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One of Tolkien’s many impressive feats in The Lord of the Rings is his mastery
of language, specifically his varied use of rhetoric. His dialogue goes beyond merely
recounting the words of a character and adds a level of authenticity to his work. This
authenticity is achieved by the history it creates, the cultures it distinguishes, and the
characters it illuminates.
Tolkien’s Middle-earth is rich and varied. From the detail in character and culture,
landscape and language, Middle-earth is presented as more than just a fantasy land filled
with amazing creatures meant to entertain simple minds. It is real. Or at least that is what
Tolkien endeavors to convince us. Middle-earth is part of our world and its history flows
into our own. This history is in part created by language, its spread and evolution.
Languages are rarely simple and Tolkien’s are no exception. Entire volumes have
been dedicated to the various grammatical, syntactical, and lexical rules surrounding
Elvish, Dwarvish, and other such languages. The incredible amount of detail and
complexity alone adds another layer of richness and authenticity to The Lord of the
Rings.
was formed from the contact between the Númenoreans and the people of the western
coastlands. As their descendants migrated eastward, the language spread and was adopted
dating from the early Third Age, are full of the derivational affix “-eth” on verbs (246).
Readers are familiar with this suffix as it was common throughout Middle English.
However, neither Isildur’s direct descendant, Aragorn, nor other races use this ending. Its
of Rohan. Always an avid scholar of the Mercian dialect of Anglo-Saxon, Tolkien adapts
words from Old English to make them into their Mercian equivalents. These so-called
“asterisk words” are used to fill empty spaces in the original language. This subsequent
speech he gives to Rohan because of its strong ties to pre-conquest Anglo-Saxon culture,
The relation of language to cultural identity is another strong theme that further
contributes to the authenticity of Tolkien’s works. The hobbits are a plain people. They
live off the land and are closely associated with nature. Their ways are simple and
As this example from the Gaffer illustrates, their sentences are often the easiest to
understand because they are not inverted, mostly active, and generally composed of one
Galadriel, unlike the Gaffer, speaks in long, drawn-out sentences that are often
inverted or passive – a method of speaking that echoes their very long lives. Elvish
diction relies on antiquated terms such as “hither,” “unbidden,” “naught,” and “ere”
Elvish, specifically Quenya, also seems to have an innate, almost sacred, power,
much like the elves themselves. Twice when Sam and Frodo are passing through Cirith
Ungol, an unknown power takes control of their tongues as they utter phrases in Quenya.
The words grant them hope, courage, and strength and seem temporarily to keep Shelob
Another example of the power of language comes from the Council of Elrond.
Gandalf recites the inscription of the Ring in the tongue of Mordor and his voice becomes
“menacing, powerful, harsh as stone,” and darkness seems to fall upon them (248). Just
as Quenyan brings light and hope, the Black Speech brings darkness and despair.
Cultural differences can also help explain why certain places have many names.
The elves called a great peak in the Misty Mountains Caradhras, or Redhorn, because of
its appearance from afar. The dwarves who had first-hand experience with its treacherous
passes and icy slopes refer to it instead as Baranzibar, the Cruel. Another such
original founders, dubbed it Khazad-Dûm, or Mansions of the Dwarves. The elves, once
Beyond providing history for and insight into the cultures of Middle-earth,
language also illuminates the qualities of the characters. Beyond the signs of dual
Tolkien seems to delight in Gollum’s lines, making the most of every opportunity
to express the guile and malice lurking within him in an amusingly alliterative manner.
Sam Gamgee’s inner characteristics are also mirrored in his words, which, though
unrefined, are surprisingly eloquent and reveal his honest and caring heart as well as
‘The brave things in the old tales and songs, Mr. Frodo:
adventures, as I used to call them. I used to think that they were
things the wonderful folk of the stories went out and looked for,
because they wanted them, because they were exciting and life was
a bit dull, a kind of sport, as you might say. But that’s not the way
of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in
mind.’ (696)
Despite a lack of a good education, Sam is able to see and reflect on their
situation in a uniquely charming way. His insight into adventures leads to a conversation
Perhaps the clearest example of the correlation between speech and inner
qualities, Saruman attempts to persuade others with his cunning and beautiful words.
His modern-style speech is unlike any other in the text, and for good reason.
Tolkien eyed technological progress warily and saw it as a destructive force that
threatened nature. In much the same way, Saruman, whose very name means “cunning
man,” with his mind of metal and wheels is to be distrusted, in spite of all the pleasantries
his voice may bring. It casts a spell upon all who hear it, save those with a strong enough
J.R.R. Tolkien. By giving a background and history to his many languages, he has
enriched the Middle-earth’s history. Additionally, the diversity and uniqueness of each
culture’s language further authenticates their world. The characters themselves are also
more realistic and believable because their speech reflects their personal traits. All of
these factors help provide a certain level of authenticity and realism to Tolkien’s creation.