The Return Of The King Part 32

1455.

Master Samwise becomes Mayor for the fifth time.

1462.

Master Samwise becomes Mayor for the sixth time. At his request the Thain makes Fastred Warden of Westmarch. Fastred and Elanor make their dwelling at Undertowers on the Tower Hills, where their descendants, the Fairbairns of the Towers, dwelt for many generations.

1463.

Faramir Took marries Goldilocks, daughter of Samwise.

1469.

Master Samwise becomes Mayor for the seventh and last time, being in 1476, at the end of his office, ninety-six years old.

1482.

Death of Mistress Rose, wife of Master Samwise, on Mid-year's Day. On September 22 Master Samwise rides out from Bag End. He comes to the Tower Hills, and is last seen by Elanor, to whom he gives the Red Book afterwards kept by the Fairbairns. Among them the tradition is handed down from Elanor that Samwise pa.s.sed the Towers, and went to the Grey Havens, and pa.s.sed over Sea, last of the Ring-bearers.

1484.

In the spring of the year a message came from Rohan to Buckland that King eomer wished to see Master Holdwine once again. Meriadoc was then old (102) but still hale. He took counsel with his friend the Thain, and soon after they handed over their goods and offices to their sons and rode away over the Sarn Ford, and they were not seen again in the s.h.i.+re. It was heard after that Master Meriadoc came to Edoras and was with King eomer before he died in that autumn. Then he and Thain Peregrin went to Gondor and pa.s.sed what short years were left to them in that realm, until they died and were laid in Rath Dinen among the great of Gondor.

1541.

In this year 1 1 on March 1st came at last the Pa.s.sing of King Elessar. It is said that the beds of Meriadoc and Peregrin were set beside the bed of the great king. Then Legolas built a grey s.h.i.+p in Ithilien, and sailed down Anduin and so over Sea; and with him, it is said, went Gimli the Dwarf. And when that s.h.i.+p pa.s.sed an end was come in Middle-earth of the Fellows.h.i.+p of the Ring. on March 1st came at last the Pa.s.sing of King Elessar. It is said that the beds of Meriadoc and Peregrin were set beside the bed of the great king. Then Legolas built a grey s.h.i.+p in Ithilien, and sailed down Anduin and so over Sea; and with him, it is said, went Gimli the Dwarf. And when that s.h.i.+p pa.s.sed an end was come in Middle-earth of the Fellows.h.i.+p of the Ring.

APPENDIX C.

FAMILY TREES.

The names given in these Trees are only a selection from many. Most of them are either guests at Bilbo's Farewell Party, or their direct ancestors. The guests at the Party are underlined. A few other names of persons concerned in the events recounted are also given. In addition some genealogical information is provided concerning Samwise the founder of the family of Gardner Gardner, later famous and influential.

The figures after the names are those of birth (and death where that is recorded). All dates are given according to the s.h.i.+re-reckoning, calculated from the crossing of the Brandywine by the brothers Marcho and Blanco in the Year 1 of the s.h.i.+re (Third Age 1601).

APPENDIX D.

s.h.i.+RE CALENDAR FOR USE IN ALL YEARS.

Every year began on the first day of the week, Sat.u.r.day, and ended on the last day of the week, Friday. The Mid-year's Day, and in Leap-years the Overlithe, had no weekday name. The Lithe before Mid-year's Day was called 1 Lithe, and the one after was called 2 Lithe. The Yule at the end of the year was 1 Yule, and that at the beginning was 2 Yule. The Overlithe was a day of special holiday, but it did not occur in any of the years important to the history of the Great Ring. It occurred in 1420, the year of the famous harvest and wonderful summer, and the merrymaking in that year is said to have been the greatest in memory or record.

THE CALENDARS.

