Historical Developments
The remaining sections of this chapter treat certain historical developments in Quenya before the classical period. Particularly these sections are designed to elucidate many of the 'irregularities' of Quenya morphology. Contrast, for instance, the following pairs of nominatives and genitives of some fifth-declension nouns:
| nom. sg. |
gen. sg. |
aran king |
arano |
vilwarin butterfly |
vilwarindo |
oron mountain |
oronto |
Such changes are found to have occurred consistently in certain environments at certain periods, and are therefore sometimes referred to as sound change 'laws': for instance, the disappearance of [g] between vowels is such a law of Quenya historical grammar. Most of the apparent irregularities of Quenya morphology can be explained with reference to such laws, and it is therefore useful to have some familiarity with them. Reference to the sections below will be made throughout the morphology.
Consonants
Initial Consonant Groups
Combinations with Y
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
| kj |
c |
c |
*tʃ |
| kʰj |
ç |
ç |
ʃ |
| gj |
lj |
lj |
lj |
| ŋj |
nj |
nj |
nj |
*Also in Númenórean Quenya
Combinations with W
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
| kw |
kw |
kw |
kw |
| kʰw |
xʷ |
xʷ |
f |
| gw |
w |
v |
w |
| ŋw |
ŋw |
ŋw |
*nw |
*Also in Númenórean Quenya
Nasalized Groups
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
| mb |
m |
m |
m |
| ṃb |
umb |
umb |
umb |
| nd |
n |
n |
n |
| ṇd |
and |
and |
and |
| ŋg |
ŋ |
ŋ |
n |
| ŋ̇g |
iŋg |
iŋg |
iŋg |
| ŋgj |
nj |
nj |
nj |
| ŋ̇gj |
indj |
inj |
indʒ |
| ŋgw |
ŋw |
ŋw |
*nw |
| ŋ̇gw |
uŋgw |
uŋgw |
uŋgw |
*Also in Númenórean Quenya
Combinations with S
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
| sp → ps |
ps |
s, ups |
s, ups |
| sp |
f |
f |
f |
| ṣp |
ups |
ups |
ups |
| st |
θ |
s |
θ |
| ṣt |
ist |
ist |
ist |
| sk → ks |
ks |
s, iks |
s, iks |
| sk |
h |
h |
h |
| ṣk |
iks |
iks |
iks |
| sm |
m |
m |
m |
| sn |
n |
n |
n |
| sr |
̥r |
r ~ *̥r |
̥r |
| sl |
ɬ |
l ~ *ɬ |
ɬ |
| sj |
ç |
ç |
ʃ |
| sw |
xʷ |
xʷ |
f |
*Colloquial Sindarin influence
Combinations with D, G
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
| dl |
l |
l |
l |
| dr |
r |
r |
r |
| gl |
l, ωl |
l |
l |
| gr |
r, ωr |
r |
r |
Voiceless Stops
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
| p |
p |
p |
p |
| pp(ʰ) |
pp |
pp |
pp |
| pt(ʰ) |
ɸt |
ʍt |
ɸt |
| ps |
ps |
ps |
ps |
| pm → mp |
mp |
mp |
mp |
| pm |
pp |
pp |
pp |
| pn |
ɸt |
ʍt |
ɸt |
| pl → lp |
lp |
lp |
lp |
| pl |
pηl |
pηl |
