Tengwesta Qenderinwa

The "Tengwesta Qenderinwa" is a grammar of the Primitive Quendian language, which Tolkien imagined to be the common ancestor of the various Elven-tongues spoken in Middle-earth, such as Quenya, Noldorin, Lemberin and Pereldarin (the last two later called Sindarin and Nandorin).

The earliest version of the "Tengwesta Qenderinwa" was composed in the late 1930s around the same time as the Etymologies.It describes the grammatical rules for the structure of Quendian bases and the derivation of primitive stems and words from them. The grammar gives an "Account of the Simple Component Sounds"; and has sections on "Base-structure"; "Combination of Sounds in Word-formation"; "Suffixion"; and "Accentuation." There is also an introductory section on the "Descent of Tongues" that outlines the historical divisions of the various Elven-kindreds and the languages they spoke.

Tolkien revised the "Tengwesta Qenderinwa" extensively in the early 1950s after completing the composition of "The Lord of the Rings," incorporating new conceptions of the linguistic history which had emerged by then or those that arose during revisions to the "Quenta Silmarillion" and associated writings in Tolkien's legendarium. The earliest and latest versions of the "Tengwesta Qenderinwa" are presented in this issue of "Parma Eldalamberon," along with an editorial analysis of the stages of revision that the text underwent between the 1930s and 1950s, and notes on the relation of the linguistic data in the text to that found in the "Etymologies." Pre-Fëanorian AlphabetsThe "Pre-Fëanorian Alphabets" is an edition of Tolkien's charts and notes from about 1924 to 1929 dealing with the scripts that conceptually precede the Fëanorian Tengwar which would eventually be included in "The Lord of the Rings." This issue of "Parma Eldalamberon" contains "Pre-Fëanorian Alphabets, Part 2," with the alphabets called Qenyatic, Andyoqenya and Angloquenya, in modes which were designed for writing English. Tolkien's examples of the scripts are reproduced in fascimile. These include charts of the sounds represented by the letters, and various English words and texts written in the scripts. Transcriptions of the examples and editorial commentary on the dating and historical background are provided.

Parma Eldalamberon 18

Cover art by Adam Victor Christensen.The pre-publication cost is $30 per copy including postage and handling.

Payment through PayPal can be made at:http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma18.html

Other issues of Parma Eldalamberon Other interesting editions of Parma Eldalamberon include the following works by J. R. R. Tolkien (available for purchase at the links given below):

The Grammar and Lexicon of the Gnomish Tongue:http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma11.html

Sí Qente Feanor and Other Elvish Writings:http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma15.html

Early Elvish Poetry and Pre-Fëanorian Alphabets, Part 1:

http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma16.html

Words, Phrases and Passages in The Lord of the Rings:

http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma17.html

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