Re: "Common" Tongues

Mau Rauszer scripsit:

> > according to what i've read, most of what is known of adunaic is
> > "classical adunaic", while westron developed from "low adunaic", sort of
> > like how the romance languages developed from vulgar latin, while
> > classical latin is more well known.
>
> oh, thanks. I am always interested in Tolkien :)
In Appendix F to the L.R., JRRT writes:

# In the years of their power the Númenoreans had maintained many forts
# and havens upon the western coasts of Middle-earth for the help of their
# ships; and one of the chief of these was at Pelargir near the Mouths of
# Anduin. There Adûnaic was spoken, and mingled with many words of the
# languages of lesser men it became a Common Speech that spread thence
# along the coasts among all that had dealings with Westernesse. After the
# Downfall of Númenor, Elendil led the survivors of the Elf-friends back to
# the North-western shores of Middle-earth. There many already dwelt who
# were in whole or part of Númenorean blood; but few of them remembered
# the Elvish speech. All told the Dúnedain were thus from the beginning
# far fewer in number than the lesser men among whom they dwelt and whom
# they ruled, being lords of long life and great power and wisdom. They
# used therefore the Common Speech in their dealing with other folk and in
# the government of their wide realms; but they enlarged the language and
# enriched it with many words drawn from the Elven-tongues. In the days of
# the Númenorean kings this ennobled Westron speech spread far and wide,
# even among their enemies; and it became used more and more by the Dúnedain
# themselves [...].

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"May the hair on your toes never fall out!"     John Cowan
        --Thorin Oakenshield (to Bilbo)         jcowan@reutershealth.com