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Dating

Text Date Source Comment
The Gnomish Grammar
PE11/7-16 GG. It was written and abandoned before work on the lexicon was completed.
The Gnomish Lexicon (pencil)
PE11/17-75

GL. The earliest version in pencil, with some ink revisions, largely erased or struck through

The Gnomish Lexicon (ink) 1917 PE11/17-75

GL. The primary ink version in the notebook, apparently a fair copy of the earlier pencil entries.

The Gnomish Lexicon (crayon)
PE11/17-75

GL. The final state of the lexicon, with subsequent changes made in crayon and pencil. 

The Qenya Phonology
PE12/3-28
The Quenya Lexicon

spring 1915/

end 1916

PE12/29-106 QL
Comparative in Eldarin 1959-12/1962 PE17/90
Comparative in Eldarin, with various etymological notes 1959-12/1962 PE17/90 after: Comparative in Eldarin
Words published (1) 1959-12/1960-05
WP1. This list seems to be earlier than "Words, Phrases and Passages".
Words published (2) 1959-12/1960-05
WP2. A list of Quenya words without names, which extends "as far as end of Vol. Il," according to Tolkien's annotation at the end of the list. This list seems to be earlier than "Words, Phrases and Passages".
Words, Phrases and Passages in various tongues 1959-12/1960-05

WPP.

after: Words published

Common Eldarin Verbal Structure (1, original) 1945~/1948

Common Eldarin Verbal Structure (1, emendations) 1950~

Common Eldarin Verbal Structure (2, original) 1950/1951
after: Common Eldarin Verbal Structure (1, emendations)
Common Eldarin Verbal Structure (2, marginal notes) 1950/1951
after Common Eldarin Verbal Structure (2, original), before Grey Annals
Common Eldarin Verbal Structure (2, emendations) 1951/1953~
after Grey Annals
Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals (original) 1969-03/1969-09

Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals (revision 1) 1969-03/1969-09
after Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals (original)
Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals (revision 2) 1969-03/1969-09
after Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals (revision 1)
The Feanorian Alphabet (A) 1936/1945

The Feanorian Alphabet (A′) 1940/1945
after The Feanorian Alphabet (A)
The Feanorian Alphabet (B) 1940/1950
after The Feanorian Alphabet (A′)
The Feanorian Alphabet (C) 1940/1950
after The Feanorian Alphabet (B)
Ambidexter Sentence (1) 1969-08
after Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals (revision 2)
Ambidexter Sentence (2) 1969-08
after Ambidexter Sentence (1)
Ambidexter Sentence (3) 1969-08
after Ambidexter Sentence (2)
Ambidexter Sentence (4) 1969/1970
after Ambidexter Sentence (3)
Ambidexter Sentence (5) 1969/1970
after Ambidexter Sentence (4)
Ambidexter Sentence (6) 1969/1970
after Ambidexter Sentence (5)
Ambidexter Sentence (7) 1969/1970
after Ambidexter Sentence (6)
Prayers: Ataremma (1) 1950~/1952

Prayers: Aia María (1) 1950~/1952
after Ataremma (1)
Prayers: Ataremma (2) 1950~/1952
after Aia María (1)
Prayers: Ataremma (3) 1950~/1952
after Ataremma (2)
Prayers: Aia María (2) 1950~/1952
after Ataremma (3)
Prayers: Ortírielyanna 1950~/1952
after Aia María (2)
Prayers: Litany of Loretto 1950~/1952
after Ortírielyanna
Prayers: Ataremma (4) 1950~/1952
after Litany of Loretto
Prayers: Ataremma (5) 1955~/1959

Prayers: Aia María (3) 1955~/1959
after Ataremma (5)
Prayers: Ae Adar Nín 1955~/1959
after Aia María (3)
Prayers: Ataremma (6) 1955~/1959
after Ae Adar Nín
Prayers: Aia María (4) 1955~/1959
after Ataremma (6)
Prayers: Alcar i Ataren 1955~/1959
after Aia María (4)
Collection of Etymological Notes: Beautiful 1959-12/1960 PE17/150

A group of etymologies under the heading "Beautiful" on a pair of sheets that Tolkien pinned together, and placed with a group of loose sheets probably connected with the essay Quendi and Eldar.

