A Newbie Question on Elvish Grammar - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Kaiserin · 08-21-2003, 03:27 AM

Good day all!

I managed to look into Sindarin and Quenya dictionaries this morning, and attempted to form some phrases. I just need someone to answer this question for me: Does an adjective come before the noun it is describing (as in the English language)? ... or does it come after the noun (like in some European languages)? ... or could an adjective come before or after and it won't matter?

For example - In English, one would say "classical music" (adjective before the noun). In french, it would be "musique classique" (adjective after the noun). How would it be in Sindarin or Quenya?

Thanks in advance!

dancing spawn of ungoliant · 08-22-2003, 06:13 AM

I read the Quenya lesson from Ardalambion and at least in all the exercises the adjectives were placed before the noun. For example "the greatest ship" would be "i analta cirya" (i=the, analta=greatest, cirya=ship).

I don't remember exactly if there was said that it would be acceptable to place the adjective after the noun...but if you use English-like word order it should be totally right. So put the adjective before the noun.

I'm not sure how it goes in Sindarin but I would assume that the word order is similar to Quenya's. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[ August 22, 2003: Message edited by: dancing spawn of ungoliant ]

***Sharkû*** · 08-22-2003, 07:39 AM

I generally do not bother about Elvish, but from The Road Goes Ever On we know that the poetic word order of the adjective preceeding the noun is perfectly possible. At least by the Noldor at any rate, this was also applied to Sindarin.

Kaiserin · 08-23-2003, 02:35 AM

Gee, thanks! (I hope I did not appear too pathetically fanatical. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] )

Another question - nouns don't have feminine or masculine forms (like in French or German), do they?

dancing spawn of ungoliant · 08-23-2003, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Another question - nouns don't have feminine or masculine forms (like in French or German), do they?

No, they don't have in the German or French way (if I understood your question) though I don't know if some nouns are feminine/masculine like for example in English a ship is it/she(, right?). Oh well, what a confusing explanation...would just 'no' have been enough [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Adastrea · 08-31-2003, 03:06 PM

You know what I'm going to say... www.councilofelrond.com
there said it!

08-21-2003, 03:27 AM	#1
Kaiserin Wight Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cair Paravel Posts: 150	A Newbie Question on Elvish Grammar Good day all! I managed to look into Sindarin and Quenya dictionaries this morning, and attempted to form some phrases. I just need someone to answer this question for me: Does an adjective come before the noun it is describing (as in the English language)? ... or does it come after the noun (like in some European languages)? ... or could an adjective come before or after and it won't matter? For example - In English, one would say "classical music" (adjective before the noun). In french, it would be "musique classique" (adjective after the noun). How would it be in Sindarin or Quenya? Thanks in advance! __________________ The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

08-22-2003, 06:13 AM	#2
dancing spawn of ungoliant Mischievous Candle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: So near to Russia, so far from Japan, quite a long way from Cairo, lots of miles from Vietnam. Posts: 1,234	I read the Quenya lesson from Ardalambion and at least in all the exercises the adjectives were placed before the noun. For example "the greatest ship" would be "i analta cirya" (i=the, analta=greatest, cirya=ship). I don't remember exactly if there was said that it would be acceptable to place the adjective after the noun...but if you use English-like word order it should be totally right. So put the adjective before the noun. I'm not sure how it goes in Sindarin but I would assume that the word order is similar to Quenya's. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] [ August 22, 2003: Message edited by: dancing spawn of ungoliant ] __________________ Fenris Wolf

08-23-2003, 02:35 AM	#4
Kaiserin Wight Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cair Paravel Posts: 150	Gee, thanks! (I hope I did not appear too pathetically fanatical. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] ) Another question - nouns don't have feminine or masculine forms (like in French or German), do they? __________________ The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

08-31-2003, 03:06 PM	#6
Adastrea Animated Skeleton Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: England Posts: 31	You know what I'm going to say... www.councilofelrond.com there said it! __________________ "Hail Eärendil, brightest of angels, over Middle Earth sent to men."

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08-22-2003, 07:39 AM	#3
*Sharkû* Hungry Ghoul Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 1,719	I generally do not bother about Elvish, but from The Road Goes Ever On we know that the poetic word order of the adjective preceeding the noun is perfectly possible. At least by the Noldor at any rate, this was also applied to Sindarin.