1.6 Compounds

• 1.6.1 Weapons Names
• 1.6.2 Character Names
• 1.6.3 Phonetic Rules

1.6 Compounds: Creating names through “compounds” is one of the most fascinating and challenging aspects of Sindarin. It is not as straightforward as some might think. Given that Sindarin is a fusional language, the process of combining words to create a name or word can often be complex. There is a chart created by Fiona Jallings here which provides some direction, but it is not everything. Moreover, there are sites that may lead you to believe that this is all you need to do. This is not the case, and learning the phonetic rules and understanding the language will help you in this process.

For example, let's take the name I created for a sword I wanted to call “Iron Light,” using “ang” for “iron” and “calad” for “light.”

Let's run it through the process: ✶Aŋga·kalata > Añgalad, AN-ga-lad, | [aŋga·kalata] S23 > [aŋga·kalat] S26 > [aŋga·galad S33 > [aŋggalad S54] > [aŋgalad]

Here is an attested example: ✶Gondo·ndor > Gondor, GON-dor, | [gondo·ndor] S33 > [gondndor] S54 > [gondor]

As you can see, I have included the rule numbers to illustrate the phonetic developments of the word. In fact, you are creating a new Sindarin word.

Now, do you have to go all the way back to the primitive roots? No, you don't. I did this just to give you an idea of how involved the process can be.

Another excellent example from Elaran on The Tolkien Forum involves the word “cair” meaning “ship.” When used as the first element in a compound, it should yield “Ceiradan,” meaning “Ship-Man.” This is because “ai” can only appear in the final syllables of polysyllabic words (e.g., “erain”) or in monosyllabic words (e.g., “cair”). An even more archaic form would be “Ciriadan.” This is because “cair” originates from the ancient form KIRjā > kirja > kerja > keria > keri > keir > kair. Most of these changes depend on the word not having a following element. Thus, the modern compound “Ceiradan” is a sort of reformation that removes only the latest “(final) ei>ai” rule.

There are about 140 rules combined governing the phonetics of Old Sindarin and Sindarin.

• Note ¹: It's also important to remember that Elvish names are never composed of just a single element, such as an adjective or noun. As Tolkien mentions:
• The mere names of things, such as “hill, river, tree”, and especially of unique things, as “sun”, were not used, at any rate without differentiation: [...] for that would imply some kind of total equation or identity. An Elf (or Man) would not be called Anar “Sun” even to depict great glory or radiant vigour. [...] But an Elf or Man could be called Anárion, Anardil [etc.] [PE21/86]

Here are some compound names I have created:

1.6.1 Weapon Names:

• Cimaglar, ci-MAG-lar, “Blade of Glory”, cim “blade”, + aglar “glory, brilliance, splendour, radiance”
• Process: ✶kim·aklara > kimaklar > kimaglar > kimaglar.
• Cumeleg, CU-me-leg, “Mighty Bow”, cû “bow”, + beleg “great, mighty; large, big”
• Process: ✶kūma·beleke > kūma·veleke > kūma·velek > kūma·veleg > kūmveleg > kūmbeleg > kumbeleg > kummeleg > kumeleg
• Athaedor, a-THAE-dor “Healing Wood”, athae “*healing herb, healing”, + taur “forest, wood”
• Process: ✶atʰajā·taurē > atʰaja·taure > aθaja·taure > aθaia·taure > aθaia·taur > aθaia·daur > aθaidaur > aθaedaur > aθaedor
• Haldagnir, hal-DAG-nir, “Shadow Slayer”, N. hall¹ “veiled, hidden, shadowed, shady”, + dagnir “slayer”
• Process: ✶skalla·ndak·ndēr > sxalla·ndak·ndēr > xalla·ndak·ndēr > xalla·ndak·ndīr > halla·ndak·ndīr > halla·ndag·ndīr > hallndagndīr > hallndagndīr > haldagnīr > haldagnir.

1.6.2 Character Names:

• Hennurin, HEN-nu-rin, “Secret Child”, hên “child”, + thurin “secret, hidden”
• Process: ✶kʰinā·tʰurinā > kʰina·tʰurina > xina·thurina > xena·thurina > hena·thurina > hena·thurin > henthurin > hennurin
• Mirwen, MIR-wen, “Jewel Maiden”, mîr “jewel, precious thing, treasure”, + gwend “maiden”
• Process: ✶mīri·wende > mīre·wende > mīre·wend > mīrwend > mirwend > mirwenn > mirwen
• Alweth, AL-weth, “Wholesome One”, *alu “wholesome”, + -eth “feminine ending”
• Process: ✶alwa·itta > alwa·ittʰa > alwa·iθθa > alwa·eθθa > alwa·eθθ > alweθθ > alweθ
• Tathreniel, tath-RE-ni-el, “Daughter of Willows”, tathren “of willow(s)”, + -iel¹ “daughter; feminine suffix”
• Process: ✶tatʰren·iel > tathreniel

Phonemes

Below are the Sindarin Phonetic Rules. Each rule is hyperlinked to Edalmo.org so you can further explore the rule. I have provided a sample word for each rule that first shows its primitive form and then its modern form. Then, I break down the phonetic developments and have highlighted in bold where the rule occurs. Please note that some rules may only have one example, some may have only a Noldorin example, while others may have multiple examples. This is why, when forming compounds, it can be quite tricky as there are no known examples of two consonants together, or it may only occur in Noldorin. Even though Sindarin is descended from Noldorin, it doesn’t necessarily mean the same rules apply in Sindarin. Be mindful of that.

1.6.3 Phonetic Rules: