<p>I don't know the exact changes Tolkien enacted, but here are a few in no particular order. You can tell they are quite inspired by real world sound changes in Celtic languages, which I'll mark in brackets. A good summary for quenya can be found <a href="http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/qevolution.rtf" rel="noreferrer">here</a>.</p>

<ul>
<li>Aspirates /pʰ tʰ kʰ/ become fricatives /ɸ θ x/</li>
<li>Lots of syncope, especially the second vowel in trisyllabic words</li>
<li>In Quenya /kʷ/ is retained (Irish), while in Sindarin it becomes /p/ (Welsh)</li>
<li>Vowels are reduced or lost finally, especially in Sindarin (Welsh)</li>
<li>Sindarin features i-affection (Welsh)</li>
<li>Various forms of lenition (Irish, Welsh)</li>
<li>Plenty of assimilation in clusters</li>
<li>Quenya features some palatalization with <em>y</em> /j/</li>
<li>Syllabic consonants become non-syllabic</li>
<li>Some sounds such as /ɣ/ and /ŋ/ are lost or merge with other sounds</li>
<li>In Quenya usually /w/ > /v/, while in Sindarin initial /w/ > /gw/ (Welsh)</li>
</ul>

<p>Hope this answers your question somewhat.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-14T03:47:41.383Z
The usual word for context-dependent alteration of initial consonants in Celtic languages is _mutation_; there are (i think) three kinds, apparently depending on the lost last consonant of the preceding word.
Anton Sherwood
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-20T03:04:30.810Z
2018-02-20T03:04:30.810Z
Janos
<blockquote>
<p>What is a summary of the major changes he modelled? For example, did he describe something akin to the Great Vowel Shift?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>For Sindarin, there are some big changes in vowels comparable to the Great Vowel Shift.</p>
<p>For example, under certain circumstances and in different periods:<br />
á &gt; au<br />
au &gt; o</p>
<p>That's one of the reasons why Sindarin looks quite different from Quenya sometimes. e.g.<br />
Q. - S.<br />
náre - naur<br />
anar - anor</p>
<p>If you want a more detailed &quot;summary&quot;, or rather &quot;study&quot;, <a href="http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/David_Salo" rel="nofollow noreferrer">David Salo</a> spent some forty pages to analyze Sindarin's historical sound changes in his book: <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/0874809126" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">a Gateway to Sindarin</a>. And here's an essay by Helge K. Fauskanger discussing <a href="https://folk.uib.no/hnohf/qevolution.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the Evolution of Quenya</a>.</p>
<p>Or if you want the description from Tolkien himself, you can get <a href="http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Parma_Eldalamberon_19" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Parma Eldalamberon #19</a>, where you can find big phonetic tables by Tolkien.</p>
<p>The biggest Elvish dictionaries made by Tolkien himself are organized by roots - Words in different Elven languages are listed under the proto root from which they are derived.
Here's an example from <a href="http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/The_Etymologies" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the Etymologies</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>KHER rule, govern, possess. Q[uenya]. <em>heru</em> master, <em>heri</em> lady ...
O[ld ]N[oldorin] <em>khéro</em> master ... N[oldorin]. <em>hîr</em>. N. <em>herth</em> house-hold ...</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-17T02:54:22.050Z
Note that, at the (external) time of *The Etymologies*, the Teleri of Beleriand spoke “Ilkorin” and the Noldor spoke what later became Sindarin.
Anton Sherwood
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-08T07:43:54.153Z
2022-02-08T07:43:54.153Z
Eugene
<p>OK, here are some details on classical Quenya and classical Sindarin (based on Helmut W. Pesch, Das große Elbisch-Buch, Bastei-Lübbe 2009)</p>

<p>The phoneme inventory of Primitive Quendian was</p>

<pre><code>p   t   k
pʰ  tʰ  kʰ
b   d   g
m   n   ŋ
    r,l
        ɣ
w     j
a, e, i, o, u, ai, oi, ui, au, eu, iu
</code></pre>

<p>An early addition to this repertoire were prenasalised consonants <code>mb, nd, ŋg</code> that developped differently in Quenya and Sindarin.</p>

