Quenya Tengwar – A mini course by Eruantalincë

Consonants

Vowels

Punctuation marks

Numbers

ó

Writing Quenya with Tengwar:

Quenya Tengwar are written from left to right and from bottom to top. This means that first the tengwa (consonant) is written and then the tehta (vowel mark) which follows this consonant is placed above it. Thus vowel marks are placed above the preceding consonant. If a consonant is followed by a long vowel, the tehta is written on a long vowel carrier. If a word begins with a vowel, the tehta is written on a vowel carrier, followed by the tengwa.

For example: A word, starting with a consonant: "ni" ("I"): 5% or "harma" ("treasure"): 9D6t # (see also H-mode). As one can see, first the Númen is written for 'n', then an 'i'-tehta is added above it. A word starting with a consonant and followed by a long vowel: "má" ("hand"): t ~C As one can see, first the Malta is written, followed by a long vowel carrier for the 'á'. A word starting with a vowel: "anna" ("gift"): `C5:# As one can see, first the tehta is placed on a short vowel carrier, followed by the tengwa.

A consonant cluster can be marked in several ways: • • A double consonant (like in "anna"), except for S (see S-mode) is marked with one tengwa with a wavy line under it: 5: • By using the tengwa as in the scheme above: some consonant clusters have their own tengwa • By using separate tengwar (if the cluster has no tengwa of its own).

R-mode: • If the R is followed by a vowel or Y and a vowel, it is written with a Rómen: 7. • If the R is followed by an other consonant or occurs at the end of a word, it is written with an Órë: 6.

S-mode: • If the S is followed by a long vowel, a diphthong or a consonant, it is written with a Silmë 8. • If the S is followed by a short vowel, it is written with a Silmë Nuquerna (reversed Silme) i. • Same goes for the double S (SS), which is represented by the Essë k or Essë Nuquerna ,. • If another consonant is followed by an S, then the S may be represented by a curl, like in apsa: `Cq E+ or in axa: `Ca |E (x is the KS-sound). • If the S developed from TH, then the S may be represented with Súlë 3 Y-mode: • If the Y follows a consonant, it is written as two dots under the tengwa. • If the Y is the initial letter of the word, it is written as Anna with two dots under it h .ÿ

Special modes: H-mode: • If the H is the initial consonant and it is not a part of the consonant clusters HL, HR, HW, then it is written with a Hyarmen 9. • If the H is in the middle of a word, then it is written with an Aha d. • If the H is part of the consonant cluster HW, then it is written with a Hwesta c • If the H is part of the consonant cluster HL or HR, then it is written with a Û and the following consonant, like "hrívë" ("winter") = Û7~By R. But: some writers prefer the "classic" way of writing Tengwar. This means that the ½ can be used as an onvoiced H-sound, like in "halla". In this way, it replaces the Hyarmen as initial consonant. The use of Hyarmen in "halla" or similar words, is not wrong!

N-mode: N is usually represented by Númen 5. However, some writers prefer the "classic" way of Tengwar writing. For words originally containing an Ñ or NG (as initial consonant cluster), they use the Noldo (or: Ñoldo) g instead of the Númen. An example of a Quenya text in Tengwar: "Namárië"

5#t ~C7T` V l E’ j .E7T`V j E4 #6 j E,T 8~M7T5$5 h ÿ~V5% ~M5~N1 Tt $ y R 7~Ct #6 `Cm E7Y5 h ÿ~V5% y R j T4 $ h ÿUm E6 `Cy ~C5%`V6 t % `N7Yt #uT j T,R\t %7Uy ~N7Ry E `C2 &5$ q Rj ÂE= y EuY= 1 Rj ÂUt #6 5& j l U5% h ÿE,R5 1 T4 %j E6 `B `Vj R5% ~Nt #7ÿY l E7R1 ~C7T\j ~B7T5$5

8~B t #5 `B h ÿUj t # 5%5 `Vv #4 &y EΩ

`C5 8~B 1 T4 #j ÂR y EuE l Y`Nj Y,R`N y R e E5¤#6 t ~C7ÿE1 `Vj R4 ~C7T `N61 E5$ `C6 iT2 #5~N7T`Vj ÂY a l E1 E t ^65%`V `B e Ej t #j T5"#6 `Bw $ t $1 = `C6 9~BiT`V `M4 ~Mq E a Ej Ea T7ÿY t ~B7T lYh ÿEj R 8~B y E5n E 5~C= 7~Nt $j ÂY y E5n E= y Ej Tt #6’

5#t ~C7T`V’ 5l E 9G7Uy Ej ´R y Ej Tt #6

5l E `Vj ´R 9G7Uy E- 5#t ~C7T` V’

!! !! !!