Parma Eldalamberon 18

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Parma Eldalamberon 18
Tengwesta Qenderinwa and Pre-Fëanorian Alphabets, Part 2
Parma Eldalamberon 18.jpg
AuthorJ.R.R. Tolkien
EditorChristopher Gilson, Patrick H. Wynne, and Arden R. Smith
IllustratorAdam Christensen (front and back cover)
PublisherElvish Linguistic Fellowship
Released23 November 2009
FormatPaperback journal
Pages150

Parma Eldalamberon 18: Tengwesta Qenderinwa and Pre-Fëanorian Alphabets, Part 2 is the eighteenth issue of Parma Eldalamberon, a journal of linguistic studies of the Elvish languages and names in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.

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Contents[edit | edit source]

  • Cover — Adam Christensen
  • "Tengwesta Qenderinwa" — J.R.R. Tolkien, eds. Christopher Gilson and Patick H. Wynne
    • Foreword
    • Tengwesta Qenderinwa 1
      • A. Lambion Ontale: Descent of Tongues
      • B. Lámaqenta: Account of Sounds
      • C. Sundokarme: Base-structure
      • D. Lámasampane: Combination of Sounds
      • E. Mestanyatse: Suffixion
      • F. Minqetyarme: Accentuation
      • Appendix: Interconnexion of Bases
    • Elements of Quendian Structure
    • Tengwesta Qenderinwa 2
      • A. Lambion Ontale: Descent of Tongues
      • B. Lámaqenta: Account of the Simple Component Sounds
      • C. Sundokarme: Base-structure
      • D. Lámasampane: Combination of Sounds in Word-formation
      • E. Mestanyatse: Suffixion
      • Interconnexion of Bases
      • Note on the development of ñ, ʒ
      • F. The Accent in CQ and CE
      • G. Earliest Changes and Inventions Common to the Eldar
  • "Pre-Fëanorian Alphabets, Part 2" — J.R.R. Tolkien, ed. Arden R. Smith
    • Introduction
    • Texts and Commentary
      (continued from Parma 16, contains 8 documents of pre-Fëanorian alphabets)
  • List of abbreviations

Description[edit | edit source]

The "Tengwesta Qenderinwa" ("Quendian Grammar") is a grammar of the Primitive Quendian language, which Tolkien imagined to be the common ancestor of the various Elven-tongues spoken in Middle-earth, such as Quenya, Noldorin, Lemberin and Pereldarin (the last two later called Sindarin and Nandorin). The earliest version of the "Tengwesta Qenderinwa" was composed in the late 1930s around the same time as the Etymologies, which is a collection of Primitive Quendian bases with examples of Elvish words derived from them. The "Tengwesta Qenderinwa" describes the grammatical rules for the structure of these bases and the derivation of primitive stems and words from them. The grammar gives an "Account of the Simple Component Sounds"; and has sections on "Base-structure"; "Combination of Sounds in Word-formation"; "Suffixion"; and "Accentuation". There is also an introductory section on the "Descent of Tongues" that outlines the historical divisions of the various Elven-kindreds and the languages they spoke, all descended from Primitive Quendian.

Tolkien revised the "Tengwesta Qenderinwa" extensively in the early 1950s after completing the composition of The Lord of the Rings, incorporating new conceptions of the linguistic history which had emerged by then or those that arose during revisions to the Quenta Silmarillion and associated writings in Tolkien's legendarium. The earliest and latest versions of the "Tengwesta Qenderinwa" are presented in this issue of Parma Eldalamberon, along with an editorial analysis of the stages of revision that the text underwent between the 1930s and 1950s, and notes on the relation of the linguistic data in the text to that found in the Etymologies.

The "Pre-Fëanorian Alphabets" is an edition of Tolkien's charts and notes from about 1924 to 1929 dealing with the scripts that conceptually precede the Fëanorian Tengwar that would eventually be included in The Lord of the Rings. This issue of Parma Eldalamberon contains "Pre-Fëanorian Alphabets, Part 2", with the alphabets called Qenyatic, Andyoqenya, and Angloquenya, in modes which were designed for writing English. Tolkien's examples of the scripts are reproduced in facsimile. These include charts of the sounds represented by the letters, and various English words and texts written in the scripts. Transcriptions of the examples and editorial commentary on the dating and historical background are provided.

External links[edit | edit source]


Parma Eldalamberon issues
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Issue 11 · Issue 12 · Issue 13 · Issue 14 · Issue 15 · Issue 16 · Issue 17 · Issue 18 · Issue 19 · Issue 20 ·
Issue 21 · Issue 22