<p><strong>Sound shifts for Quenya</strong></p>

<pre><code>pʰ   tʰ   kʰ  -&gt; f   θ   x  (later: θ -&gt; s)
b-   d-   g-  -&gt; v-  l-  Ø
-b-  -d-  -g- -&gt; -mb- -nd- -ŋg-
mb-  nd-  ŋg- -&gt; m-  n-  ŋ-   (later: ŋ- -&gt; n-)
</code></pre>

<p>The loss of almost all b's, d's, and g's makes Quenya phonological similar to the Finnish language.</p>

<p>Quenya has some old compounds that preserve the pre-shifted state of a root, e.g., for <em>dome > lome</em> "night, darkness" there is an old compund <em>tindome</em> and a newer regular one <em>Aldalome</em>. This adds to the diachronical depth of the language.</p>

<p><strong>Sound shifts for Sindarin</strong></p>

<pre><code>p    t    k   -&gt; b   d   g
pʰ   tʰ   kʰ  -&gt; v   ð   ɣ (later: ɣ -&gt; Ø)
mb-  nd-  ŋg- -&gt; b-  d-  g- 
kʷ  -&gt; p
w-  -&gt; gw-
</code></pre>

<p>Sindarin also has a lot of lenitations (i.e., in certain contexts the initial consonsonant of a word is changed to some "softer" consonant) inspired by Welsh. The lenitations are different for original <code>b d g</code> and <code>b d g</code> that come from <code>mb  nd  ŋg</code>. Sindarin also has acquired an umlaut <code>y</code>. </p>

<p>EDIT 3: <strong>Evolution of initial <em>sp-</em>, <em>st-</em>, and <em>sk-</em></strong></p>

<p>Both in Sindarin and quenya, consonant clusters with an initial s were simplified in two steps: First, the stop became aspirated and the s was dropped</p>

<pre><code> sp st sk -&gt; pʰ tʰ kʰ
</code></pre>

<p>and than the aspirated stops became voiceless fricatives</p>

<pre><code> pʰ tʰ kʰ -&gt; f θ h
</code></pre>

<p>In Quenya, also the so-created <em>θ</em>'s became <em>s</em> later, such that the net development of Quenya is</p>

<pre><code>  st -&gt; s
</code></pre>

<p>EDIT 1: Some more information gleened from the dictionary</p>

<p><strong>Quenya</strong> Words beginning with <code>h-</code> derive from Primitive Quendian roots beginning in <code>kʰ-</code>. The initial consonant cluster <code>stʰ</code> was simplified via <code>θ</code> to <code>s</code>.</p>

<p>Some words beginning with  <code>ç-</code> like <em>hyarmen</em> "south; left side" come from roots beginning in <code>kʰj</code>.</p>

<p><strong>Sindarin</strong>  has simplified some consonant clusters like <code>kl- kr-</code> via intermediate voiceless l and r but in classical Sindarin those l's and r's are the usual voiced ones (despite being retained in orthography as <em>lh rh</em>).</p>

