There has long been speculation about whether J.R.R. Tolkien based his Elvish languages on real-world languages like Welsh. As a philologist and lover of language, Tolkien was influenced by many real languages when creating the tongues spoken by Elves in Middle Earth. However, how directly Elvish relates to Welsh is up for debate. Looking at the origins, sounds, and grammar of both languages can provide some insight into their similarities and differences.
Tolkien’s Interest in Welsh
J.R.R. Tolkien had a great interest in Welsh and even learned the language later in life. Some quick facts about Tolkien’s connection to Welsh include:
- Tolkien began learning Welsh in 1955 after retiring from Oxford and moved to Bournemouth. He viewed learning the language as an intellectual challenge at the age of 63.
- Tolkien was intrigued by Welsh for its history and role in ancient Britain. His interest aligned with his academic focus on early languages and cultures.
- In a letter from 1967, Tolkien acknowledged using Welsh to build the sounds and grammar of Sindarin Elvish.
- Tolkien praised Welsh for its linguistic beauty, stating “Welsh is beautiful” in a 1955 letter.
So while Tolkien clearly appreciated and was inspired by Welsh, he did not claim it was a direct model for Elvish. He borrowed some features but also pointed out differences between the languages.
Origins of Welsh and Elvish
Welsh and the Elvish languages have very different origins and histories:
- Welsh developed from the Brythonic language brought to Britain by ancient Celtic immigrants. It has over 1,400 years of history as a written language.
- Tolkien’s Elvish languages were invented in the 1930s for his fictional Middle Earth setting. They do not have a real-world history.
- Welsh evolved naturally over time, shaped by Celtic, Latin, Norse, and English influences. Elvish was consciously created by Tolkien based on his knowledge of language.
- Whereas Welsh developed among ancient Celtic people in Britain, Elvish was supposedly spoken by immortal Elves in a fantasy realm.
So in terms of origins, Welsh is an ancient natural language, while the Elvish tongues were artificially constructed much more recently by Tolkien.
Grammar Comparison
There are a few grammatical similarities between Welsh and Elvish, though many differences as well:
- Welsh uses a system of mutations to indicate grammar. Soft mutations alter initial consonants while aspirate mutations alter them more dramatically. Elvish also utilizes mutated consonants.
- Both languages show initial consonant mutations following words like “the” or “my.” For example, “the cat” in Welsh is “y gath” where “cat” becomes “gath.”
- Welsh and Elvish both use inflected prepositions where prefixes or suffixes indicate grammatical information.
- Elvish grammars were consciously designed by Tolkien and include features not found in natural languages like Welsh. For example, Elvish has dual pronouns referring to exactly two people/things.
- Welsh syntax follows a verb-subject-object order while Elvish usually follows a subject-verb-object order like English.
So there are some high-level similarities between Welsh and Elvish grammatical features, but the languages differ substantially in their detailed syntax.
Vocabulary Comparison
When it comes to vocabulary, Elvish words have no relation to Welsh beyond a few borrowed terms:
- Very few Elvish vocabulary words are directly derived from Welsh. Terms for “bridge” and “bell” in Sindarin come from Welsh.
- Almost all Elvish vocabulary was invented by Tolkien to fit the Elven culture and setting.
- Welsh incorporates loanwords from many languages, while Elvish vocabulary is largely isolated from other tongues.
- Elvish languages feature 1,000+ page dictionaries detailing their vocabulary. Welsh vocab reflects its 1,400 year literature and usage history.
- The Elvish terms for people, places, flora, fauna, etc. relate to Middle Earth myths and cultures invented by Tolkien.
In summary, the core vocabulary between Welsh and Elvish is completely distinct, with Elvish words stemming from Tolkien’s subcreation rather than Welsh sources. Only a couple terms were directly borrowed from Welsh.