pηl |
| — |
pl → pωl |
pωl |
pωl |
| pr → rp |
rp |
rp |
rp |
| pr |
ps |
ps |
ps |
| — |
pr → par |
par |
par |
| pj |
pj |
pj |
pʃ |
| pw |
pp |
pp |
pp |
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
Comments |
| t |
t |
t |
t |
|
| tt |
st |
st |
st |
from suffixial t |
| tt |
tt |
tt |
tt |
from fortified t |
| tk |
kk |
kk |
kk |
|
| ts |
ts |
ss |
ss |
|
| tm |
tw |
tw |
tw |
|
| tn → nt |
nt |
nt |
nt |
|
| tn |
tt |
tt |
tt |
|
| tl → lt |
lt |
lt |
lt |
|
| tl |
tηl |
tηl |
tηl |
|
| — |
tl → lt |
lt |
lt |
|
| — |
tl → tωl |
tωl |
tωl |
|
| tr → rt |
rt |
rt |
rt |
|
| tr |
ts |
ss |
ss |
|
| — |
tr → tar |
tar |
tar |
|
| tj |
c |
c |
tʃ |
|
| tw |
tw |
tw |
tw |
|
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
| k |
k |
k |
k |
| kt |
χt |
χt |
χt |
| kk |
kk |
kk |
kk |
| ks |
ks |
ks |
ks |
| km |
kw |
kw |
kw |
| kn → nk |
ŋk |
ŋk |
ŋk |
| kn |
χt |
χt |
χt |
| kl → lk |
lk |
lk |
lk |
| kl |
kηl |
kηl |
kηl |
| — |
kl → lk |
lk |
lk |
| — |
kl → kωl |
kωl |
kωl |
| kr → rk |
rk |
rk |
rk |
| kr |
ks |
ks |
ks |
| — |
kr → kar |
kar |
kar |
| kj |
c |
c |
tʃ |
| kw |
kw |
kw |
kw |
Voiceless Aspirates
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
Comments |
| pʰ |
ɸ |
f |
ɸ |
|
| pʰ |
h |
h |
h |
before u |
| pʰp(ʰ) |
pp |
pp |
pp |
|
| pʰt(ʰ) |
ɸt |
ʍt |
ɸt |
|
| pʰs |
ps |
ps |
ps |
|
| pʰm |
pp |
pp |
pp |
no known case |
| pʰn |
ɸt |
ʍt |
ɸt |
|
| pʰl → lpʰ |
lp |
lp |
lp |
|
| pʰl |
ɸηl |
fηl |
ɸηl |
|
| — |
pʰl → ɸωl |
fωl |
ɸωl |
|
| pʰr → rpʰ |
rp |
rp |
rp |
|
| pʰr |
ps |
ps |
ps |
|
| — |
ɸr → ɸar |
far |
ɸar |
|
| pʰj |
ɸj |
fj |
ɸj |
|
| pʰw |
pp |
pp |
pp |
|
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
| tʰ |
θ |
s |
θ |
| tʰt(ʰ) |
tt |
tt |
tt |
| tʰk(ʰ) |
kk |
kk |
kk |
| tʰs |
ts |
ss |
ss |
| tʰm |
tw |
tw |
tw |
| tʰn |
tt |
tt > st |
tt |
| tʰl → ltʰ |
lt |
lt |
lt |
| tʰl |
θηl |
sηl |
θηl |
| — |
θl → lt |
lt |
lt |
| — |
θl → θωl |
sωl |
θωl |
| tʰr → rtʰ |
rt |
rt |
rt |
| tʰr |
ts |
ss |
ss |
| — |
rθ → θar |
sar |
θar |
| tʰj |
θj |
ʃ |
θj |
| tʰw |
θw |
sw |
θw |
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
| kʰ |
χ |
h |
h |
| kʰt(ʰ) |
χt |
χt |
χt |
| kʰk(ʰ) |
kk |
kk |
kk |
| kʰs |
ks |
ks |
ks |
| kʰm |
kw |
kw |
kw |
| kʰn |
χt |
χt |
χt |
| kʰl → lkʰ |
lk |
lk |
lk |
| kʰl |
χηl |
hηl |
hηl |
| — |
χl → χωl |
hωl |
hωl |
| kʰr → rkʰ |
rk |
rk |
rk |
| kʰr |
ks |
ks |
ks |
| — |
χr → χar |
har |
har |
| kʰj |
çç |
ç |
ʃ |
| kʰw |
xxʷ |
xʷ |
ff |
Voiced Stops
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
| b |
β |
v |
β |
| bt(ʰ) |
