Posted: October 27, 1999 at 04:06:44: by Martin Read
:
: : : I find it difficult to believe that Irish is in any way related to the Black Speech. This could of course be due to offended national pride, however (although my Irish is not what it used to be) the Irish for ring is fainne and although philologists might be able to suggest a fainne/nazg link, I think I would be hard pushed to believe them. I'm expecting a mail back from someone (an irish scholar) with a translation of the ring verse, so I'll keep you informed.: : As Tolkien states that the Black Speech was a deliberate corruption by Sauron of the Elvish languages, then it would logically follow that if derived from Quenya the nearest real languages would be Latin and Finnish, or if derived from Sindarin - Welsh. Irish doesn't seem to enter the equation at all (except for a fairly removed relationship with Welsh). : What language is Irish???? Ouch. I think you mean Gaelic. Sorry, it's the Celtic blood in me stirring things up again. : Lady G In modern Ireland Irish Gaelic is usually just referred to as "Irish." It is a compulsory subject in the schools of the Republic though only a small fraction of the population (mostly in the west) use it regularly or become fluent in it. It is used in most official documents and on the road-signs. The Irish Tourist Board is called Bord Failte, which is literally the "Board of Welcome", a friendly touch :) My Celtic blood ensures I explain things at great length - have I kissed the Blarney Stone???????????
| 
