Quick Links
- Westron (Common Speech)
- Quenya (High Elven)
- Sindarin
- Khuzdûl
- Black Speech
Considering that he was a linguist as well as an author, language has always been central to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Nowhere is this passion better demonstrated than in his opus, The Lord of the Rings. Unlike nearly every other fantasy story written after his time, Tolkien’s world-building began with the creation of his languages. He toiled privately on what he often dismissed as a hobby, creating entire structures and histories for what he called his “fairy languages.” The creation of Middle-Earth actually came as a result of his passion for these languages, since he needed a believable world for his linguistic endeavors to take root.
By the end of his life, Tolkien was responsible for creating at least fifteen languages, an unbelievable feat made all the more impressive by the fact that he single-handedly shaped the face of modern fantasy. With so much world-building, however, it can be somewhat daunting for newcomers (or even fans) to keep track of the many different languages present in The Lord of the Rings. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the most important languages present in Tolkien’s writings.
Westron (Common Speech)
Westron, or the Common Speech, was originally spoken by the Dúnedain (Men of the West), but later became the de facto universal language for the peoples of Middle-Earth. In practical terms, Tolkien used Westron as a means of strengthening the lore of his world. When he began writing The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien conceived of the story as being a fictionalized history; an alternate version of England’s traditions that he created as if he was an archaeologist uncovering a long-lost culture.
Because of this, Tolkien’s mythology uses Westron as a framing device to enhance the believability of his fictional world: it’s unlikely that a continent of fantastical Elves and Dwarves would speak real-world English, so Tolkien states that all of his writings are a modern translation of Westron and the rest of his invented languages. Technically, this means that almost all the names of characters, cities, and landmarks in Middle-Earth are inaccurate, and are instead merely an English translation of their Westron nomenclature. Compared to the rest of Tolkien’s invented languages, Westron is fairly underdeveloped, and exists instead as an incredible example of how deep his commitment was to the authenticity of his work.
Quenya (High Elven)
Quenya, or High-Elven, is one of the two most well-known Elvish languages in Middle-Earth. Quenya was the language of the Eldar, or High Elves, during the First Age. This occurred when the Elves divided into three separate groups: the Noldor, Vanyar, and Teleri. The Noldor and Vanyar (together called the Eldar) traveled to Valinor and developed Quenya as their language of choice.
When the Eldar returned to Middle-Earth, they adopted much of the Sindarin language that was spoken by the Teleri. Over time, Quenya became less and less common in Elvish culture, a trend that symbolically represents the decline of the Elven race. By the time of The Lord of the Rings, the majority of Elves speak some form of Sindarin, and Quenya only really appears in songs, poems, and rituals from the days of the Eldar.
Sindarin
Arguably the most famous of all Tolkien’s languages, Sindarin is the version of Elvish that is commonly spoken by the Elves of Middle-Earth during the events of The Lord of the Rings. It was created by the Grey-Elves of Beleriand during the First Age, and was eventually adopted by the majority of Elves by the time of the Third Age.
Tolkien heavily based Sindarin on real-world Welsh, a decision that lends to the strong European mythology that his works channel. Sindarin is the most well-established and detailed language of Tolkien’s creation, and while it’s not possible to speak Sindarin based purely on what is written in Tolkien’s books, many different scholars and fans have taken it upon themselves to create fleshed-out versions of the language that can be learned and spoken in conversation.
Khuzdûl
Khuzdûl is the language of the Dwarves of Middle-Earth, and remains one of the most secretive and unexplored parts of their race’s lore. Tolkien actually began work on Khuzdûl prior to the release of The Hobbit, but the language wouldn’t see its first official acknowledgment until The Lord of the Rings. In The Fellowship of the Ring, during the Fellowship’s journey through Moria, they stumble across the tomb of Balin, on which is a Khûzdul inscription which was even included in the original text (see above).
Much like the Dwarves themselves, very little is actually known about Khuzdûl, and the majority of the language’s construction and vocabulary was hidden behind-the-scenes. Still, some Khuzdûl words will probably be quite familiar to Tolkien fans, such as Khazad-dûm, the Dwarven name for the realm of Moria. It’s unclear to what extent the Dwarves of The Lord of the Rings still speak Khuzdûl, if at all, but when the Fellowship is approaching the Misty Mountains, Gimli lists the Khuzdûl names for the many peaks and landmarks. It’s clear that this language is an integral part of Dwarven culture in Middle-Earth, made all the more fascinating by its lack of clear answers.
Black Speech
One of the most compelling languages in The Lord of the Rings is the mysterious Black Speech of Mordor. Most famous for the chilling inscription forged into the One Ring, the Black Speech is an invention of Sauron that allowed his dark servants to communicate with one another. The language itself is evil, with harsh tones and foul origins, and so the very act of speaking it blackens the mouth and darkens the air.
By the time of The Lord of the Rings, Black Speech is mostly spoken by the elite servants of Mordor, whereas Orcs instead speak an accented version of Westron (presented in the books and films as Cockney English). In real-life, Tolkien seemingly harbored a bit of superstition regarding his evil creation. A fan once sent him a goblet inscribed with the Black Speech, and Tolkien made a point to never drink from it, only using it as an ashtray.
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