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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Dragons: From Ancient Serpents to the Great Worms of Middle-earth
From the great serpents of the ancient world to Fáfnir, Beowulf and the dragons of Middle-earth, this article traces the long history behind Tolkien’s Great Worms. Along the way, we explore Glaurung, Ancalagon, Smaug and Scatha, the different kinds of dragon Tolkien imagined, their troubled history with the Dwarves, and the question of whether dragons might have survived into the Fourth Age. Continue reading
Posted in History, Uncategorized
Tagged Ancalagon, Beowulf, Dragons, Dwarves, J. R. R. Tolkien, Middle-earth, Norse Mythology, Scatha, Silmarillion, Smaug, The Hobbit
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The Hidden Characteristics of Khuzdul
Tolkien gives us very little spoken Khuzdul, but Dwarvish speech in the Common Tongue may still preserve traces of its social habits. This article explores guarded speech, politeness, formal courtesy, mining and craft metaphors, language shift, and the ways Neo-Khuzdul develops these patterns further. Continue reading
Posted in Language, Uncategorized
Tagged diglossia, Durin's Folk, Dwarves, dwarvish, Dwarvish culture, Dwarvish language, Gimli, Khazad-dûm, khuzdul, language shift, Longbeards, moria, neo-khuzdul, politeness, Thorin Oakenshield, tolkien, Westron
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The Extraordinary Longevity of Khuzdul
Linguistic Conservatism, Mobility and Institutionalisation Introduction One of the most remarkable statements Tolkien made about Khuzdul is not that the language changed very little, but how little it changed despite the immense distances and periods involved. The history of the … Continue reading
Posted in History, Language, Uncategorized
Tagged Dwarves, khuzdul, language evolution
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Scholarium Is Here: A New Home for Learning Neo-Khuzdul
Today, I am delighted to announce that Scholarium has officially opened its doors. For many years, the Neo-Khuzdul courses have existed through a growing collection of written lessons, grammar documents, vocabulary lists, recordings, exercises and other study materials. These resources … Continue reading
How Geology Shaped the Great Dwarven Mansions
When we think of Dwarven architecture in Tolkien’s legendarium, we often imagine vast halls, endless pillars, and cities carved deep beneath the mountains. Yet one crucial factor is often overlooked: the stone itself. Not all mountains are alike. And for … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Aglarond, Blue Mountains, Dwarves, Dwarvish Halls, Erebor, Geology, Grey Mountains, Iron HIlls, Khazad-dûm
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The Return of Durin! / Tumblr Contest
UPDATE 31st May: Please confirm your entry via message on tumblr (more info here) Brewing ale has always been a passion of mine. Yet for many years it was only something that happened in books for me, and occasionally … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
2 Comments
Khuzdul in the Battle of Five Armies Movie
Hello my friends, Many people have asked me over the past year or so to translate the Dwarvish lines spoken in the Battle of the Five armies movie. Though it took a tremendous amount of time to translate these (for … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
6 Comments
Tolkien Language Haiku Contest on Middle-Earth News
It is with great pride and excitement I can announce that I will be one of the judges at the first ever Tolkien Language Haiku Contest on Middle-Earth News, as part of the Tolkien Week celebrations. As Middle-Earth finds its … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
3 Comments
Translation Tool, Updated Dictionaries… and a tired Dwarrow Scholar
Update 2026: Looking for the Neo-Khuzdul Dictionary? The Neo-Khuzdul Translation Tool described in this 2015 article is no longer available. It served its purpose well for many years, but both the language and the resources surrounding it have developed enormously … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
11 Comments
Uncle Bob or Cousin Bofur?
For those unfamiliar with the details of Tolkien’s Middle Earth, the dwarves (at first glance) appear to be short, plump, grumpy men with big noses and long beards – much like my uncle Bob come to think of it, but … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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