The Calendar in the s.h.i.+re differed in several features from ours. The year no doubt was of the same length, 1 1 for long ago as those times are now reckoned in years and lives of men, they were not very remote according to the memory of the Earth. It is recorded by the Hobbits that they had no 'week' when they were still a wandering people, and though they had 'months', governed more or less by the Moon, their keeping of dates and calculations of time were vague and inaccurate. In the west-lands of Eriador, when they had begun to settle down, they adopted the Kings' Reckoning of the Dunedain, which was ultimately of Eldarin origin; but the Hobbits of the s.h.i.+re introduced several minor alterations. This calendar, or 's.h.i.+re Reckoning' as it was called, was eventually adopted also in Bree, except for the s.h.i.+re usage of counting as Year 1 the year of the colonization of the s.h.i.+re. for long ago as those times are now reckoned in years and lives of men, they were not very remote according to the memory of the Earth. It is recorded by the Hobbits that they had no 'week' when they were still a wandering people, and though they had 'months', governed more or less by the Moon, their keeping of dates and calculations of time were vague and inaccurate. In the west-lands of Eriador, when they had begun to settle down, they adopted the Kings' Reckoning of the Dunedain, which was ultimately of Eldarin origin; but the Hobbits of the s.h.i.+re introduced several minor alterations. This calendar, or 's.h.i.+re Reckoning' as it was called, was eventually adopted also in Bree, except for the s.h.i.+re usage of counting as Year 1 the year of the colonization of the s.h.i.+re.

It is often difficult to discover from old tales and traditions precise information about things which people knew well and took for granted in their own day (such as the names of letters, or of the days of the week, or the names and lengths of months). But owing to their general interest in genealogy, and to the interest in ancient history which the learned amongst them developed after the War of the Ring, the s.h.i.+re-hobbits seem to have concerned themselves a good deal with dates; and they even drew up complicated tables showing the relations of their own system with others. I am not skilled in these matters, and may have made many errors; but at any rate the chronology of the crucial years S.R. 1418, 1419 is so carefully set out in the Red Book that there cannot be much doubt about days and times at that point.

It seems clear that the Eldar in Middle-earth, who had, as Samwise remarked, more time at their disposal, reckoned in long periods, and the Quenya word yen yen, often translated 'year' (p. 492), really means 144 of our years. The Eldar preferred to reckon in sixes and twelves as far as possible. A 'day' of the sun they called re re and reckoned from sunset to sunset. The and reckoned from sunset to sunset. The yen yen contained 52,596 days. For ritual rather than practical purposes the Eldar observed a week or contained 52,596 days. For ritual rather than practical purposes the Eldar observed a week or enquie enquie of six days; and the of six days; and the yen yen contained 8,766 of these contained 8,766 of these enquier enquier, reckoned continuously throughout the period.

In Middle-earth the Eldar also observed a short period or solar year, called a coranar coranar or 'sun-round' when considered more or less astronomically, but usually called or 'sun-round' when considered more or less astronomically, but usually called loa loa 'growth' (especially in the north-western lands) when the seasonal changes in vegetation were primarily considered, as was usual with the Elves generally. The 'growth' (especially in the north-western lands) when the seasonal changes in vegetation were primarily considered, as was usual with the Elves generally. The loa loa was broken up into periods that might be regarded either as long months or short seasons. These no doubt varied in different regions; but the Hobbits only provide information concerning the Calendar of Imladris. In that calendar there were six of these 'seasons', of which the Quenya names were was broken up into periods that might be regarded either as long months or short seasons. These no doubt varied in different regions; but the Hobbits only provide information concerning the Calendar of Imladris. In that calendar there were six of these 'seasons', of which the Quenya names were tuile tuile, laire laire, yavie yavie, quelle quelle, hrive hrive, coire coire, which may be translated 'spring, summer, autumn, fading, winter, stirring'. The Sindarin names were ethuil ethuil, laer laer, iavas iavas, firith firith, rhiw rhiw, echuir echuir. 'Fading' was also called la.s.se-lanta la.s.se-lanta 'leaf-fall', or in Sindarin 'leaf-fall', or in Sindarin narbeleth narbeleth 'sun-waning'. 'sun-waning'.