ɸt |
ʍt |
ɸt |
| — |
βt → wt |
wt |
wt |
| bs |
ps |
ps > ws (wr) |
ps > ws (wz) |
| bb |
pp |
pp |
pp |
| bd |
ɸt |
ʍt |
ɸt |
| bm |
mm |
mm > wm |
mm > wm |
| bn |
mn |
mn > wn |
mn > wn |
| bl |
wl |
wl |
wl |
| — |
βl → βul |
vul |
βul |
| br |
wr |
wr |
wr |
| — |
βr → βar |
var |
βar |
| bj |
wj |
wj |
wj |
| — |
βj → βi |
vi |
βi |
| bw |
wv |
wv |
wv |
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
Comments |
| d |
ɹ |
r |
z |
|
| d |
l |
l |
l |
after r and a vowel |
| dt(ʰ) |
st |
st > rt |
st |
|
| ds |
ts |
ss |
ss |
|
| dd |
st |
st |
st |
from suffixial t |
| dd |
tt |
tt |
tt |
from fortified t |
| dm |
nw |
nw > rm |
nw > mb |
|
| dn |
nn |
nn > rn |
nn ~ nd |
|
| dl |
ɹl |
ll, ld |
ll, ld |
|
| — |
ðl → lð |
ld |
ld |
|
| dr |
ɹr |
rr |
rr |
|
| dj |
lj |
lj |
lj |
|
| dw |
ɹw |
rw |
zw |
|
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
Comments |
| g |
— |
— |
— |
|
| g |
j |
j |
j |
after e, i |
| g |
d |
d |
d |
before final e < j |
| gt(ʰ) |
χt |
χt |
χt |
|
| — |
gt(ʰ) → ήt |
ήt |
ήt |
|
| gs |
ks → ss |
ks, s |
ks, ss |
|
| — |
gs → ήs |
ήs |
ήs |
|
| gd |
χt |
χt |
χt |
|
| gg |
kk |
kk |
kk |
|
| gm |
ŋm |
ῆm → ήm |
ῆm → ήm |
|
| gn |
ŋn |
nn → ήn |
nn |
after e, a, o |
| gn |
ŋn |
ῆn |
nn |
after i, u |
| gl |
ήl |
ήl |
ήl |
|
| gr |
ήr |
ήr |
ήr |
|
| gj |
jj |
jj |
jj |
|
| gj |
ɟj |
j |
dʒ |
after n, r, l |
| gw |
ww |
ww |
ww |
|
| gw |
w |
w |
w → b |
after r, l |
Nasals
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
Comments |
| n |
n |
n |
n |
|
| np |
mp |
mp |
mp |
|
| nt |
nt |
nt |
nt |
|
| nk |
ŋk |
ŋk |
ŋk |
|
| ntʰ |
tt |
tt > ss |
tt |
|
| — |
nθ → nt |
nt > ss |
nt |
|
| ns |
ss |
ss > rr, rn, ns ~ ss |
ss > nz |
|
| nn |
nn |
nn |
nn ~ nd |
from suffixial n |
| nn |
nd |
nd ~ *nn |
nd |
from fortified n |
| nm |
mm |
mm |
mm ~ mb |
in compounds |
| nm |
nw |
nw |
nw |
from suffixial m |
| nl → ln |
ld |
ld |
ld |
rare |
| nl |
ll |
ll |
ll |
|
| — |
nl → nηl |
nηl |
nηl |
|
| nr → rn |
rn |
rn |
rn |
|
| nr |
rr |
rr |
rr |
|
| — |
nr → nar |
nar |
nar |
|
| nj |
nj |
nj |
nj |
|
| nw |
nw |
nw |
nw |
|
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
Comments |
| m |
m |
m |
m |
|
| mp |
mp |
mp |
mp |
|
| mt |
nt |
nt |
nt |
|
| mk |
ŋk |
ŋk |
ŋk |
|
| mpʰ |
pp |
pp |
pp |
|
| ms |
ss |
ss |
ss |
|
| mm |
mm |
mm |
mm ~ mb |
from suffixial m |
| mm |
mb |
mb ~ *mm |
mb |
from fortified m |
| mn |
mn |
nn |
mn |
|
| ml → lm |
lm |
lm |
lm |
|
| ml |
mul |
mul |
mul |
|
| mr → rm |
rm |
rm |
rn |
|
| mr |
mar |
mar |
mar |
|
| mj |
mj |
mj |
nj |
|
| mw |
