Sauron Defeated (75 page)

Dual N. azrat, -at gimlat, -iyat nilat, -uwat S. azrat gimlat, -iyat nilat, -uwat

Plural N. azri gimli nili S. azriya gimliya niliya

Beside the normal plural gimli there exists, as noted above [see page 427], also the plural with singular form gimil (declined like khibil, only with no plural or dual forms), in the sense 'the stars, all the stars' or 'stars' in general propositions. Other plurals of this type are not uncommon: such as kulub 'roots, edible vegetables that are roots not fruits', contrasted with kulbi

'roots' (a definite number of roots of plants).

The dual forms N. azrat; N. gimlat, S. gimlat; N. nilat, S.

nilat are archaic, but in accordance with the basic system of Adunaic, and show a parallel suppression of the variable vowel to that seen in zadnat, etc. The later forms are due to the growth of the feeling that the final vowels of the N. forms azra, gimli, nilu are suffixal and invariable, so that -at was added to the N.

form without suppression, producing azrat, gimilyat, niluwat.

Later forms show -at in both N. and S. owing to the predominance numerically of the nouns with final -a.

Weak.

Here belong monosyllabic nouns; and disyllabic nouns with a long vowel or diphthong in the final syllable, such as puh, breath; abar, strength, endurance, fidelity; batan, road, path.

Singular N. puh abar batan

S. puha abara batana

O. puhu abaru batanu

Dual N. puhat abarat batanat

S. puhat abarat batanat

Plural N. puhi abari batani [Footnote 16]

S. puhiya abariya bataniya

Masculine, Feminine, and Common Nouns

M., F., and C. nouns only differ in the Singular Subjective, where the suffix -n is usually differentiated by the insertion of the sex or gender signs u, i, a. In later, but still pre-exilic, texts the Feminine Objective often takes the vowel i (so nithli for nithlu) owing to the association of the vowel u with the masculine. Feminine nouns are seldom of 'basic' form, that is few belong to Strong declension Ia, since specifically feminine words are usually formed from the M[asculine]

Here Lowdham's 'Report' breaks off at the foot of a page (see p.

436). The 'footnotes' to the text now follow.

Footnote 1.

In reckoning the number of consonants in a Base it must be observed that many bases originally began with weak consonants that later disappeared, notably the 'clear beginning' (or possibly the 'glottal stop') for which I have used the symbol ?.

Thus Base ?IR 'one, alone', from which is derived a number of words (e.g. Eru 'God'), is a biconsonantal base.

Footnote 2.

In so far as this table differs from the list of the actual consonants of our records, it is arrived at by deduction from the observable changes occurring in word-formation, from variations in spelling in the written documents 'seen' by Jeremy, from the treatment of Avallonian loan-words, and from the alteration of the older forms that have been occasionally noted.

Footnote 3.

Adunaic did not possess, as independent Base-forming elements, nasals of the c- or K-series. The latter (here symbolized by 9), the sound of ng in English sing, occurs, however, as the form taken (a) by an 'infixed' nasal before consonants of the K-series, and (b) by the dental nasal N (not M) when it comes in contact with a consonant of the K-series in the process of word-formation. On 'infixion' see below [see p. 417 and Footnote 4]. Doubtless Adunaic originally possessed similarly a nasal of the c-series, but as these all became dentals, except Y, if it occurred at all, it could only occur in NY. In this combination, however, the Adunaim appear to have used the same sign as for dental x.

Footnote 4.

Nasal-infixion is of considerable importance in Avallonian; but does not seem to occur at all in Khazadian; so that this element in Adunaic structure may be due to Avallonian influence in the prehistoric period.

Footnote 5.

This sound only occurs in the combination NG, for which Adunaic employed a single letter.

Footnote 6.

Jeremy could not see this very clearly; it was perhaps already very old and partly illegible at the period to which his 'sight'

was directed. We believe it to have been on some monument marking the first landing of Gimilzor, son of Azrubel, on the east coast of Anadune. It cannot have been quite contemporary, since the texts seem to speak of the Adunaic script as being only invented after they had dwelt some little time in the island. It is likely, nonetheless, to date from a time at least 500 years, and quite possibly 1000 years, before the time of Ar-Pharazon. This is borne out both by the letter-forms and by the archaism of the linguistic forms. The length of the period during which the Adunaim dwelt in Anadune cannot of course be computed at all accurately from our scrappy material; but the texts seem to show that (a) Gimilzor was young at the time of the landing; (b) Ar-Pharazon was old at the time of the Downfall; (c) there were twelve kings in between: that is practically 14 reigns [see p. 381, $20]. But members of the royal house seem often to have lived to be close on 300; while kings seem normally to have been succeeded by the grandsons (their sons were as a rule as old as 200 or even 250 before the king 'fell asleep', and passed on the crown to their own sons, so that as long and unbroken a reign as possible might be maintained, and because they themselves had become engrossed in some branch of art or learning). This means that the realm of Anadune may have lasted well over 2000 years.

Footnote 7.

Apparent cases, such as the variation between pronominal u- and hu-, are due to the existence of two stems, one beginning with a weak consonant (3 or ?), the other with the intensified H-form.

Footnote 8.

In composition or inflexion a 'glide' w was developed between u and a following vowel (other than v), and this developed into a full consonant in Adunaic. Similarly a v was developed between i and a following vowel (other than i). The best representation of Adunaic w in English letters is probably w; but I have used v in the Anglicizing of Adunaic names.

Footnote 9.

Note that these variations are only permitted where the CV is in normal position; such forms as AN'KU, UKLIB are not permitted.

Footnote 10.

These modifications are not held to change the identity of the CV, so that they can occur together with vowel-variation in subordinate syllables: thus from Base GIM'L a form GAIMAL is possible.