Laire and and hrive hrive each contained 72 days, and the remainder 54 each. The each contained 72 days, and the remainder 54 each. The loa loa began with began with yestare yestare, the day immediately before tuile tuile, and ended with mettare mettare, the day immediately after coire. coire. Between Between yavie yavie and and quelle quelle were inserted three were inserted three enderi enderi or 'middle-days'. This provided a year of 365 days which was supplemented by doubling the or 'middle-days'. This provided a year of 365 days which was supplemented by doubling the enderi enderi (adding 3 days) in every twelfth year. (adding 3 days) in every twelfth year.

How any resulting inaccuracy was dealt with is uncertain. If the year was then of the same length as now, the yen yen would have been more than a day too long. That there was an inaccuracy is shown by a note in the Calendars of the Red Book to the effect that in the 'Reckoning of Rivendell' the last year of every third would have been more than a day too long. That there was an inaccuracy is shown by a note in the Calendars of the Red Book to the effect that in the 'Reckoning of Rivendell' the last year of every third yen yen was shortened by three days: the doubling of the three was shortened by three days: the doubling of the three enderi enderi due in that year was omitted; 'but that has not happened in our time'. Of the adjustment of any remaining inaccuracy there is no record. due in that year was omitted; 'but that has not happened in our time'. Of the adjustment of any remaining inaccuracy there is no record.

The Numenoreans altered these arrangements. They divided the loa loa into shorter periods of more regular length; and they adhered to the custom of beginning the year in mid-winter, which had been used by Men of the North-west from whom they were derived in the First Age. Later they also made their week one of 7 days, and they reckoned the day from sunrise (out of the eastern sea) to sunrise. into shorter periods of more regular length; and they adhered to the custom of beginning the year in mid-winter, which had been used by Men of the North-west from whom they were derived in the First Age. Later they also made their week one of 7 days, and they reckoned the day from sunrise (out of the eastern sea) to sunrise.

The Numenorean system, as used in Numenor, and in Arnor and Gondor until the end of the kings, was called Kings' Reckoning. The normal year had 365 days. It was divided into twelve astar astar or months, of which ten had 30 days and two had 31. The long or months, of which ten had 30 days and two had 31. The long astar astar were those on either side of the Mid-year, approximately our June and July. The first day of the year was called were those on either side of the Mid-year, approximately our June and July. The first day of the year was called yestare yestare, the middle day (183rd) was called loende loende, and the last day mettare mettare; these 3 days belonged to no month. In every fourth year, except the last of a century (haranye), two enderi enderi or 'middle-days' were subst.i.tuted for the or 'middle-days' were subst.i.tuted for the loende. loende.

In Numenor calculation started with S.A. 1. The Deficit Deficit caused by deducting 1 day from the last year of a century was not adjusted until the last year of a millennium, leaving a caused by deducting 1 day from the last year of a century was not adjusted until the last year of a millennium, leaving a millennial deficit millennial deficit of 4 hours, 46 minutes, 40 seconds. This addition was made in Numenor in S.A. 1000, 2000, 3000. After the Downfall in S.A. 3319 the system was maintained by the exiles, but it was much dislocated by the beginning of the Third Age with a new numeration: S.A. 3442 became T.A. 1. By making T.A. 4 a leap year instead of T.A. 3 (S.A. 3444) 1 more short year of only 365 days was intruded causing a deficit of 5 hours, 48 minutes, 46 seconds. The millennial additions were made 441 years late: in T.A. 1000 (S.A. 4441) and 2000 (S.A. 5441). To reduce the errors so caused, and the acc.u.mulation of the millennial deficits, Mardil the Steward issued a revised calendar to take effect in T.A. 2060, after a special addition of 2 days to 2059 (S.A. 5500), which concluded 5 millennia since the beginning of the Numenorean system. But this still left about 8 hours deficit. of 4 hours, 46 minutes, 40 seconds. This addition was made in Numenor in S.A. 1000, 2000, 3000. After the Downfall in S.A. 3319 the system was maintained by the exiles, but it was much dislocated by the beginning of the Third Age with a new numeration: S.A. 3442 became T.A. 1. By making T.A. 4 a leap year instead of T.A. 3 (S.A. 3444) 1 more short year of only 365 days was intruded causing a deficit of 5 hours, 48 minutes, 46 seconds. The millennial additions were made 441 years late: in T.A. 1000 (S.A. 4441) and 2000 (S.A. 5441). To reduce the errors so caused, and the acc.u.mulation of the millennial deficits, Mardil the Steward issued a revised calendar to take effect in T.A. 2060, after a special addition of 2 days to 2059 (S.A. 5500), which concluded 5 millennia since the beginning of the Numenorean system. But this still left about 8 hours deficit.

