Tolkien research
Encyclopedia
The works of J. R. R. Tolkien
have generated a body of academic research, studying different facets such as
and Sindarin
, the languages of Elves
, have not inspired much serious linguistic
research. Constructed languages are rarely studied by linguists. Parma Eldalamberon and Vinyar Tengwar are published by the Elvish Linguistic Fellowship
of the Mythopoeic Society
a non-profit organization. The Vinyar Tengwar and Parma Eldalamberon material published at in increasing rate during the early 2000s is from the stock of linguistic material in the possession of the appointed team of editors
(some 3000 pages according to them), consisting of photocopies sent them by Christopher Tolkien
and notes taken in the Bodleian library
around 1992. An Internet mailing list dedicated to Tolkien's languages, called
Tolkien's Legendarium
: Essays on the History of Middle-Earth, a book edited by Verlyn Flieger
and Carl F. Hostetter (London: Greenwood Press, 2000), contains a number of linguistic essays on topics such as the conceptual evolution of Sindarin or "The Growth of Grammar in the Elven Tongues."
In 2003, linguist and Fantasy author Helmut W. Pesch published a comprehensive book on Tolkien's elvish languages in German. It includes etymologies and grammar of Quenya and Sindarin as well as a dictionary for both languages.
A 2009 book by linguist Elizabeth Solopova, Languages, Myth and History: An Introduction to the Linguistic and Literary Background of J. R. R. Tolkien's Fiction (New York City: North Landing Books) gives an overview of the linguistic traits of the various languages invented by Tolkien and the history of their creation.
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
have generated a body of academic research, studying different facets such as
- Tolkien as a writer of fantasyHigh fantasyHigh fantasy or epic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that is set in invented or parallel worlds. High fantasy was brought to fruition through the work of authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, whose major fantasy works were published in the 1950s...
literature - Tolkien's invented languages
As a writer
- The Lord of the Rings and the Western Narrative Tradition Martin SimonsonMartin SimonsonMartin Simonson is a Swedish scholar, novelist, and translator, specialized in fantastic literature and nature writing. He teaches Swedish language and literature at the University of the Basque Country in Spain....
(2008) - Master of Middle-Earth: The Fiction of J.R.R. Tolkien Paul Kocher (1977)
- Splintered Light: Logos And Language In Tolkien's World Verlyn FliegerVerlyn FliegerVerlyn Flieger is an author, editor, and professor in the Department of English at the University of Maryland at College Park. She teaches courses in comparative mythology, medieval literature and the works of J. R. R. Tolkien....
(1st Edition 1983, Revised Edition 2002) - The Keys of Middle-earth ed. Stuart D. Lee & Elizabeth Solopova (2005)
- The Road to Middle-earth T. A. Shippey (1st Edition 1982, Revised and Expanded Edition 2003)
- J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century T. A. Shippey (2000)
- Tolkien in the Land of Heroes : Discovering the Human Spirit ed. Anne C. Petty, J. Stein
- Tolkien's LegendariumTolkien's LegendariumTolkien's Legendarium is a collection of scholarly essays edited by Verlyn Flieger and Carl F. Hostetter on the History of Middle-earth series of books relating to the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, compiled and edited by his son, Christopher Tolkien...
: Essays on The History of Middle Earth ed. Verlyn FliegerVerlyn FliegerVerlyn Flieger is an author, editor, and professor in the Department of English at the University of Maryland at College Park. She teaches courses in comparative mythology, medieval literature and the works of J. R. R. Tolkien....
and Carl F. Hostetter (2000) - Tolkien StudiesTolkien StudiesTolkien Studies: An Annual Scholarly Review is an academic journal publishing papers on the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, edited by Douglas A. Anderson, Michael D. C. Drout, and Verlyn Flieger. It states that it is the first scholarly journal published by an academic press in the area of Tolkien...
ed. Douglas A. AndersonDouglas A. AndersonDouglas Allen Anderson is an author and editor on the subjects of fantasy and medieval literature, specializing in textual analysis of the works of J. R. R...
, Michael D. C. DroutMichael D. C. DroutMichael D. C. Drout is the Prentice Professor of English and Chair of the Department of English at Wheaton College and an author and editor specializing in Anglo-Saxon and medieval literature, science fiction and fantasy, especially the works of J. R. R. Tolkien and Ursula K. Le Guin.Drout holds a...
and Verlyn FliegerVerlyn FliegerVerlyn Flieger is an author, editor, and professor in the Department of English at the University of Maryland at College Park. She teaches courses in comparative mythology, medieval literature and the works of J. R. R. Tolkien....
vols. 1-4 (2004–2007)
Constructed languages
Tolkien's constructed languages, QuenyaQuenya
Quenya is a fictional language devised by J. R. R. Tolkien, and used in his Secondary world, often called Middle-earth.Quenya is one of the many Elvish languages spoken by the immortal Elves, called Quendi in Quenya. The tongue actually called Quenya was in origin the speech of two clans of Elves...
and Sindarin
Sindarin
Sindarin is a fictional language devised by J. R. R. Tolkien, and used in his secondary world, often called Middle-earth.Sindarin is one of the many languages spoken by the immortal Elves, called the Eledhrim or Edhellim in Sindarin....
