shortly before the Rebellion of the Noldor, they had begun merging the sound /þ/ (dental [θ]) with the sound /s/ (alveolar [s]). The Vanyar retained that sound, as did Fëanor along with his sons for a time. V. Þerindë N. Serindë
z
Around that time, also the Noldor merged the sound /z/ with /r/. Again, it was something not occurring among the Vanyar. V. ázë N. árë
w
The Exiles (after the First Age) also simplified initial /w/ to /v/. The Vanyar most presumably kept that distinction. Whether Finarfin's Noldor in Tirion also did this is unclear. V. wanwa N. vanwa
ñ
After the Second Age among the Exile, the Noldor simplified the initial sound of /ñ/ (velar [ŋ]) to /n/ (coronal [n]), but this is not mentioned about Vanyarin. Again, whether this occurred in Tirion is unclear. V. Ñoldo N. Noldo

Grammar

Nothing is known about what differences Vanyarin had from Noldorin, other than it retained the final long vowel in accusative (Eldá, ciryá etc), a feature dropped by the Noldor.

Originally, Primitive Elvish formed the plural with the ending -î. The Noldor invented the ending -r for words that end in a vowel (Valai > Valar) something that the Vanyar adopted. In adjectives, the -i was assimilated in Noldorin (vanima > vanimë) but it is not known if the Vanyar followed this.

Vocabulary

Quenya borrowed some words from Valarin, like the names of the Valar and the names Máhanaxar and Ezellohar. The Vanyar had this custom more frequently even in simple words. Some of them are the color words ulban (Q. luin), ezello (Q. laiqua), nasar (Q. carnë) and tulka (Q. malina).

Some other known Quenya words are said to bear some influence from Sindarin which happened only to the Noldorin exiles. For example orco derives from urco, but after influence from Sindarin orch. Such words should be ruled out from the Vanyarin vocabulary.

Etymology

Quendya is the archaic name of the word Quenya which Tolkien said was still used among the Vanyar, therefore they would refer to their language as such. Although it still would encompass the dialects of the Noldor and the Teleri, it is sometimes used by fans particularly for their dialect.

Other versions of the legendarium

In The Book of Lost Tales Part One, the First Elves were called Lindar and their language was called Qenya. The other Elves spoke Old Noldorin (intead of Quenya) and Solosimpin (instead of Telerin).

External links

References