Hador to 2360 added 1 day though this deficiency had not quite reached that amount. After that no more adjustments were made. (In T.A. 3000 with the threat of imminent war such matters were neglected.) By the end of the Third Age, after 660 more years, the Deficit had not yet amounted to 1 day.

The Revised Calendar introduced by Mardil was called Stewards' Reckoning and was adopted eventually by most of the users of the Westron language, except the Hobbits. The months were all of 30 days, and 2 days outside the months were introduced: 1 between the third and fourth months (March, April), and 1 between the ninth and tenth (September, October). These 5 days outside the months, yestare yestare, tuilere tuilere, loende loende, yaviere yaviere, and mettare mettare, were holidays.

The Hobbits were conservative and continued to use a form of Kings' Reckoning adapted to fit their own customs. Their months were all equal and had 30 days each; but they had 3 Summerdays, called in the s.h.i.+re the Lithe or the Lithedays, between June and July. The last day of the year and the first of the next year were called the Yuledays. The Yuledays and the Lithedays remained outside the months, so that January 1 was the second and not the first day of the year. Every fourth year, except in the last year of the century, 1 1 there were four Lithedays. The Lithedays and the Yuledays were the chief holidays and times of feasting. The additional Litheday was added after Mid-year's Day, and so the 184th day of the Leap-years was called Overlithe and was a day of special merrymaking. In full Yuletide was six days long, including the last three and first three days of each year. there were four Lithedays. The Lithedays and the Yuledays were the chief holidays and times of feasting. The additional Litheday was added after Mid-year's Day, and so the 184th day of the Leap-years was called Overlithe and was a day of special merrymaking. In full Yuletide was six days long, including the last three and first three days of each year.

The s.h.i.+re-folk introduced one small innovation of their own (eventually also adopted in Bree), which they called s.h.i.+re-reform. They found the s.h.i.+fting of the weekday names in relation to dates from year to year untidy and inconvenient. So in the time of Isengrim II they arranged that the odd day which put the succession out, should have no weekday name. After that Mid-year's Day (and the Overlithe) was known only by its name and belonged to no week (p. 222). In consequence of this reform the year always began on the First Day of the week and ended on the Last Day; and the same date in any one year had the same weekday name in all other years, so that s.h.i.+re-folk no longer bothered to put the weekday in their letters or diaries. 1 1 They found this quite convenient at home, but not so convenient if they ever travelled further than Bree. They found this quite convenient at home, but not so convenient if they ever travelled further than Bree.

In the above notes, as in the narrative, I have used our modern names for both months and weekdays, though of course neither the Eldar nor the Dunedain nor the Hobbits actually did so. Translation of the Westron names seemed to be essential to avoid confusion, while the seasonal implications of our names are more or less the same, at any rate in the s.h.i.+re. It appears, however, that Mid-year's Day was intended to correspond as nearly as possible to the summer solstice. In that case the s.h.i.+re dates were actually in advance of ours by some ten days, and our New Year's Day corresponded more or less to the s.h.i.+re January 9.

In the Westron the Quenya names of the months were usually retained as the Latin names are now widely used in alien languages. They were: Narvinye Narvinye, Nenime Nenime, Sulime Sulime, Viresse Viresse, Lotesse Lotesse, Narie Narie, Cermie Cermie, urime urime, Yavannie Yavannie, Narquelie Narquelie, Hisime Hisime, Ringare Ringare. The Sindarin names (used only by the Dunedain) were: Narwain Narwain, Ninui Ninui, Gwaeron Gwaeron, Gwirith Gwirith, Lothron Lothron, Norui Norui, Cerveth Cerveth, urui urui, Ivanneth Ivanneth, Narbeleth Narbeleth, Hithui Hithui, Girithron Girithron.

