Neo-Eldarin literature

There exists a body of literature produced by writers attempting to use the "Elvish" (Eldarin) languages invented by British author J. R. R. Tolkien in connection with his Middle-earth legendarium. Most of these texts can be classified as either Neo-Quenya and Neo-Sindarin, after the two main "Elvish" tongues of the legendarium. (Other "Elvish" tongues than Quenya and Sindarin are also mentioned in Tolkien's material, but they are so poorly attested that any attempt to actually use them would require massive extrapolation.)

Assessment
As to whether (or to what extent) such post-Tolkien texts successfully reproduce his "Elvish" languages, opinions vary greatly. Some argue that texts using Tolkienian vocabulary and uncontroversial grammar must be counted as actual Tolkienian "Elvish", irrespective of authorship. Others hold that, strictly speaking, only Tolkien's own writings in his languages are actual "Elvish" (the grammatical conventions often used by Neo-Eldarin writers are regarded as controversial by certain scholars). People of both opinions commonly use the term "Neo-Elvish" (Neo-Quenya, Neo-Sindarin, etc.) for all non-Tolkien-authored compositions.

The fact that Tolkien himself very often changed his mind about many details of structure greatly complicates matters. Post-Tolkien writers must select a set of grammatical rules from the shifting conceptions observed in Tolkien's writings (or, if they have not themselves studied the primary sources, adopt the conventions of some other researcher). Furthermore, many of Tolkien linguistic manuscripts remain unpublished, so the whole collection still cannot be taken into consideration. It is realized that the eventual release of more material may inspire writers to adopt linguistic conventions significantly different from the ones often used today. Some predict that uncovering the full range of variation in Tolkien's conception of his languages will frustrate rather than help Neo-Eldarin efforts; others assume that there will be a consensus on which ideas to adopt.

At this point in time, few Neo-Eldarin authors would claim to have reconstructed Tolkien's intentions with absolute certainty or accuracy, but enjoy playing with this material. See the entry on Neo-Eldarin for a fuller discussion of post-Tolkien efforts to cultivate Tolkien's languages. Regarding criticism and controversies, see Criticism of Neo-Eldarin.

History
Attempts to write in Tolkien's "Elvish" date back to at least the early 1970s, but such efforts were difficult before 1987, because so little vocabulary was available. 1987 however saw the publication of The Lost Road, one of a series of books where Christopher Tolkien presented some of the writings left behind by his father (who had died in 1973). This book contained the Etymologies, a work presenting thousands of words in Tolkien's various invented languages. There were still far too many "gaps" to make these tongues truly functional (which was no concern of the original author's). Nevertheless, by deliberately avoiding the gaps and by using such grammar as could (more or less confidently) be inferred from Tolkien's own "Elvish" compositions, it now became possible to compose substantial texts using Tolkien's invented vocabulary. Even more words eventually became known, e.g. with the publication of Tolkien's early Elvish "Lexicons" in 1995 and 1998.

From the 1990s onwards, attempts to write texts in Tolkien's invented languages have never ceased. Individual texts are generally short (very often poems), but hardly a month passes without new texts being presented and discussed on Tolkien-linguistic mailing-lists like Elfling. It would already be possible to put together sizeable anthologies of such texts. The known Tolkien-made compositions inspiring them are by comparison few indeed: Tolkien wrote thousands of pages (mostly unpublished) about his languages, but he rarely put together substantial texts in them.

Most authors attempt to use Quenya, the best-attested Tolkien-language (often also held to be the most beautiful). In the early 2000s, interest in Sindarin was at least temporarily boosted by Peter Jackson's movie trilogy based on The Lord of the Rings, where this language figured prominently. (Some samples were taken directly from Tolkien's novel, but most of the "Elvish" dialogue was developed by Tolkien-linguist David Salo, based on his reconstructions of the language.)

The following is a listing of a number of Neo-Eldarin titles; where the texts are available on the Internet, links are included. Some are original, others are meant as translations of pre-existing texts (including some Biblical passages). The texts are not always homogeneous in grammar, but reflect the understanding and preferences of their authors at the time they were written. Since authors typically aim for the kind of "Elvish" that is exemplified in The Lord of the Rings, there is however far less variation than in Tolkien's own compositions.

In most cases, the authors themselves provide a translation, and often other annotation as well.

