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TUTORIAL: How to write Elvish by =snurtz:iconsnurtz:

Categories Resources & Stock Images > Tutorials > Typography

©2007-2009 =snurtz
:iconsnurtz:

Artist's Comments

If you use this tutorial to make a deviation of any kind, kindly comment below and tell me so. I'd love to view your work, :+fav: it, and possibly critique it, if you so desire. You don't have to credit me in the comments, seeing as I didn't actually create Elvish, but I really want to see if you used it. =D

This took me like, 2 or 3 days. But that's just because I'm distractable.

I also have this available as a Word document, if you want it for printing purposes.

---

References:
The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth by Ruth S. Noel
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

thanks to :iconradikian: for this fabulous workbook!!! I suggest comparing my tutorial and this workbook to get a more rounded view on how to write in Elvish! :) NOTE: The workbook is a pdf, just to let you know.

Elvish fonts found at [link] ... They're fabulous, but make sure you use the character map pdf that comes with it, or what you think says "mellon" will actually say ldfyywhw! And yes, that's what it will actually say.

If there is anything else you want to know, just tell me!

---

P.S.- Want a REAL challenge?? Translate THIS! [link]

P.P.S.- I just noticed this, I messed up the example for Quenya, with the word "Elemmire"... The Tehtar are pretty much all in the wrong place. The "practice" example is correct, however.

P.P.P.S.- OHOHOH. If you wanna learn real elvish, go here, it's a great website!!! [link] ...or you can get the book The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth [link] by Ruth S. Noel, it's veeeery helpful.

P.P.P.P.S.- I like P.S... hehehe. Check out this website by :iconpurgatori:.

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I take requests/commissions on Elvish calligraphy such as this. Right now it’s free because I’m not a greedy person, but I don’t know how long it will stay that way. Please see my journal [link] for more information.

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Thank you to everyone for the comments and the :+fav:s! =D

Comments


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:iconprincess88alasse:
~princess88alasse Aug 29, 2007, 10:26:21 AM
omg! thank you so much hun! :glomp:

--
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it. :P
:iconsnurtz:
=snurtz Aug 29, 2007, 10:28:37 AM
Haha, you're welcome. It was fun. :)

--
WELL, ISN'T THAT WIZARD?

Your ≠ you're. :|

Do you like Tolkien? Do you want something written in Tengwar (also known as Elvish) for yourself? [link]
:iconprincess88alasse:
~princess88alasse Aug 29, 2007, 10:51:59 AM
yay! :dance:

--
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it. :P
:iconradikian:
~radikian Aug 29, 2007, 11:02:43 PM
everyone should take a look at this! (specially those who, unfortunately, get a tattoo done using the keyboard value of the font instead of the real value of the tengwa/tehta)
:iconradikian:
~radikian Aug 29, 2007, 11:43:19 PM
I must say, though... as I understand it, in english modes, calma is for the "ch" sound and quesse is for the "k" sound, whereas in quenya calma is for the "k" sound and quesse is for "kw" and "qu" as you have it here.... not that I have read Tolkien's actual appendix E, as my version of LOTR is a spanish translation, and they werent kind enough as to include the appendixes in it (bummer!)... what I read was the "tengwar textbook" which you can find here ([link])
would you be so kind to read it and compare it to what you know and tell me how accurate the author was?
*begs nervously*
:iconsnurtz:
=snurtz Aug 30, 2007, 4:07:28 AM
Haha, I know. They're like "uhuhuhuhh I've got LEGOLAS on my arm" and it actually says yfngwhycj!

--
WELL, ISN'T THAT WIZARD?

Your ≠ you're. :|

Do you like Tolkien? Do you want something written in Tengwar (also known as Elvish) for yourself? [link]
:iconsnurtz:
=snurtz Aug 30, 2007, 4:29:30 AM
Well, this author has obviously done a LOT more research than I have :P

That calma being ch thing threw me off a lot... I guess they're right, calma IS ch... But in Quenya, it stands for the k sound, which is I guess where I get that it means c/k. I'm looking at Appendix E right now and it says that the top row is t, p, ch, k OR t, p, k, kw. Hmm.

The problem with Tolkien's Elvish is that he changed it so much and it varied incredibly from one text to another, so it's so hard to tell what is what because it changes everywhere! Sometimes you just have to translate as much as you can, and if something's confusing, it's because the letters mean something different than what you usually use them for... That's what I do. Some texts that I have read use vilya/wilya (#24) as an A!

As for what you sent me, I think that it's pretty much accurate, and in fact, I recommend comparing my tutorial and workbook and finding out just how YOU want to write it! And, I'm actually going to link to it in the author's comments, because some things it explains a lot better than I do...

Thanks for bringing all that to my attention!

--
WELL, ISN'T THAT WIZARD?

Your ≠ you're. :|

Do you like Tolkien? Do you want something written in Tengwar (also known as Elvish) for yourself? [link]
:icondolphin64575:
~dolphin64575 Aug 30, 2007, 5:19:00 AM
I don't really understand it because I'm not really into LOTR, but it looks really cool and informative for those who read the books!

--
(not-so-secretly obsessed with detail and realism)
~~~~~~~~~~
Gibblet :D
:iconradikian:
~radikian Aug 30, 2007, 7:23:45 AM
yes indeed!!!! hahaha
:iconradikian:
~radikian Aug 30, 2007, 7:31:12 AM
As a matter of fact, I was thinking I could do a spanish mode tutorial after your tutorial! hehehe... delighted to share with a fellow tolkien/tengwar-geek.. heheheh...
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