In this nomenclature the Hobbits, however, both of the s.h.i.+re and of Bree, diverged from the Westron usage, and adhered to old-fas.h.i.+oned local names of their own, which they seem to have picked up in antiquity from the Men of the vales of Anduin; at any rate similar names were found in Dale and Rohan (cf. the notes on the languages, pp. 1488 14889, 1493 14931500). The meanings of these names, devised by Men, had as a rule long been forgotten by the Hobbits, even in cases where they had originally known what their significance was; and the forms of the names were much obscured in consequence: math math, for instance, at the end of some of them is a reduction of month. month.

The s.h.i.+re names are set out in the Calendar. It may be noted that Solmath Solmath was usually p.r.o.nounced, and sometimes written, was usually p.r.o.nounced, and sometimes written, Somath Somath; Thrimidge Thrimidge was often written was often written Thrimich Thrimich (archaically (archaically Thrimilch Thrimilch); and Blotmath Blotmath was p.r.o.nounced was p.r.o.nounced Blodmath Blodmath or or Blommath Blommath. In Bree the names differed, being Frery Frery, Solmath Solmath, Rethe Rethe, Chithing Chithing, Thrimidge Thrimidge, Lithe Lithe, The Summerdays The Summerdays, Mede Mede, Wedmath Wedmath, Harvestmath Harvestmath, Wintring Wintring, Blooting Blooting, and Yulemath. Frery Yulemath. Frery, Chithing Chithing and and Yulemath Yulemath were also used in the Eastfarthing. were also used in the Eastfarthing. 1 1 The Hobbit week was taken from the Dunedain, and the names were translations of those given to the days in the old North-kingdom, which in their turn were derived from the Eldar. The six-day week of the Eldar had days dedicated to, or named after, the Stars, the Sun, the Moon, the Two Trees, the Heavens, and the Valar or Powers, in that order, the last day being the chief day of the week. Their names in Quenya were Elenya Elenya, Anarya Anarya, Isilya Isilya, Alduya Alduya, Menelya Menelya, Valanya Valanya (or (or Tarion Tarion); the Sindarin names were Orgilion Orgilion, Oranor Oranor, Orithil Orithil, Orgaladhad Orgaladhad, Ormenel Ormenel, Orbelain Orbelain (or (or Rodyn Rodyn).

The Numenoreans retained the dedications and order, but altered the fourth day to Aldea Aldea ( (Orgaladh) with reference to the White Tree only, of which Nimloth that grew in the King's Court in Numenor was believed to be a descendant. Also desiring a seventh day, and being great mariners, they inserted a 'Sea-day', Earenya Earenya ( (Oraearon), after the Heavens' Day.

The Hobbits took over this arrangement, but the meanings of their translated names were soon forgotten, or no longer attended to, and the forms were much reduced, especially in everyday p.r.o.nunciation. The first translation of the Numenorean names was probably made two thousand years or more before the end of the Third Age, when the week of the Dunedain (the feature of their reckoning earliest adopted by alien peoples) was taken up by Men in the North. As with their names of months, the Hobbits adhered to these translations, although elsewhere in the Westron area the Quenya names were used.

Not many ancient doc.u.ments were preserved in the s.h.i.+re. At the end of the Third Age far the most notable survival was Yellowskin, or the Yearbook of Tuckborough. 1 1 Its earliest entries seem to have begun at least nine hundred years before Frodo's time; and many are cited in the Red Book annals and genealogies. In these the weekday names appear in archaic forms, of which the following are the oldest: (1) Its earliest entries seem to have begun at least nine hundred years before Frodo's time; and many are cited in the Red Book annals and genealogies. In these the weekday names appear in archaic forms, of which the following are the oldest: (1) Sterrendei Sterrendei, (2) Sunnendei Sunnendei, (3) Monendei Monendei, (4) Trewesdei Trewesdei, (5) Hevenesdei Hevenesdei, (6) Meresdei Meresdei, (7) Hihdei Hihdei. In the language of the time of the War of the Ring these had become Sterday Sterday, Sunday Sunday, Monday Monday, Trewsday Trewsday, Hevensday Hevensday (or (or Hensday Hensday), Mersday Mersday, Highday Highday.