Neo-Quenya texts
*A orni!, poem by Petri Tikka
*Airelinde minya, translation of Psalm 1 by Petri Tikka
*Aiya alasse, poem by Petri Tikka
*Alqalindele, poem by Christopher Gilson, originally published in Parma Eldalamberon #9.
*Amillere, Mother's Day poem by Petri Tikka
*Antatye Voronwi, Christopher Gilson's translation of Adeste Fideles, published in Vinyar Tengwar #31
*Attolma, The Lord's Prayer in Quenya, translated by Patrick Wynne and Carl F. Hostetter, originally published in Vinyar Tengwar #32. (Note: Tolkien's own translations of this prayer later turned up and were published in [http://www.elvish.org/VT/sample.html Vinyar Tengwar # 43]. Wynne and Hostetter cite differences between their version and Tolkien's own in support of their view that Neo-Eldarin compositions must differ from what Tolkien himself would produce.)
*Catumando Lire Mincarméva, poem by David Salo, published in Tyalië Tyelelliéva #9.
*Evandilyon Matteo, translation of some chapters from the Gospel of Matthew, by Helge Fauskanger. (RTF)
*, poem by Vicente Velasco
*I Anna, poem by Basil Firsov, published in Tyalië Tyelelliéva #13
* I Heru ná Mavarinya, translation of the 23rd Psalm by Jason K. Green, published in Vinyar Tengwar #37.
*, Short Story in Dialogue Form by Arthur Boccaccio
*I Yessesse, translation of the first chapter of Genesis, by Helge Fauskanger
*Linde Hriven, poem by Alessio, published in Tyalië Tyelelliéva #13
*Linga Mardin, Christopher Gilson's translation of Deck the Halls, published in Vinyar Tengwar #31.
*, poem by Petri Tikka
*, poem by Petri Tikka
*Nálme i Híni Lómeo, poem by Peter Edelberg, published in Tyalië Tyelelliéva #13.
*Ohtallo Tiriossen, poem by Michael Johansson, published in Tyalië Tyelelliéva #13
*, elegy for Princess Diana, by Vicente Velasco
*Roccalassen, poem by Ales Bican
*, hymn translation by Petri Tikka
*Súremista, poem by Basil E. Firsov, published in Tyalië Tyelelliéva #11
*, poem by Bjórn Fromén. This is a later revision of a poem first published in 1973; the original version was thus one of the oldest post-Tolkien attempts to write in Quenya, published in his year of death.

Neo-Sindarin texts
*Aduial, poem by Thorsten Renk
*Aerlinn an Eowyn, poem by "Eowyn"
*Aerlinn vinui, translation of Psalm 1 by Petri Tikka
*[http://www.phy.duke.edu/~trenk/elvish/prestannen_s.html Cuil nîn prestannen], poem by Thorsten Renk
*, Short Story in Dialogue Form by Arthur Boccaccio
*Erin daen Hithaeglir, short story by Thorsten Renk
*[http://www.phy.duke.edu/~trenk/elvish/my_heart_s.html Gûr nîn abronatha], Thorsten Renk's translation of the song 'My heart will go on' from the soundtrack.
* I Nennin, poem by Thorsten Renk
*In oer Ivann, autumn-poem by Thorsten Renk
*I vrennil vain ben-dihenad, Thorsten Renk's translation of La Belle Dame sans Merci by John Keats
*Laer al Lothiel, lovesong by Thorsten Renk
*[http://www.phy.duke.edu/~trenk/elvish/nin_pennir_s.html Man râd bedithon aen?], poem by Thorsten Renk
* Rath Fair, Thorsten Renk's translation of the song Man's Road
*Thia sui balan enni, Thorsten Renk's translation of a classical Greek poem by Sappho
* Thinnant Ithil, Thorsten Renk's translation of a classical Greek poem by Sappho

* As for the "Movie Sindarin" lines developed by David Salo, they are listed and annotated here.

Other languages
As indicated above, most authors try to use Quenya or Sindarin, since in available Tolkien material, these two are by far the best attested "Elvish" languages. By comparison, very little vocabulary and grammar are available for the other Elven-tongues mentioned by Tolkien, such as Telerin or Nandorin. Since all the Elven-tongues are meant to be related, it is however possible to extrapolate more vocabulary from the better-attested languages. Such extrapolated words obviously do not have direct Tolkienian authority. Some would still agree that forms reconstructed on a sound phonological basis may at least capture the "flavour" Tolkien apparently intended for the language in question.

A few examples of attempts to write in Telerin, such as Altarielo Nainie, are found at the Gwaith-i-Phethdain site.

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