<p>EDIT 2: The grammatical changes aren't explained in great detail. It seems that Tolkien applied some <em>handwavium</em> here when he states that Quenya was consciously changed for greater clarity. On the other hand, Sindarin has evolved naturally (in Tolkiens internal history) in the woodlands of Middle Earth where everything is interwoven with everything.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-14T03:50:39.500Z
Sindarin did not voice *initial* voiceless consonants. — _The Etymologies_ show initial *sp, st, sk* > *ph, th, kh* > *f, þ, h* in both Q and S; I don't think they show a Primitive root with *sCh*.
Anton Sherwood
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-14T08:20:11.857Z
@AntonSherwood The consonant clusters with an initial s were treated differently from simple consonants, and your sound laws are correct. I will add this to the answer as an edit.
Sir Cornflakes
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-21T01:19:28.413Z
Any idea of the grammar changes he made that Wikipedia mentions?
curiousdannii
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-02-21T00:24:39.477Z
2018-10-14T08:31:14.077Z
2018-10-14T08:31:14.077Z
Sir Cornflakes
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvish_languages" rel="noreferrer">Wikipedia</a> explains that Tolkien modelled changes to his Elvish languages, something we'd call diachronic conlanging these days:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Tolkien conceived a family tree of Elvish languages, all descending from a common ancestor called Primitive Quendian. He worked extensively on how the languages diverged from Primitive Quendian over time, in phonology and grammar, in imitation of the development of real language families.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What is a summary of the major changes he modelled? For example, did he describe something akin to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Vowel_Shift" rel="noreferrer">Great Vowel Shift</a>?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-26T02:05:33.877Z
The effects on consonants are well illustrated in *The Etymologies*, a list of Proto-Eldarin roots and their descendants in at least three languages, which you'll find in volume five of the *History of Middle-Earth*.
Anton Sherwood
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-20T13:49:55.053Z
Tolkien mainly played with the consonants in ways similar to the Germanic sound shifts. He also applied lenitation (inspired by Celtic languages) in Sindarin. Afaik, he did not do very much to the vowels (though under some conditions vowels were lost).
Sir Cornflakes
<diachronics><tolkien-elvish>
How did Tolkien model diachronic changes in his Elvish languages?
# How did Tolkien model diachronic changes in his Elvish languages?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-02-19)

[Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvish_languages) explains that Tolkien modelled changes to his Elvish languages, something we'd call diachronic conlanging these days:

> Tolkien conceived a family tree of Elvish languages, all descending from a common ancestor called Primitive Quendian. He worked extensively on how the languages diverged from Primitive Quendian over time, in phonology and grammar, in imitation of the development of real language families.

What is a summary of the major changes he modelled? For example, did he describe something akin to the [Great Vowel Shift](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Vowel_Shift)?

**Tags:** diachronics, tolkien-elvish
> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Tolkien mainly played with the consonants in ways similar to the Germanic sound shifts. He also applied lenitation (inspired by Celtic languages) in Sindarin. Afaik, he did not do very much to the vowels (though under some conditions vowels were lost).  
> **username_1**: The effects on consonants are well illustrated in *The Etymologies*, a list of Proto-Eldarin roots and their descendants in at least three languages, which you'll find in volume five of the *History of Middle-Earth*.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-02-21. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

OK, here are some details on classical Quenya and classical Sindarin (based on Helmut W. Pesch, Das große Elbisch-Buch, Bastei-Lübbe 2009)
The phoneme inventory of Primitive Quendian was
p   t   k
pʰ  tʰ  kʰ
b   d   g
m   n   ŋ
    r,l
        ɣ
w     j
a, e, i, o, u, ai, oi, ui, au, eu, iu

An early addition to this repertoire were prenasalised consonants mb, nd, ŋg that developped differently in Quenya and Sindarin.
Sound shifts for Quenya
pʰ   tʰ   kʰ  -> f   θ   x  (later: θ -> s)
b-   d-   g-  -> v-  l-  Ø
-b-  -d-  -g- -> -mb- -nd- -ŋg-
mb-  nd-  ŋg- -> m-  n-  ŋ-   (later: ŋ- -> n-)

The loss of almost all b's, d's, and g's makes Quenya phonological similar to the Finnish language.
Quenya has some old compounds that preserve the pre-shifted state of a root, e.g., for dome > lome "night, darkness" there is an old compund tindome and a newer regular one Aldalome. This adds to the diachronical depth of the language.
Sound shifts for Sindarin
p    t    k   -> b   d   g
pʰ   tʰ   kʰ  -> v   ð   ɣ (later: ɣ -> Ø)
mb-  nd-  ŋg- -> b-  d-  g- 
kʷ  -> p
w-  -> gw-

Sindarin also has a lot of lenitations (i.e., in certain contexts the initial consonsonant of a word is changed to some "softer" consonant) inspired by Welsh. The lenitations are different for original b d g and b d g that come from mb  nd  ŋg. Sindarin also has acquired an umlaut y. 
EDIT 3: Evolution of initial sp-, st-, and sk-
Both in Sindarin and quenya, consonant clusters with an initial s were simplified in two steps: First, the stop became aspirated and the s was dropped
 sp st sk -> pʰ tʰ kʰ

and than the aspirated stops became voiceless fricatives
 pʰ tʰ kʰ -> f θ h

In Quenya, also the so-created θ's became s later, such that the net development of Quenya is
  st -> s

