Read Online The Peoples of Middle-earth by J. R. R. Tolkien - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: J. R. R. Tolkien
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over the Sea. It was thus closely akin to other languages of Men that [> Other languages of Men, derived also from the tongues of the Edain or closely akin to them] were still spoken further inland, especially in the northern regions of the west-lands or about the upper waters of the Anduin. Its spread [> The spread of the Westron] had been at first due largely to the Dunedain themselves; for in the Dark Years they had often visited again the shores of Middle-earth, and in the days of their great voyages before the Downfall they had made many fortresses and havens for the help of their ships.
One of the greatest of these had been at Pelargir above the Mouths of Anduin, and it is said that it was the language of that region (which was afterwards called Gondor) that was the foundation of the Common Speech. But Sauron, who could turn all things devised by Elves or Men to his own evil purposes, had also favoured the spread of this Common Speech, for it was useful to him in the governing of his vast lordship in the Dark Years.
$11. Beside the Common or Westron Speech, and other kindred tongues of Men, there remained also in the days of Elendil the languages of the Eldar. Strange though it may seem, (* Of Quenya form, for instance, are the names Elendil, Anarion, Isildur, and all the royal names of Gondor, including Elessar; also the names of the kings of the Northern Line as far as the tenth, Earendil.
[Added: The names of other lords of the Dunedain such as Arathorn, Aragorn, Boromir, Denethor are for the most part Noldorin; but Imrahil and Adrahil are Numenorean (Adunaic) names.]) seeing that the Dunedain had dwelt for long years apart in Numenor, the people of Elendil could still readily converse with the Eldar that spoke Noldorin. The reasons for this are various.
First, the Numenoreans had never become wholly sundered from the Noldor; for while those who had returned into the West often came to Numenor in friendship, the Numenoreans, as has been said, often visited Middle-earth and had at times aided the Elves that remained there in their strife with Sauron.(7) Again, the change and decay of things, though not wholly removed, was yet much delayed in the land of the Dunedain in the days of its blessedness; and the like may be said of the Eldar.(8)
[This paragraph was rewritten thus: Beside the Common or Westron Speech, and other kindred tongues of Men, there remained also in the days of Elendil the languages of the Eldar; for many still dwelt in Eriador. With those that spoke Noldorin the people of Elendil could still readily converse. For friendship had long endured between the Numenoreans and the Noldor, and the folk of Eressea had often visited Numenor, while the Numenoreans had sailed often to Middle-earth and had at times aided the Elves in their strife with Sauron.]
$12. Moreover, those were the days of the Three Rings.
Now, as is elsewhere told, these rings were hidden, and the Eldar did not use them for the making of any new thing while Sauron still reigned and wore the Ruling Ring; yet their chief virtue was ever secretly at work, and that virtue was to defend the Eldar who abode in Middle-earth [added: and all things pertaining to them] from change and withering and weariness. So it was that in all the long time from the forging of the Rings to their ending, when the Third Age was over, the Eldar even upon Middle-earth changed no more in a thousand years than do Men in ten; and their language likewise.
$13. Now the people of Elendil were not many, for only a few great ships had escaped the Downfall or survived the tumult of the Seas. They found, it is true, many dwellers upon the west-shores who came of their own blood, wholly or in part, being descended from mariners and from wardens of forts and havens that had been set there in days gone by; yet all told the Dunedain were now only a small folk in the midst of strangers.
They used, therefore, the Westron speech in all their dealings with other men, and in
One of the greatest of these had been at Pelargir above the Mouths of Anduin, and it is said that it was the language of that region (which was afterwards called Gondor) that was the foundation of the Common Speech. But Sauron, who could turn all things devised by Elves or Men to his own evil purposes, had also favoured the spread of this Common Speech, for it was useful to him in the governing of his vast lordship in the Dark Years.
$11. Beside the Common or Westron Speech, and other kindred tongues of Men, there remained also in the days of Elendil the languages of the Eldar. Strange though it may seem, (* Of Quenya form, for instance, are the names Elendil, Anarion, Isildur, and all the royal names of Gondor, including Elessar; also the names of the kings of the Northern Line as far as the tenth, Earendil.
[Added: The names of other lords of the Dunedain such as Arathorn, Aragorn, Boromir, Denethor are for the most part Noldorin; but Imrahil and Adrahil are Numenorean (Adunaic) names.]) seeing that the Dunedain had dwelt for long years apart in Numenor, the people of Elendil could still readily converse with the Eldar that spoke Noldorin. The reasons for this are various.
First, the Numenoreans had never become wholly sundered from the Noldor; for while those who had returned into the West often came to Numenor in friendship, the Numenoreans, as has been said, often visited Middle-earth and had at times aided the Elves that remained there in their strife with Sauron.(7) Again, the change and decay of things, though not wholly removed, was yet much delayed in the land of the Dunedain in the days of its blessedness; and the like may be said of the Eldar.(8)
[This paragraph was rewritten thus: Beside the Common or Westron Speech, and other kindred tongues of Men, there remained also in the days of Elendil the languages of the Eldar; for many still dwelt in Eriador. With those that spoke Noldorin the people of Elendil could still readily converse. For friendship had long endured between the Numenoreans and the Noldor, and the folk of Eressea had often visited Numenor, while the Numenoreans had sailed often to Middle-earth and had at times aided the Elves in their strife with Sauron.]
$12. Moreover, those were the days of the Three Rings.
Now, as is elsewhere told, these rings were hidden, and the Eldar did not use them for the making of any new thing while Sauron still reigned and wore the Ruling Ring; yet their chief virtue was ever secretly at work, and that virtue was to defend the Eldar who abode in Middle-earth [added: and all things pertaining to them] from change and withering and weariness. So it was that in all the long time from the forging of the Rings to their ending, when the Third Age was over, the Eldar even upon Middle-earth changed no more in a thousand years than do Men in ten; and their language likewise.
$13. Now the people of Elendil were not many, for only a few great ships had escaped the Downfall or survived the tumult of the Seas. They found, it is true, many dwellers upon the west-shores who came of their own blood, wholly or in part, being descended from mariners and from wardens of forts and havens that had been set there in days gone by; yet all told the Dunedain were now only a small folk in the midst of strangers.
They used, therefore, the Westron speech in all their dealings with other men, and in
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