 

with Words Published (1)

before Words, Phrases and  assages in various tongues

Collection of Etymological Notes: Stems for 'flower' and 'snow' 1959-12/1960

PE17/160

PE17/153

PE17/146

These etymological notes are on two sheets pinned together by Tolkien, which contain notes on roots whose derivatives have to do with flowers, colors and growth. The sheets were placed between the "Beautiful" group of etymologies and the "Definitive Linguistic notes".

 

after Collection of Etymological Notes: Beautiful

Collection of Etymological Notes: Dwarf 1959 PE17/45

This note is on the back of a list of prefixes
meaning 'back' and was placed immediately following the list of roots dated "Dec. 59". 

Collection of Etymological Notes: Prefixes 1959 PE17/167

These notes are on the back of the page with the note on Dwarf

Collection of Etymological Notes: (Neck) 1959-12/1962 PE17/146

This note is on the back of the earlier of two notes on the Comparative in Eldarin, a draft of the etymological explanation of Achad Tarlang.

Collection of Etymological Notes: Stems 1959-12 PE17/158

A list of several etymologies written in ball-point with the heading "Stems" on a sheet which Tolkien dated "Dec. 59" using the back of a printed memo for a college meeting on "Tuesday 21 June" of 1955.

 

The list includes √RIG- 'twine'; √WIRI 'weave'; √WAYA 'blow'; √LĀ-; √PHŌ/Ū; √PĂTH/PAS- 'smooth'; and √ȜĂN, YĂN 'extend'. The front of the memo also has four etymologies in the blank areas, one (√SRĀ, SRAGA 'awkward') in ball-point and three (√THAR- 'vigour', √PHEN- 'door' and √PAR- 'peel') written with a nib-pen, the latter presumably on a different occasion, but probably not long before or after the rest of the list.

Selection of recent notes on Quenyar especially those making or suggesting new elements of vocabulary 1966 PE17/17


L. R. Etym. notes (1) 1959/1965-06

PE17/65

PE17/168-169

PE17/181


L. R. Etym. notes (2) 1965-06

PE17/65

after L. R. Etym. notes (1)

Tengwesta Quenderinwa (1)

1937-09~/

1937-12~



Tengwesta Quenderinwa (2)

1950/1951


before Grey Annals

Variation D/L in Common Eldarin

1969-03/1969-09


after Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals (revision 2)

Unnamed: Rough Notes

1969-03/1969-09

VT47/4

Several pages of rough notes on finger-names and numerical stems.

 

before Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals (original), acc. to VT47/26

Unnamed: Text on reflexives

1969-09?/1970

VT49/15


Silvan Folk, waybread and Galadriel

1967/1968

PE17/60

A typed sheet which was placed immediately following the discussion of √PHAN 'cover, screen, veil'.

RGEO (draft)


PE17/76

This is apparently a preliminary draft of the explanation of the metre of Namárie that was included in "Notes and Translations", published in The Road Goes Ever On, A Song Cycle, 1967, pp. 60-1. The statement that there is an anapæst in line 3 shows that this draft post-dates the decision to change the word vánier to avánier in that line, one of the revisions of the poem to appear in the 2nd edition of The Lord ofthe Rings.

The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor

1969-06/1969-09


This historical and etymological essay, titled only "Nomenclature" by its author, belongs with other, similar writings that Christopher Tolkien has dated to c. 1967-69 (XI1:293-94), including Of Dwarves and Men, The Shibboleth of Feanor, and The History of Galadriel and Celeborn.

Quenya Verbal System

1948/1949


QVS.