EDIT 1: Some more information gleened from the dictionary
Quenya Words beginning with h- derive from Primitive Quendian roots beginning in kʰ-. The initial consonant cluster stʰ was simplified via θ to s.
Some words beginning with  ç- like hyarmen "south; left side" come from roots beginning in kʰj.
Sindarin  has simplified some consonant clusters like kl- kr- via intermediate voiceless l and r but in classical Sindarin those l's and r's are the usual voiced ones (despite being retained in orthography as lh rh).
EDIT 2: The grammatical changes aren't explained in great detail. It seems that Tolkien applied some handwavium here when he states that Quenya was consciously changed for greater clarity. On the other hand, Sindarin has evolved naturally (in Tolkiens internal history) in the woodlands of Middle Earth where everything is interwoven with everything.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Any idea of the grammar changes he made that Wikipedia mentions?  
> **username_1**: Sindarin did not voice *initial* voiceless consonants. — _The Etymologies_ show initial *sp, st, sk* > *ph, th, kh* > *f, þ, h* in both Q and S; I don't think they show a Primitive root with *sCh*.  
> **username_2**: @AntonSherwood The consonant clusters with an initial s were treated differently from simple consonants, and your sound laws are correct. I will add this to the answer as an edit.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-02-20. Score: 8

I don't know the exact changes Tolkien enacted, but here are a few in no particular order. You can tell they are quite inspired by real world sound changes in Celtic languages, which I'll mark in brackets. A good summary for quenya can be found [here](http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/qevolution.rtf).

* Aspirates /pʰ tʰ kʰ/ become fricatives /ɸ θ x/
* Lots of syncope, especially the second vowel in trisyllabic words
* In Quenya /kʷ/ is retained (Irish), while in Sindarin it becomes /p/ (Welsh)
* Vowels are reduced or lost finally, especially in Sindarin (Welsh)
* Sindarin features i-affection (Welsh)
* Various forms of lenition (Irish, Welsh)
* Plenty of assimilation in clusters
* Quenya features some palatalization with *y* /j/
* Syllabic consonants become non-syllabic
* Some sounds such as /ɣ/ and /ŋ/ are lost or merge with other sounds
* In Quenya usually /w/ > /v/, while in Sindarin initial /w/ > /gw/ (Welsh)

Hope this answers your question somewhat.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The usual word for context-dependent alteration of initial consonants in Celtic languages is _mutation_; there are (i think) three kinds, apparently depending on the lost last consonant of the preceding word.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2022-02-08. Score: 2

> What is a summary of the major changes he modelled? For example, did he describe something akin to the Great Vowel Shift?

For Sindarin, there are some big changes in vowels comparable to the Great Vowel Shift.

For example, under certain circumstances and in different periods:  
á > au  
au > o

That's one of the reasons why Sindarin looks quite different from Quenya sometimes. e.g.  
Q. - S.  
náre - naur  
anar - anor

If you want a more detailed "summary", or rather "study", [David Salo](http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/David_Salo) spent some forty pages to analyze Sindarin's historical sound changes in his book: [a Gateway to Sindarin](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/0874809126). And here's an essay by Helge K. Fauskanger discussing [the Evolution of Quenya](https://folk.uib.no/hnohf/qevolution.pdf).

Or if you want the description from Tolkien himself, you can get [Parma Eldalamberon #19](http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Parma_Eldalamberon_19), where you can find big phonetic tables by Tolkien.

The biggest Elvish dictionaries made by Tolkien himself are organized by roots - Words in different Elven languages are listed under the proto root from which they are derived.
Here's an example from [the Etymologies](http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/The_Etymologies).

> KHER rule, govern, possess. Q[uenya]. *heru* master, *heri* lady ...
> O[ld ]N[oldorin] *khéro* master ... N[oldorin]. *hîr*. N. *herth* house-hold ...

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Note that, at the (external) time of *The Etymologies*, the Teleri of Beleriand spoke “Ilkorin” and the Noldor spoke what later became Sindarin.  

---

