Language in the World

The World of Invented Languages

Among the most impressive accomplishments of JRR Tolkien are the languages he created for the various creatures of his novels and, in his notebooks, for his own intellectual nourishment.

JRR Tolkien

However complete these languages, though, it is clear that Tolkien understood that the core of any his creature's personalities is the language they speak. He certainly knew that differences in language reflect real differences in the way intelligent beings view the world.

How many languages did Tolkien invent? According to Helge Kåre Fauskanger, author of the richest Tolkien language website, "If we consider the 'historical' versions of the tongues that are relevant for the classical form of the Arda mythos, Tolkien developed 2 languages that are vaguely 'useable' (in the sense that you can compose long texts by deliberately avoiding the gaps in our knowledge), named roughly 8-10 other languages that have a minimum of actual substance but are in no way useable, provided mere fragments of at least 4 other languages, and alluded to numerous other languages that are either entirely fictitious or have a known vocabulary of only one or a very few actual words."

The Web contains a rich assortment of resources on Tolkien's languages. This page is the result of our research, reading, and judgements as to which are the very best. To learn more about these fascinating, realistic fictional languages, click through the links below.

• General

• Ardalambion: The Invented World of J.R.R. Tolkien
• English to Elvish Dictionaries Article
• Tyalie Tyelellieva: An Index of Tolkien Language Resources
• The Elvish Linguistic Fellowship: An International Organization Devoted to the Scholarly Study of Tolkien's Invented Languages
• Languages of Middle Earth: An Encyclopedia of Tolkien Languages
• Links to Tolkien Language Sites on the Web
• National Geographic Lord of the Rings Site

• Linguistic Resources

• Dictionaries of Tolkien Language
• Grammars of Tolkien Languages
• Macintosh Fonts for Tolkien Languages
• Windows Fonts for Tolkien Languages

• Other Tolkien Resources

• The Tolkien Society
• The Tolkien Website
• Die JRR-Tolkien-Seite
• One Ring: The Complete Guide to Tolkien Online