Title: Constructed Languages: An Exploration of Linguistic Creativity - Part 2

In this second part of our series, we explore Middle-earth's linguistic forgotten treasures such as Khuzdul, the secret language of Dwarves, Mordor's frightening Black Speech, and Entish, the slow, magnificent language of the Ents.

Khuzdul: The Resilient Tongue of Dwarves

Khuzdul, the Dwarven language, emerges from Tolkien's creative mines. It is inspired by Semitic languages, particularly Hebrew, which Tolkien admires for their persistence and historical depth. 

Khuzdul was a highly guarded secret held for Dwarves, spoken only in the depths of their halls and during times of great importance. 

Khuzdul's heritage is found in its symbolic representation of Dwarven civilization, which is a tribute to their perseverance, craftsmanship, and deep connection to the land. Much like the Dwarves, who are reclusive individuals, the language remains a mystery.

Black Speech: Mordor's Tongue

The Black Speech was largely spoken by Sauron's servants and served as a means of dominance and control in Mordor. Its expressions carried an agonizing atmosphere, in harmony with the terrible forces they symbolized.

Tolkien, known for his careful approach to language construction, ensured that the Black Speech was not only linguistically convincing but also resonated with Mordor's harsh, oppressive air. The inscription on the One Ring is the principal source of knowledge about this mysterious language.

Alexandre Nemirovski, a scholar, suggested an intriguing link between the Black Speech and the ancient Hurrian language. Both languages are agglutinative, which means that words are generated by stringing together discrete units of meaning. 

Tolkien's choice to build the Black Speech on Hurrian's agglutinative structure gives a linguistic foundation that supports its credibility. The harsh and rough tone of the Black Speech, mirroring Mordor's merciless environment, becomes more than just a literary device—it becomes an immersive linguistic design.

Entish: The Slow Language of the Ents

The Ents, the tree guardians, speak a language as ancient and mysterious as the trees themselves. Entish, their linguistic creation, is a tonal language with musical overtones. Entish evolved from the origins of Elvish teachings into a language so complex and one-of-a-kind that only the Ents could learn its complicated phrases.

The Ents, who were taught by the Elves at first, acquired a linguistic basis that connected them to the harmonious and elegant languages of the Elvish kingdoms. However, as forest protectors, the Ents allowed these linguistic seeds to blossom into something entirely their own.

Entish is an ode to the Ents' seclusion and uniqueness. Only these tree-like beings spoke Entish, and no one else could understand it, not even the linguistically skilled Elves. In their wisdom, the Ents preserved the complexities of Entish, keeping it as a private means of communication among themselves and with the old trees.

Conclusion

In this chapter, we've discovered the linguistic mysteries of Khuzdul, the oppressive undertones of the Black Speech, and the complexities of Entish. Although rarely acknowledged in the narrative, these lesser-known constructed languages have long-lasting impacts throughout the realms of Middle-earth, contributing to Tolkien's fictitious world's intriguing depth and complexity. Join us in the following chapter as we continue exploring different fictional languages.