N-infixion, though not strictly a vocalic change, is included here because it plays a similar part in grammar and derivation to Lengthening. It only occurs before a medial or final radical (never as in Avallonian before the initial), and there is limited to occurrence before the Stops and z (on which see above

[p. 417]).

Footnote 11.

Common nouns can be converted into M. or F. when required by appropriate modifications or affixes; or, naturally, separate words can be used. Thus karab 'horse', pl. karib, beside karbu m. 'stallion', karbi 'mare'; raba 'dog', rabo m. and rabe f. 'bitch'. ana 'human being', anu 'a male, man', ant 'a female'; beside naru 'man', kali 'woman'. nuphar 'parent' (dual nuphrat 'father and mother' as a pair), beside ammi, amme,

'mother'; attu, atto 'father'.

Footnote 12.

In most of our records from approximately the time of the Downfall final -a was in fact often omitted in speech, not only before the vocalic beginning of another word, but also (especially) finally (i.e. at the end of a sentence or phrase) and in other cases; so that the spoken language could have various final consonant combinations.

Footnote 13.

This use of u and i (and of o from au, e from ai) as m. and f.

signs runs through all Adunaic grammar. u and i are the bases of pronominal stems for 'he' and 'she'. The use of the affixed elements -u and -F finally to mark gender (or sex): as in karbu

'stallion', or urgi 'female bear', is in fact probably a close parallel to such modern English formations as 'he-goat', 'she-bear'.

Footnote 14.

In apposition each noun was separate and had an independent accent. In the genitive function the preceding or adjectival noun received a louder stress and higher tone, the second noun being subordinated. These combinations are virtual compounds. They are often in Adunaic script joined with a mark like a hyphen ( - ) or (=), or are actually compounded. Even when they are not conjoined the end of one noun is often assimilated to the following, as in Aman-thani to Amat-thani, Amatthani 'Land of Aman'. Adunaic has another way of expressing the genitive, where the nexus is not quite so close: by the adjectival prefix -an. Though this resembles the function of English 'of', it is not a preposition (Adunaic prepositions are in fact usually 'postpositions' following their noun); it is the equivalent of an inflexion or suffix. Thus thani an Aman, usually thani 'nAman 'Land of Aman'. The same prefix occurs in adun

'west, westward', aduni 'the West', anaduni 'western'. Other examples of the adjectival use are: kadar-lai 'city folk', azra-zain 'sea-lands, sc. maritime regions', Ar-Pharazon 'King Pharazon'.

Footnote 15.

The O. form huznu, borrowed from the nouns of Strong II and Weak, is frequently found in nouns whose final vowel is u.

It occurs also in nouns with other final vowels (as zadnu), but less frequently.

Footnote 16.

Dissyllabic nouns with a long final syllable (containing a) sometimes, especially in the older texts, make a strong plural by change of a to i, but not other strong forms: so batin, batina

'roads'.

*

Of further material on Adunaic in addition to 'Lowdham's Report'

there is not a great deal, and what there is consists almost entirely of preliminary working, much of it very rough, for the text given above.

From the point where it breaks off (at the beginning of the section on Masculine, Feminine, and Common Nouns, p. 432), however, drafting in manuscript is found for its continuation. The complexities of the passage of these nouns from 'strong' to 'weak' declension are rather obscurely arranged and presented, and there are illegibilities. I have been in two minds whether to print this draft; but on the whole it seems a pity to omit it. The form given here is somewhat edited, by removal of repetition, small clarifications of wording, omission of a few obscure notes, and the use of the macron throughout in place of the confusing mixture of macron and circumflex in the manuscript.

Masculine, Feminine, and Common nouns only differ in the Singular Subjective, where the suffix is M. -un, F. -in, C. -(a)n.

Feminines also are very rarely 'basic', being nearly always formed with suffix from a masculine or common noun [see p. 426].

M. and F. nouns also have mainly become weak, since as a rule they show lengthening in the stem (final syllable) as a formative not an inflexional device.

Therefore corresponding to Neuter Strong I we have a small class I(a) as tamar 'smith', and a diminishing variety I(b) as phazan 'prince, king's son'. Corresponding to Neuter Strong II there is a small class II(a) of mainly common nouns as raba

'dog', and II(b) of nouns ending in u (masc.), i (fem.), a (common); to which are joined nouns ending in o (masc.) and e (fem.) [on which see below]. These have usually become weak.

Strong I(a).

Examples: tamar, m. smith,- nithil, f. girl ., nimir, c. Elf ., uruk, c. 'goblin, orc.'

Singular N. tamar nithil nimir uruk S. tamrun nithlin nimran urkan

O. tamur- nithul- nimur- uruk-

(tamru-) (nithlu-) (nimru-) (urku-)

Dual tamrat nithlat nimrat urkat Plural N. tamir nithil nimir urik S. tamrim nithlim nimrim urkim

I(b).

Examples: phazan 'prince'; banath 'wife'; zigur 'wizard'.

Singular N. phazan banath zigur S. phazanun banathin zigurun

O. (phazun-) (banuth-) (zigur-)

phazanu- banathu- ziguru

Dual phazanat banathat zigurat Plural N. phazin banith zigir S. phazinim banithim zigirim

Here belong only masculines with a, u in final syllables and feminines with a. And these may all be declined weak: plural phazani, -im, banathi, ziguri, etc.

II(a).

There are very few M., F., C. nouns here since such have normally long final stems and have become weak. Here belong chiefly archaic naru 'male', zini 'female' (beside naru, zini), and nouns denoting animals, as raba 'dog'.

Singular N. naru zini raba

S. narun zinin raban

O. naru- zinu- rabu-

Dual narat zinat rabat