I have translated these names also into our own names, naturally beginning with Sunday and Monday, which occur in the s.h.i.+re week with the same names as ours, and re-naming the others in order. It must be noted, however, that the a.s.sociations of the names were quite different in the s.h.i.+re. The last day of the week, Friday (Highday), was the chief day, and one of holiday (after noon) and evening feasts. Sat.u.r.day thus corresponds more nearly to our Monday, and Thursday to our Sat.u.r.day. 2 2 A few other names may be mentioned that have a reference to time, though not used in precise reckonings. The seasons usually named were tuile tuile spring, spring, laire laire summer, summer, yavie yavie autumn (or harvest), autumn (or harvest), hrive hrive winter; but these had no exact definitions, and winter; but these had no exact definitions, and quelle quelle (or (or la.s.selanta la.s.selanta) was also used for the latter part of autumn and the beginning of winter.

The Eldar paid special attention to the 'twilight' (in the northerly regions), chiefly as the times of star-fading and star-opening. They had many names for these periods, of which the most usual were tindome tindome and and undome undome; the former most often referred to the time near dawn, and undome undome to the evening. The Sindarin name was to the evening. The Sindarin name was uial uial, which could be defined as minuial minuial and and aduial. aduial. These were often called in the s.h.i.+re These were often called in the s.h.i.+re morrowdim morrowdim and and evendim. evendim. Cf. Lake Evendim as a translation of Nenuial. Cf. Lake Evendim as a translation of Nenuial.

The s.h.i.+re Reckoning and dates are the only ones of importance for the narrative of the War of the Ring. All the days, months, and dates are in the Red Book translated into s.h.i.+re terms, or equated with them in notes. The months and days, therefore, throughout The Lord of the Rings The Lord of the Rings refer to the s.h.i.+re Calendar. The only points in which the differences between this and our calendar are important to the story at the crucial period, the end of 3018 and the beginning of 3019 (S.R. 1418, 1419), are these: October 1418 has only 30 days, January 1 is the second day of 1419, and February has 30 days; so that March 25, the date of the downfall of the Barad-dur, would correspond to our March 27, if our years began at the same seasonal point. The date was, however, March 25 in both Kings' and Stewards' Reckoning. refer to the s.h.i.+re Calendar. The only points in which the differences between this and our calendar are important to the story at the crucial period, the end of 3018 and the beginning of 3019 (S.R. 1418, 1419), are these: October 1418 has only 30 days, January 1 is the second day of 1419, and February has 30 days; so that March 25, the date of the downfall of the Barad-dur, would correspond to our March 27, if our years began at the same seasonal point. The date was, however, March 25 in both Kings' and Stewards' Reckoning.

The New Reckoning was begun in the restored Kingdom in T.A. 3019. It represented a return to Kings' Reckoning adapted to fit a spring-beginning as in the Eldarin loa loa. 1 1 In the New Reckoning the year began on March 25 old style, in commemoration of the fall of Sauron and the deeds of the Ring-bearers. The months retained their former names, beginning now with Viresse Viresse (April), but referred to periods beginning generally five days earlier than previously. All the months had 30 days. There were 3 (April), but referred to periods beginning generally five days earlier than previously. All the months had 30 days. There were 3 Enderi Enderi or Middle-days (of which the second was called or Middle-days (of which the second was called Loende Loende), between Yavannie Yavannie (September) and (September) and Narquelie Narquelie (October), that corresponded with September 23, 24, 25 old style. But in honour of Frodo (October), that corresponded with September 23, 24, 25 old style. But in honour of Frodo Yavannie Yavannie 30, which corresponded with former September 22, his birthday, was made a festival, and the leap-year was provided for by doubling this feast, called 30, which corresponded with former September 22, his birthday, was made a festival, and the leap-year was provided for by doubling this feast, called Cormare Cormare or Ringday. or Ringday.

The Fourth Age was held to have begun with the departure of Master Elrond, which took place in September 3021; but for purposes of record in the Kingdom Fourth Age 1 was the year that began according to the New Reckoning in March 25, 3021, old style.