, the languages of Elves
Elf (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Elves are one of the races that inhabit a fictional Earth, often called Middle-earth, and set in the remote past. They appear in The Hobbit and in The Lord of the Rings, but their complex history is described more fully in The Silmarillion...
, have not inspired much serious linguistic
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
research. Constructed languages are rarely studied by linguists. Parma Eldalamberon and Vinyar Tengwar are published by the Elvish Linguistic Fellowship
Elvish Linguistic Fellowship
The Elvish Linguistic Fellowship is a "Special Interest Group" of the Mythopoeic Society devoted to the study of the constructed languages of J. R. R. Tolkien, today headed by Carl F. Hostetter. It was founded by Jorge Quiñónez in 1988. The E. L. F. publishes two journals, Vinyar Tengwar, edited...
of the Mythopoeic Society
Mythopoeic Society
The Mythopoeic Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study of mythopoeia, fantasy and mythic literature. The group focuses primarily, but not exclusively, on works written by J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, and C. S. Lewis. These authors were members of The Inklings, an...
a non-profit organization. The Vinyar Tengwar and Parma Eldalamberon material published at in increasing rate during the early 2000s is from the stock of linguistic material in the possession of the appointed team of editors
Elvish Linguistic Fellowship
The Elvish Linguistic Fellowship is a "Special Interest Group" of the Mythopoeic Society devoted to the study of the constructed languages of J. R. R. Tolkien, today headed by Carl F. Hostetter. It was founded by Jorge Quiñónez in 1988. The E. L. F. publishes two journals, Vinyar Tengwar, edited...
(some 3000 pages according to them), consisting of photocopies sent them by Christopher Tolkien
Christopher Tolkien
Christopher Reuel Tolkien is the third and youngest son of the author J. R. R. Tolkien , and is best known as the editor of much of his father's posthumously published work. He drew the original maps for his father's The Lord of the Rings, which he signed C. J. R. T. The J...
and notes taken in the Bodleian library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
around 1992. An Internet mailing list dedicated to Tolkien's languages, called
tolklang, has existed since November 1, 1990.Tolkien's Legendarium
Tolkien's Legendarium
Tolkien's Legendarium is a collection of scholarly essays edited by Verlyn Flieger and Carl F. Hostetter on the History of Middle-earth series of books relating to the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, compiled and edited by his son, Christopher Tolkien...
: Essays on the History of Middle-Earth, a book edited by Verlyn Flieger
Verlyn Flieger
Verlyn Flieger is an author, editor, and professor in the Department of English at the University of Maryland at College Park. She teaches courses in comparative mythology, medieval literature and the works of J. R. R. Tolkien....
and Carl F. Hostetter (London: Greenwood Press, 2000), contains a number of linguistic essays on topics such as the conceptual evolution of Sindarin or "The Growth of Grammar in the Elven Tongues."
In 2003, linguist and Fantasy author Helmut W. Pesch published a comprehensive book on Tolkien's elvish languages in German. It includes etymologies and grammar of Quenya and Sindarin as well as a dictionary for both languages.
A 2009 book by linguist Elizabeth Solopova, Languages, Myth and History: An Introduction to the Linguistic and Literary Background of J. R. R. Tolkien's Fiction (New York City: North Landing Books) gives an overview of the linguistic traits of the various languages invented by Tolkien and the history of their creation.
External links
- The home page of the Elvish Linguistic Fellowship, which publishes the journals Parma Eldalamberon, Vinyar Tengwar, and Tengwestie, and sponsors the discussion list, Lambengolmor (discussion list launched 29 May 2002, archives at lambengolmor-l).
- The web shop for Vinyar Tengwar, which contains a list of the contents of all issues of Vinyar Tengwar published to date.
- Mellonath Daeron, the language guild of the Stockholm Tolkien Society.
- Tolkien's Linguistic Writings and Drafts by Ryszard Derdzinski
- TolkienBooks.net Chronological Book Index - a comphrensive index of Tolkien Publications
- A List of Tolkien's Unpublished and Slightly Published Manuscripts by Lisa Star (concentrates on linguistic materials.
- Tolkien Studies at the Wheaton College, Massachusetts, USA
- Proceedings of the J.R.R. Tolkien Centenary Conference 1992 (out of print, although the web page does not make mention of this)
- Publications of the Tolkien Society (UK)
- Michael Drout's home page in Wheaton College, Massachusetts, USA
- Verlyn Flieger's home page (associated with the University of Maryland, College ParkUniversity of Maryland, College ParkThe University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, USA) - T. A. Shippey's home page in Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis UniversitySaint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
, USA - Omentielva is a European bi-yearly conference on research into Tolkien's Languages, Sweden
- Hither Shore is the German Tolkien Society's bilingual yearbook on modern fantasy literature, specialising in Tolkien
- Tolkienian courses by The Tolkien Society.