Lemberin was a name in early versions of the legendarium for what would later be called the Avarin languages.[1]
In Tolkien's early writings about Middle-earth, the Elvish, or Quendian, languages were divided into three groups, Lemberin, Eldarin, and Ilkorin. The people who spoke Lemberin were known as the Lembi, or Lingerers.[2]
In the earlier The Tree of Tongues and The Lhammas, Tolkien has the Mannish languages deriving from Lemberin; in the later Tree and Lhammas, Lemberin has only influenced the Mannish languages (as did Danian, Orc-speech and Dwarf-speech)[3] a concept that is followed in the published The Silmarillion.
Lemberin was originally going to be Celeborn's native language, but this was later changed to Telerin.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Quenya Phonology", in Parma Eldalamberon XIX (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 5
- ↑ The Peoples of Middle-earth, Chapter II, "The Appendix on Languages"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, V. The Lhammas", p. 191