This reckoning was in the course of the reign of King Elessar adopted in all his lands except the s.h.i.+re, where the old calendar was retained and s.h.i.+re Reckoning was continued. Fourth Age 1 was thus called 1422; and in so far as the Hobbits took any account of the change of Age, they maintained that it began with 2 Yule 1422, and not in the previous March.

There is no record of the s.h.i.+re-folk commemorating either March 25 or September 22; but in the Westfarthing, especially in the country round Hobbiton Hill, there grew up a custom of making holiday and dancing in the Party Field, when weather permitted, on April 6. Some said that it was old Sam Gardner's birthday, some that it was the day on which the Golden Tree first flowered in 1420, and some that it was the Elves' New Year. In the Buckland the Horn of the Mark was blown at sundown every November 2 and bonfires and feastings followed. 1 1

APPENDIX E.

Writing and Spelling I.

p.r.o.nUNCIATION OF WORDS AND NAMES.

The Westron or Common Speech has been entirely translated into English equivalents. All Hobbit names and special words are intended to be p.r.o.nounced accordingly: for example, Bolger Bolger has has g g as in as in bulge bulge, and mathom mathom rhymes with rhymes with fathom fathom.

In transcribing the ancient scripts I have tried to represent the original sounds (so far as they can be determined) with fair accuracy, and at the same time to produce words and names that do not look uncouth in modern letters. The High-elven Quenya has been spelt as much like Latin as its sounds allowed. For this reason c c has been preferred to has been preferred to k k in both Eldarin languages. in both Eldarin languages.

The following points may be observed by those who are interested in such details.

CONSONANTS.

C.

has always the value of has always the value of k k even before even before e e and and i i: celeb celeb 'silver' should be p.r.o.nounced as 'silver' should be p.r.o.nounced as keleb keleb.

CH.

is only used to represent the sound heard in is only used to represent the sound heard in bach bach (in German or Welsh), not that in English (in German or Welsh), not that in English church church. Except at the end of words and before t t this sound was weakened to this sound was weakened to h h in the speech of Gondor, and that change has been recognized in a few names, such as in the speech of Gondor, and that change has been recognized in a few names, such as Rohan Rohan, Rohirrim Rohirrim. (Imrahil is a Numenorean name.) is a Numenorean name.) DH.

represents the voiced (soft) represents the voiced (soft) th th of English of English these clothes these clothes. It is usually related to d d, as in S. galadh galadh 'tree' compared with Q. 'tree' compared with Q. alda alda; but is sometimes derived from n n+r, as in Caradhras Caradhras 'Redhorn' from 'Redhorn' from caran-ra.s.s caran-ra.s.s.

F.

represents represents f f, except at the end of words, where it is used to represent the sound of v v (as in English (as in English of of): Nindalf Nindalf, Fladrif Fladrif.

G.

has only the sound of has only the sound of g g in in give give, get get: gil gil 'star', in 'star', in Gildor Gildor, Gilraen Gilraen, Osgiliath Osgiliath, begins as in English gild gild.

H.

standing alone with no other consonant has the sound of standing alone with no other consonant has the sound of h h in in house house, behold behold. The Quenya combination ht ht has the sound of has the sound of cht cht, as in German echt echt, acht acht: e.g. in the name Telumehtar Telumehtar 'Orion'. 'Orion'. 1 1 See also CH, DH, L, R, TH, W, Y. I initially before another vowel has the consonantal sound of See also CH, DH, L, R, TH, W, Y. I initially before another vowel has the consonantal sound of y y in in you you, yore yore in Sindarin only: as in in Sindarin only: as in Ioreth Ioreth, Iarwain Iarwain. See Y.

K.

is used in names drawn from other than Elvish languages, with the same value as is used in names drawn from other than Elvish languages, with the same value as c c; kh kh thus represents the same sound as thus represents the same sound as ch ch in Orkish in Orkish Grishnakh Grishnakh, or Adunaic (Numenorean) Adunakhor Adunakhor. On Dwarvish (Khuzdul) see note below.