Quenya Notes

1957-09/1957-10

PE17/145

A collection of papers, placed immediately following the Draft list of "Words, Phrases and Passages," the first sheet dated "Sep., Oct. 1957." Two of the other pages bear the date "Sep. 1957," while the notes on a half-sheet included with them are on the back of a letter dated 16 July 1957. Most of this collection is etymological notes listed by root, but there are also six pages of "Phonological notes" on the development of consonant clusters in Quenya and Sindarin.

 

The first group of longer etymologies includes √MAY 'make'; √AYA-N 'treat with awe'; √MAG; √MAN 'good'; √AS- 'warmth'; √AR 'beyond'; ADA; and √ANA/NA 'to(wards)'. A sheet with short etymologies has √STOL 'helmet'; √LOK- 'bend'; √PHAW- 'emit' ; √LAY-; √KEWE-; √SLOY-; √NEK­ 'deprive'; √TAN- 'indicate'; √TEN- 'direction'; √KOL- 'bear'; √NEN 'water'; √MOT- 'fen'; √LĬNĬ 'pool'; SEREK- 'blood'; and (U)RUI> 'anger'. Other etymologies in the bundle are √SAT||SATAR 'faithful' ; √SRIT 'to complete a work or design'; √DEL; WAL- 'emotion' ; IN-I-D 'mind'; and a short list called "Lang. notes" with √GWAL- 'be stirred'; √WIS- 'alter'; and √RON- 'solid'.

Quendi and Eldar

1959/1960



Outline of Phonetic Development

1937/1951?


OP1.

Outline of Phonology (original)

1951/1952


OP2.

Outline of Phonology (red emendations 1)

1951/1955~


after Outline of Phonology (original)

Outline of Phonology (green emendations)

1970



Outline of Phonology (red emendations 2)

1970/1973


after Outline of Phonology (green emendations)

Notes on Names

1957/1959~


before Quendi and Eldar

Some linguistic notes on Galadriel's Song

1955/1959~

PE17/61

PE17/67

PE17/75

NGS.

before Quendi and Eldar

Monosyllabics in C.E.

1969-03/1969-06

VT47/35

A single-page text, written on the verso of an Alien & Unwin publication notice dated Jan.-Feb. 1968. This was not placed with HFN but seems to be working notes for the discussion of "old monosyllabic nouns" in HFN. Like the note on -ye 'and' on the recto of the same sheet, "Monosyllabics in C.E." was hastily jotted in ballpoint pen, and not all of it can be deciphered with certainty.

 

with Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals (original)

Draft letter to David Masson

1955

PE17/40

Masson.

 

An 8-page draft of a letter to Mr. David Masson, a librarian at the University of Leeds, with whom Tolkien corresponded in 1955 and later in 1968. The letter clearly dates  from 1955, since Tolkien cites from the 1st edition text of Galadriel's Song.

LVS 1: Some notes for re-ordering and fixing of Q

1969-04-06

PE22/147

VT49/28

after LVS2

LVS 2: Irregular verbs

1969-01/1969-04


 
LVS 3

1969-01/1969-04


 

LVS 4: Eldarin

1969-03/1969-06


after LVS 1

 

LVS 5: Have

1969-03/1969-06

PE22/151

after LVS 1

 

LVS 6: Notes on verb and treatment of -w- in Q. & S.

1969-03/1969-06


 
LVS 7: Verbal adjectives

1969-03/1969-06

PE22/153

after LVS 8

 

LVS 8

1969-03/1969-06


 

LVS 9

1969-03/1969-06


 

LVS 10: Verbs

1969-06/1969-09


 

LVS 11: Vocabulary notes

1969-03/1969-06


 

LVS 12

1969-06-05/1973


 

LVS 13: Question of the expression of Negation

1969-09/1969-11

PE22/160

This is a typescript clipped together with the manuscript of LVS 14 and enclosed in a newspaper dated October 9, 1969.