nw |
nw |
nw |
|
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
Comments |
| ŋ |
— |
— |
— |
|
| ŋm |
ῆn |
ῆn |
ήn |
|
| ŋn |
ῆn |
ῆn |
ήn |
after i, u |
| ŋn |
nn |
nn > ήn |
nn |
after a, e, o |
| ŋŋ |
ŋg |
ŋg |
ŋg |
|
| ŋj |
ndj |
nj |
ndʒ |
|
| ŋw |
ŋgw |
ŋgw |
ŋgw |
|
*Colloquial Sindarin influence
Liquids
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
Comments |
| lp(ʰ) |
lp |
lp |
lp |
|
| lt(ʰ) |
lt |
lt |
lt |
|
| lk(ʰ) |
lk |
lk |
lk |
|
| lb |
lβ |
lv |
lb |
|
| ld |
ld |
ld |
ld |
|
| lg |
lɣ |
ll |
lg |
|
| lg |
lj |
lj |
lj |
before e |
| ls |
ls |
ls |
ls |
|
| ln |
ld |
ld |
ld |
|
| lm |
lm |
lm |
lm |
|
| lŋ |
lŋ |
lg |
lg |
|
| lr |
ll |
ll |
ll |
|
| lj |
lj |
lj |
lj |
|
| lw |
lw |
lw |
lw ~ lb |
|
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
Comments |
| rp(ʰ) |
rp |
rp |
rp |
|
| rt(ʰ) |
rt |
rt |
rt |
|
| rk(ʰ) |
rk |
rk |
rk |
|
| rb |
rβ |
rv |
rb |
|
| rd |
rd |
rd |
rd |
|
| rg |
rɣ |
rr |
rg |
|
| rg |
rj |
rj |
rj |
before e |
| rs |
rs |
ss |
ss |
|
| rn |
rn |
rn |
rn |
|
| rm |
rm |
rm |
rm |
|
| rŋ |
rŋ |
rg |
rg |
|
| rl |
ll |
ll |
ll |
|
| rj |
rj |
rj |
rj |
|
| rw |
rw |
rw |
rw ~ rb |
|
Sibilants
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
Comments |
| s |
z |
r |
z |
between vowels |
| s |
s |
s |
s |
before p, t, k, s |
| sb → zb |
sp, ps |
sp, ps |
sp, ps |
|
| sd → zd |
st |
st |
st |
|
| sg → zg |
sk, ks |
sk, ks |
sk, ks |
|
| sm |
mm |
mm > rm |
mb |
|
| sn |
nn |
nn > rn |
nd |
|
| sl → ls |
ls |
ls |
ls |
|
| sl |
ll |
ll |
ll |
|
| — |
zl → zηl |
rηl |
zηl |
|
| sr → rs |
rs |
ss |
ss |
|
| sr |
ss |
ss |
ss |
|
| — |
zr → rr |
rr |
rr |
|
| — |
— |
zr → sar |
zr → zar |
|
| sj |
zj |
rj |
ʒ |
|
| sw |
zw |
rw |
zw |
|
Consonants at Word End
Nasals
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
| m |
n |
n |
n |
| n |
n |
n |
n |
| ŋ |
ή |
ή |
ή |
Liquids
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
Comments |
| r |
r |
r |
|
|
| l |
l |
l |
|
|
| j |
e |
e |
e |
after a consonant |
| j |
— |
— |
— |
after a long vowel |
| w |
o |
o |
o |
after a consonant |
| w |
— |
— |
— |
after a long vowel |
Fricatives
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
| s |
s |
s |
s |
| h |
ή |
ή |
ή |
Stops
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
VTQ |
| t |
t |
s |
s |
| th |
t |
s |
s |
| d |
r |
r |
r |
| k |
t |
s |
s |
| p |
t |
s |
s |
Groups
| CE |
PQ |
NTQ |
| nt |
nt |
n |
| nd |
n |
n |
| mb |
n |
n |
| ŋg |
n |
n |
| ps |
s |
s |
| ts |
s |
s |
| ks |
s |
s |
| ss |
s |
s |
| st |
s |
s |
| ht |
t |
t |
Vowels