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What this thread offers:
Translations from English -> Sindarin
Checking your own Sindarin -> English translations
Answers to any questions you might have about the language of Sindarin
I am also willing to offer translations from English -> Doriathrin Sindarin*
*(See note on Doriathrin below 'About Sindarin')
What I can't do:
Translations into Quenya (you should go to The Official Quenya Translation Thread)
Anything involving Tengwar (you need The Official Tengwar Transcription Thread)
If you would like a translation. please make sure you click POST a REPLY not POST A NEW TOPIC!
(Easy mistake to make) and please be patient - I usually reply to all requests the same day, but I can't always guarantee this.
Once you have your translation, if you want it transcribed into Tengwar, you need to post it into the Official Tengwar Transcription thread.
About Sindarin
Sindarin was the language used by the Grey Elves in Beleriand, the Teleri who remained behind when the other Elves were called to Valinor.
In the First Age, when the Noldor returned to Beleriand from Valinor, Elu-Thingol (King of Doriath) forbade the use of Quenya (the language of the Noldor) forcing them to learn Sindarin.
During the Second Age, the Men of Numenor spoke Sindarin before they corrupted it to their own language of Adunaic, which is how Sindarin passed to their descendants, the Dúnedain.
In the Third Age, (during which the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit are set), Sindarin is the first language of the Elves, but is also known by the Men of Gondor (but not as a first language, more of a second language, spoken by the nobility).
Neo-Sindarin
Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, I do have to make up compounds and words from existing stems and words, that use rules set down by Tolkien to cover gaps in the vocabulary. Technically this is termed 'Neo-Sindarin', and it is what every translator uses. Tolkien simply didn't invent enough words for every eventuality. I must stress however, none of the words I use are straight out of my own head, they all come from existing ideas set down by Tolkien himself, so what you get from me is as close as humanly possible to his language.
A note on Doriathrin Sindarin
Doriathrin Sindarin is the original 'pure' Sindarin, spoken by Thingol and his kin in the land of Doriath. There are differences in pronouns, plurals and some other things, making it a full working dialect. When the Noldor returned from Valinor, Sindarin adopted some features of Quenya, and became the language we know today. (There are other dialects too, but there is too little known about them to be able to reliably translate more than a few words into them).
Doriathrin translations are aimed more at people who:
Are looking for a translation that for whatever reason they would like to be in 'Old' Sindarin. Maybe this is because you write fanfiction and your characters either come from or are set in the First/Second Ages, or you've always preferred the High Elves to the diminished Elves of the Third Ages and later, and would like the wording of your tattoo to reflect that.
Or perhaps you simply have a hankering to give me a challenge and like the sound of it :p
Whatever the reason, if you do request this, please be aware that it may take me longer than a normal Sindarin translation.
Thanks for reading!
