The Goblin Alphabet was invented and used by the North Polar Bear, based on the marks made by goblins of the North Pole.[1]
Description
Father Christmas stated that Goblins couldn't draw well, noting that they preferred "nasty queer shapes".[2]
Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond have noted that the Goblin alphabet is a pictographic writing system,[3] conveying its meaning through its pictorial similarity to objects. Arden R. Smith has commented that the Goblin alphabet is:
quite different from Tolkien’s other invented alphabets. Supposedly based on goblin cave-drawings, it consists mainly of humanoid stick figures. It is essentially alphabetic, but contains a number of characters representing diphthongs and common consonant combinations.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Baillie Tolkien (ed.), Letters from Father Christmas, "Dec. 23rd 1936"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Baillie Tolkien (ed.), Letters from Father Christmas, "December 23rd 1932"
- ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: II. Reader's Guide, p. 298
- ↑ Arden R. Smith, "Writing Systems", tolkienestate.com, accessed 27 December 2016
| The world of the Letters from Father Christmas | |
|---|---|
| Main characters: | Father Christmas · North Polar Bear · Ilbereth |
| Other characters: | Mr Cave Bear · Green Brother · Grandfather Yule Man in the Moon · Paksu & Valkotukka · Snow Man |
| Races & Peoples: | Goblins · Green elves · Red Elves · Snow-elves · Snow-men |
| Other concepts: | Arktik · Goblin Alphabet · Windbeam |