The Language of the Dwarves - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Ibun_Clawarrow · 04-14-2002, 01:19 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the language of the dwarves wasn't as fully wrought out by Tolkien as the Elven tongue was it? If you were designing the dwarvish language, what would you base it on?

lathspell · 04-14-2002, 01:34 PM

I think Tolkien did that on purpose. I mean the unful Dwarven language for it is said that the Dwarves thought of that as their own secret language. And Tolkien might have left things out, as if to mean that little was known to anyboby about it (except by the Dwarves). Aule instructed them in that language after he wrought them and before Eru Iluvatar became aware of him.

I do not know what I would base the language for I haven't got any thought of it yet.

greetings, lathspell

Ahanarion · 04-14-2002, 02:14 PM

Yes the language of the dwarves is unfinshed but there are a few snippets of it in LotR and the Silmarillion. I'd suggest reading the article on it on Ardalambion.

VanimaEdhel · 04-14-2002, 04:41 PM

Well: we probably do not know the languages because, like everyone else said, the Dwarves were very secretive, and most who were not dwarves did not know the languages. We, being Elves, Men, or Hobbits (mostly, there are a few exceptions: I have met some Dwarves on here), do not know the language because the Dwarves keep their lives, real names, and languages mostly secret, unless you are a special friend of the Dwarves.

Sîdhrîs · 04-15-2002, 11:15 AM

This is of course not more than my own personal impression, but dwarvish always reminds me of Maltese. I suppose that most of you have never heard this language, it's got influences of Arabian and Italian and a lot of own words. The way of speaking it is similar to the way of speaking Dwarfish as I imagine it. I don't think Tolkien based dwarvish on Maltese, but it's also got a very similar punctuation. And like dwarvish, Maltese is a closed book to foreigners... [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

04-14-2002, 01:19 PM	#1
Ibun_Clawarrow Pile O'Bones Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 20	The Language of the Dwarves Correct me if I'm wrong, but the language of the dwarves wasn't as fully wrought out by Tolkien as the Elven tongue was it? If you were designing the dwarvish language, what would you base it on? __________________ Isil was first wrought and made ready, and first rose into the realms of the stars, and was the elder of the new lights, as was Telperion of the Trees. Then for a while the world had moonlight, and many things stirred and woke that had waited long in the sleep of Yavanna. The servants of Morgoth were filled with amazement, but the Elves of the Outer Lands looked up in delight; and even as the Moon rose above the darkness in the West, Fingolfin let blow his silver trumpets and began his march into Middle Earth, and the shadows of his host went long and black before them.

04-14-2002, 01:34 PM	#2
lathspell Regenerating Ringkeeper Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Holland Posts: 757	I think Tolkien did that on purpose. I mean the unful Dwarven language for it is said that the Dwarves thought of that as their own secret language. And Tolkien might have left things out, as if to mean that little was known to anyboby about it (except by the Dwarves). Aule instructed them in that language after he wrought them and before Eru Iluvatar became aware of him. I do not know what I would base the language for I haven't got any thought of it yet. greetings, lathspell __________________ 'You?' cried Frodo. 'Yes, I, Gandalf the Grey,' said the wizard solemnly. 'There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming.'

04-14-2002, 02:14 PM	#3
Ahanarion Haunting Spirit Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tirion upon Tuna Posts: 94	Yes the language of the dwarves is unfinshed but there are a few snippets of it in LotR and the Silmarillion. I'd suggest reading the article on it on Ardalambion. __________________ Ohtari i Noldor Hosta!

04-14-2002, 04:41 PM	#4
VanimaEdhel Etheral Enchantress Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wellesley College! Posts: 1,461	Well: we probably do not know the languages because, like everyone else said, the Dwarves were very secretive, and most who were not dwarves did not know the languages. We, being Elves, Men, or Hobbits (mostly, there are a few exceptions: I have met some Dwarves on here), do not know the language because the Dwarves keep their lives, real names, and languages mostly secret, unless you are a special friend of the Dwarves. __________________ "I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each others dreams, we can be together all the time." - Hobbes of Calvin and Hobbes

04-15-2002, 11:15 AM	#5
Sîdhrîs Haunting Spirit Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Lothlórien Posts: 60	This is of course not more than my own personal impression, but dwarvish always reminds me of Maltese. I suppose that most of you have never heard this language, it's got influences of Arabian and Italian and a lot of own words. The way of speaking it is similar to the way of speaking Dwarfish as I imagine it. I don't think Tolkien based dwarvish on Maltese, but it's also got a very similar punctuation. And like dwarvish, Maltese is a closed book to foreigners... [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]