Words of Westernesse

Book excerpt: This book compiles the updated and illustrated essays on grammar and vocabulary of Adûnaic and Westron previously published on Lalaith's Middle-earth Science Pages. Lovers of J.R.R.Tolkien's invented languages have mostly disregarded the tongues spoken by the men of Númenor and Middle-earth. The known vocabulary is small in comparison to the much better documented languages of the Elves, the grammar is only rudimentary described and relationships between words are difficult to identify.Yet it is possible to enjoy J.R.R. Tolkien's creativity in the ‘lesser’ languages of Middle-earth as well. This book takes a light-hearted view on the grammar, analyses the ‘Lament of Atalantë’, the only poem Tolkien has written in the language of the sunken island of Númenor, and tries to reconstruct the development of the words used by men (and hobbits!) of Middle-earth from the Second to the Third Age under the sun. 3nd and updated edition.