L.

represents more or less the sound of English initial represents more or less the sound of English initial l l, as in let let. It was, however, to some degree 'palatalized' between e e, i i and a consonant, or finally after and a consonant, or finally after e e, i i. (The Eldar would probably have transcribed English bell bell, fill fill as as beol beol, fiol fiol.) LH represents this sound when voiceless (usually derived from initial sl sl-). In (archaic) Quenya this is written hl hl, but was in the Third Age usually p.r.o.nounced as l l. NG represents ng ng in in finger finger, except finally where it was sounded as in English sing sing. The latter sound also occurred initially in Quenya, but has been transcribed n n (as in (as in Noldo Noldo), according to the p.r.o.nunciation of the Third Age. PH has the same sound as f f. It is used (a) (a) where the where the f f-sound occurs at the end of a word, as in alph alph 'swan'; 'swan'; (b) (b) where the where the f f-sound is related to or derived from a p p, as in i-Pheriannath i-Pheriannath 'the Halflings' ( 'the Halflings' (perian); (c) (c) in the middle of a few words where it represents a long in the middle of a few words where it represents a long ff ff (from (from pp pp) as in Ephel Ephel 'outer fence'; and 'outer fence'; and (d) (d) in Adunaic and Westron, as in in Adunaic and Westron, as in Ar-Pharazon Ar-Pharazon ( (pharaz 'gold'). 'gold').

QU.

has been used for has been used for cw cw, a combination very frequent in Quenya, though it did not occur in Sindarin.

R.

represents a trilled represents a trilled r r in all positions; the sound was not lost before consonants (as in English in all positions; the sound was not lost before consonants (as in English part part). The Orcs, and some Dwarves, are said to have used a back or uvular r r, a sound which the Eldar found distasteful. RH represents a voiceless r r (usually derived from older initial (usually derived from older initial sr sr-). It was written hr hr in Quenya. Cf. L. in Quenya. Cf. L.

S.

is always voiceless, as in English is always voiceless, as in English so so, geese geese; the z z-sound did not occur in contemporary Quenya or Sindarin. SH, occurring in Westron, Dwarvish and Orkish, represents sounds similar to sh sh in English. in English.

TH.

represents the voiceless represents the voiceless th th of English in of English in thin cloth thin cloth. This had become s s in spoken Quenya, though still written with a different letter; as in Q. in spoken Quenya, though still written with a different letter; as in Q. Isil Isil, S. Ithil Ithil, 'Moon'.

TY.

represents a sound probably similar to the represents a sound probably similar to the t t in English in English tune tune. It was derived mainly from c c or or t t+y. The sound of English ch ch, which was frequent in Westron, was usually subst.i.tuted for it by speakers of that language. Cf. HY under Y.

V.

has the sound of English has the sound of English v v, but is not used finally. See F.

W.

has the sound of English has the sound of English w w. HW is a voiceless w w, as in English white white (in northern p.r.o.nunciation). It was not an uncommon initial sound in Quenya, though examples seem not to occur in this book. Both (in northern p.r.o.nunciation). It was not an uncommon initial sound in Quenya, though examples seem not to occur in this book. Both v v and and w w are used in the transcription of Quenya, in spite of the a.s.similation of its spelling to Latin, since the two sounds, distinct in origin, both occurred in the language. are used in the transcription of Quenya, in spite of the a.s.similation of its spelling to Latin, since the two sounds, distinct in origin, both occurred in the language.

Y.

is used in Quenya for the consonant is used in Quenya for the consonant y y, as in English you you. In Sindarin y y is a vowel (see below). HY has the same relation to is a vowel (see below). HY has the same relation to y y as HW to as HW to w w, and represents a sound like that often heard in English hew hew, huge huge; h h in Quenya in Quenya eht eht, iht iht had the same sound. The sound of English had the same sound. The sound of English sh sh, which was common in Westron, was often subst.i.tuted by speakers of that language. Cf. TY above. HY was usually derived from sy sy- and khy khy-; in both cases related Sindarin words show initial h h, as in Q. Hyarmen Hyarmen 'south', S. 'south', S. Harad Harad.