Phonology Differences
The sounds used in Welsh and Elvish also show important differences:
| Welsh Phonology | Elvish Phonology |
|---|---|
| Utilizes sounds like the Welsh “ll” and “rh” | No equivalent sounds to “ll” or “rh” |
| Has groups of consonants like “str” and “nth” | Generally avoids complex consonant clusters |
| Allows long strings of consecutive consonants | Tends to alternate consonants and vowels |
| Features nasal mutation of vowels (e.g. mab -> mam) | No nasal mutation process |
| Pitch accent occurs more on long vowels | Stress/pitch accents tend to follow penultimate syllable |
As demonstrated in the table, Welsh allows complex consonant combinations and mutations not found in Elvish. Elvish phonology follows more regular and smoother phonotactic rules outlined by Tolkien.
Orthography Contrasts
The writing systems of Welsh and Elvish also differ significantly:
- Welsh has used the Latin alphabet for over 1,000 years, while multiple Elvish scripts were invented by Tolkien.
- Tolkien’s Elvish languages feature complex writing systems like Tengwar, a phonetic script with detailed letters and marks.
- Welsh orthography developed naturally over centuries, while Elvish scripts were consciously designed.
- The Elvish Tengwar system was inspired by real-world phonetic scripts, but is unique to Middle Earth.
- Certain Elvish letters directly represent concepts like “elf” or “oak tree” rather than sounds.
So in written form, Elvish utilizes detailed and consciously-crafted scripts that Welsh lacks. Elvish writing systems were designed for elegance and meaning by Tolkien.
Poetic Forms
Both Welsh and Elvish have rich poetic traditions, though the forms differ:
- Strict Welsh poetic meters include cynghanedd (harmony) and the awdl measuring syllables per line.
- Elvish poetry follows patterns described in Tolkien’s essays, like the linnod (seven-beat line) and the popular minlamad (trochaic tetrameter).
- Welsh poetry uses internal rhyme while Elvish poetry relies on alliteration.
- Elvish poetry examples come purely from Tolkien’s writing. Welsh poetry dates back to the 6th century.
- Welsh poetry developed among Celtic bards over centuries, while Tolkien consciously formulated Elvish poetic devices.
The rigorous metrical and rhyming schemes differ between the two languages’ poetic traditions, with Welsh poetry evolving naturally while Elvish forms were intentionally devised.
Learning Difficulty
For a native English speaker, both Welsh and Elvish present challenges to learn, but in different ways:
- Welsh is a natural language used natively by hundreds of thousands of people. Elvish only exists as artistic languages.
- Welsh has very complex consonant mutations and pronunciation. Elvish pronunciation is designed to be fairly phonetic.
- Welsh has idioms and expressions that require cultural understanding. Elvish languages lack real cultural/historical context.
- Elvish features new vocabulary words and grammatical rules designed specifically by Tolkien.
- Resources for learning Welsh far exceed those for learning Elvish languages.
Overall, Welsh poses more difficulties in terms of pronunciation, mutations, and native idioms – challenges common to real-world languages. Elvish may be less phonologically complex but presents hurdles in its extensive new vocabulary and consciously-crafted grammar.
Everyday Usage
Welsh and Elvish differ enormously when it comes to practical usage:
- Welsh is legally recognized in Wales and is spoken natively by hundreds of thousands of people everyday.
- Television, radio, and newspapers feature extensive Welsh language content.
- Welsh is taught in schools and university classes across Wales.
- Elvish languages have essentially no everyday speakers or practical role outside of Tolkien fandom.
- Aside from some enthusiasts, Elvish languages are treated as artistic constructed languages rather than practical tongues.
In summary, Welsh has a vibrant contemporary role and presence in Wales, while Elvish exists almost solely for literary and artistic purposes.
Conclusion
While J.R.R. Tolkien was clearly influenced by Welsh in certain respects, his Elvish languages differ substantially from Welsh in their origins, vocabulary, sounds, grammar, and real-world role. Welsh provided some inspiration to Tolkien but his goal was to artistically construct fictional Elven tongues unique to Middle Earth. Similarities exist in some minor areas like mutations and poetic forms, but the languages overall are far more distinct than alike. Welsh developed naturally over centuries to be practically used by a culture today, whereas Elvish was artificially devised by one man to exist solely as an artistic fictional creation.