 

LVS 14: Will, shall and the 'future'

1969-09/1969-11

PE22/165

 
Late Essay on Negation: Notes on translation of 'can, may', etc

1969-03~/

1969-06~



Koivienéni Sentence

1937/1941



Homophonic stems

1969-04/1972



The Etymologies

1936/1937-11

LR/341


Changes affecting 'Silmarillion' nomenclature

1959

PE17/43

A group of pages clipped together by Tolkien.
Linguistic Notes on BBC script: Hand Words (1)

1969-03/1969-09

VT48/11

The linguistic notes found in association with The Shibboleth of Feanor and The Problem of Ros provide a brief account of the Quenya fractions 1-12.

 

after: Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals (revision 1)

Linguistic Notes on BBC script: Hand Words (2)

1969-03/1969-09

VT48/11

after: Hand Words (1)

Linguistic Notes on BBC script: Quenya Fractions

1968-11/1970

VT47/18

Found in association with The Shibboleth of Feanor and The Problem of Ros are several pages of linguistic notes, written primarily on pages from a script of the BBC radio adaptation of The Hobbit (aired in Sept.-Nov. 1968), and so from the same general time period as HFN.

Inscriptions: NEA



 

Inscriptions: NLL

13-09-1969


The sheet immediately following NEA 2a bears another Quenya well-wishing from 1969, which Tolkien describes at the top of the sheet as an "Inscription (on stick-in label) with signature, sent to Dr. & Mrs. Johnson, Dept. of Psychology, Univ. of B'ham. Sept. 13, 1969".

Primitive Quendian Structure

28-04-1936

PE21/55

This title was written as "PQuendian Structure" in the manuscript and above it to the right (also in ink) a date: "Apr. 28. 36."

Merin Sentence

1955/1959



Letter to W. R. Matthews

13-06-1964/

15-06-1964

PE17/12, 136

This is from the carbon copy of a letter to Mr. W. R. Matthews (dated 13-15 June 1964), which Tolkien placed in the same file with the manuscript of "Words, Phrases and Passages."

For including in Quenya

1964-07-16

PE17/77

PE17/114

PE17/156

These sheets are gathered with NGS. The first is dated July 16, 1964, and labelled "For including in Quenya."

Definitive Linguistic Notes




Etymological Notes on the Ósanwe-kenta

1959/1960

VT41/5

Etymological notes, clearly associated with the c. 1959-60 essay Ósanwe-kenta, found separated from the essay among a bundle of papers. Beside their obvious association in content, they are located among papers that predominately date from the late 1950s, including, for example, a draft typescript fragment of the essay Quendi and Eldar, which also dates from c. 1959-60.

Heraldic Devices of Tol Erethrin


PE13/93-96


Goldogrin Pronominal Prefixes


PE13/97


Early Chart of Names


PE13/99


The Official Name List


PE13/101-105

ONL.

The Gnomish Lexicon Slips


PE13/108-118


Early Noldorin Grammar


PE13/120-132


Noldorin Word-lists


PE13/136-156

ENF.

Noldorin Dictionary


PE13/158-165


The Creatures of the Earth


PE14/9-10


The Names of the Valar


PE14/12-15


Otsan and Kainendan


PE14/21-22


Matar and Tulir


PE14/23


The Qenya Verb Forms


PE14/28-34


Early Qenya Grammar in Manuscript

1923

PE14/41-59

EQG.

Early Qenya Phonology


PE14/60-70


Early Qenya Grammar in Typescript


PE14/71-86


V1: Description of "Valmaric (A)"


PE14/98-101


V2: Description of "Valmaric (B)"


PE14/103-104


V3: Description of "Qenya Writing"


PE14/106-110


V4: Untitled Table


PE14/112-113


V5: Description of "Qenyatic: Special Eldarin Usage (Archaic)"


PE14/114-115


V6: List of "Parts of the Body"


PE14/117


V7: Table of "Valmaric Writing: (1) Old Form"


PE14/119


V8: "Beowulf in Qenyatic" and Lord's Prayer Excerpt


PE14/120-121


V9: Title of "The Book of Scripts"


PE14/124


V10: Untitled Table


PE14/126-127


V11: Untitled Table


PE14/129


V12: Untitled Table


PE14/131-132


V13: Untitled Table


PE14/133