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Forum Home » Languages » Sindarin Discussion » Which form of Elvish is spoken in the movies?
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Huddy
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Post Which form of Elvish is spoken in the movies?
on: November 16, 2013 02:00
And what do the Elves of Imladris, Lórien, and Mirkwood speak, respectively?
saerwen_tariel
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on: November 16, 2013 09:17
My understanding is that in the movies, they all speak sindarin however I know they speak different dialects in the books, I'm just not sure if that difference was put in the movies.
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Galadivren
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on: November 17, 2013 07:34
Both Quenya and Sindarin are used in the films

Galadriel has a somewhat Exilic dialect, reflecting her Noldo heritage.
Elthir
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on: November 18, 2013 03:34
As far as the books and Mirkwood...

A) In a 'late' text published in Unfinished Tales it was said Oropher (father of Thranduil father of Legolas) and some Sindar merged with the Silvan Elves 'adopting their language'.

B) In another late text (same book) it was said that by the end of the Third Age the Silvan tongues had probably ceased to be spoken in Lórien and the Realm of Thranduil.

C) According to another passage ('late' again) Sindarin was said to be used in Thranduil's house -- 'though not by all his folk.'

§] And in a letter dated Dec. 1972 (another late example!) Tolkien explained that: 'The Silvan Elves of Thranduil's realm did not speak S. but a related language or dialect.'


This last mention is pretty late, but anyway Tolkien himself published (Appendix F) that in Lórien (at least) at this period Sindarin was spoken, though with an 'accent', since most of its folk were of Silvan origin. So we can say this much, I guess, with respect to the Silvan Elves.

So the choice for the films, for the Elves of Mirkwood... is obvious
Elthir
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on: November 18, 2013 03:44
Actually it is kind of obvious incidentally, as there is so little known about the Silvan tongues, especially according to post-Lord of the Rings sources...

... that it would be easier to use Neo-sindarin and make some details reflect a Silvan influence perhaps.

They can say 'Legolas' at lot, which is a Silvan form of Sindarin Laegolas
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