Re: Natlangs in Fantasy Worlds

Alex Bicksler wrote:
> I've always noticed that in fantasy worlds such as Tolkien's Middle Earth, English is often
> used alongside conlangs.  This seems like it would be highly unlikely.
And is surely a misrepresentation. According to Tolkien's conworld,
there is *NO* English! Nor are Sindarin, Quenya etc conlangs!

Tolkien represents his LotR as a _translation_ into English from
_Westron_ (the English name Tolkien gave the language which was actual
called _Adûni_ in the Westron language itself, or _Sóval Phârë_ "Common
Speech"), leaving the other languages in their original form, with the
exception of the language of the Rohirrim of which Tolkien wrote "The
language of Rohan I have accordingly made to resemble ancient English
since it was ... in comparison with Westron archaic."

In other words, in Tolkien's Middle Earth the common language was
Westron (_Adûni_), but other _natural_ languages were also used. The
LotR is represented as a translation into English of the Middle Earth
language __Adûni_, leaving the other _natural languages_ in their
original forms (transliterated, of course, into Roman letters) with the
exception of the language of the Rohirrim.

I see nothing unlikely in all this. What else should Tolkien have done?
Leave the whole thing in Westron? Methinks it would not have sold many
copies.

--
Ray
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