Re: Quenya Wikibook

Den 27. feb. 2007 kl. 13.32 skrev Mark J. Reed:
>
> I think the message is simple.  We can extrapolate
> internally-consistent Elvish langs that agree with the attested
> examples in LotR, but isuch constructs are quite unlikely to resemble
> what Tolkien would have come up with if he could have stopped
> tinkering long enough to complete his langs' descriptions.
Tolkien is one of the few conlangers whose languages aren't dead just
because his spirit has ceased to be physically active. But if anybody
were to give it some work they would have to ask themselves whether
the goal is to extrapolate an internally consistent language agreeing
with any left behind Tolkien notes or to resemble anything Tolkien
would have come up with if he had completed his descriptions, or
perhaps to create something quite different based on his leftbehinds.
Since there is no official Quenya, perhaps the world's Tolkien fans
should elect an academy to set up an official Quenya, to finish the
work in his spirit? Or should anyone be free to use his material to
whatever end their spirits may pursue? After all he's dead and
intellectual property applies no more.

Personally I would be quite happy if I could foresee any chance that
anyone would continue working with my stuff when I'm not able
anymore. I've seen many epigoni, good and bad, after authors like
Jack Vance and Robert E. Howard for example. But no matter good and
bad, at least there is something. It is continued life in a way.
Would it have pleased Tolkien if he had known that nobody would dare
to touch his work in respect of him? I doubt it.

LEF

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