From Tracie: How I Learned Elvish

Friday, October 30, 2009

How I Learned Elvish

I'll admit it.  I was that kid sitting in the back of the class in 6th grade reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  Years later I was that person waiting in line at midnight to watch each movie the day it came out (thanks to my friend Laina for babysitting!) I love Tolkien. I have read all of his books.

Important Note: Some people love Tolkein more than I do. They study his languages. They write papers critiquing each others ability to learn them. They have made English-Elvish dictionaries (and Elvish-English Dictionaries which I suppose are for the elves who are trying to learn English) There are web pages devoted to learning Elvish and other Elvish-things, for instance my Elvish name is Yáviel.

My husband  is obsessed with loves the Lord of the Rings movies.  He would probably watch them every day if he didn't have little things like work and life to get in his way. He is even a fan of LOTR on facebook, and that is what led me here...

Last night, actually this morning at Tracie Time 3 am. I was knitting a square and Thomas was on facebook. There is a new post from the LOTR page. I can hear him reading something over and over again, but can't quite make out what he is saying. I looked over at the screen to see what was going on, and this is what I saw....
"Nanye Anduril i ne Narsil i makil Elendilo. Lercuvanten i maili Mordoreo."
"Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, Ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul........." 
"What are you reading?" I ask him.

"All of the people on here speak and write in Tolkein languages," he replies.

"They can carry on a conversation in Tolkein languages? You mean, they actually know Elvish? Really? Who does that? And why do you keep reading it over and over again? Are you trying to learn?"

"No, but it sounds familiar. It reminds me of something, and I'm trying to figure it out."

Being the helpful wife that I am, I suggested maybe they had written what Gandalf says on the bridge when he is fighting the Balrog. (hey, I'm a big fat Tolkein-loving dork too, remember)

"Maybe," Thomas says, "But that isn't what I mean, it sounds like..........like.......those clothes. That's what I'm thinking about! It sounds like those clothes!"

"The elvish words sound like clothes?"

"Yeah, you know those kids overalls that they used to have commercials for"

*a lightbulb clicks on over my head*

"Oh, you mean Osh Kosh B'Gosh!"

"Yes, Osh Kosh B'Gosh! That's it! That is what I kept thinking of when I was reading this"

"So you are telling me that when Gandolf fought the Balrog, he said 'You shall not pass! Osh Kosh B'Gosh!' " (I then came up with more great Elvish phrases, but sadly, I can not remember them.)

One thing is clear. I will never watch Lord of the Rings the same way again.

I will leave you with the only Elvish I will ever learn.......
Osh Kosh B'Gosh,
Yáviel

28 comments:

  1. LOL I guess each to their own but that is weird to me.

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  2. That is too funny! I will admit I never saw or read any of the above, but even I can find humor in this!

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  3. I have never read or watched LOTR. I know that I'm a minority in this. Just never got around to it.

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  4. wait wait wait, there is a whole message board where people speak in elvish??

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  5. Osh Kosh B'Gosh back at you. Very funny conversation.

    Ghost, Goblins, Ghouls, Oh, My

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  6. Hmmmmmmmm, don't know Elvish...but I do know that my SIL lives near Oshkosh, home of the famous Oshkosh-bygosh clothing outlet! SITS sent me by, and I'm glad they did...Happy Saturday Sharefest!

    One Quarter to Go 'Til Halftime

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  7. How funny...and at 3 am?? I thought we were night owls. (apparently NOT!!) ;)

    Osh Kosh B'Gosh to you, too...
    (hey, you aren't the only one that knows elvish!)

    "Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest"

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  8. The two of you are too funny. I like the LOTR movies, but I never went so far as to learn the languages (that, however, doesn't mean there aren't other ways in which I geek out profoundly). Love your blog, so glad I stopped over from SITS. Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!

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  9. I knew you were a dork. I knew it ;)

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  10. Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest.

    I am soooooo glad I clicked on your blog this morning. Not for the Elvish, mind you. I really have NO idea what that's about....but I was really intrigued by the knitting a squre. Pretty soon I found myself clicking links all over the place and I have got to say....I am SO excited. I just recently learned to knit (I am acutally making my first scarf right now) and I am SO going to get invovled in that Charity. I've already bookmarked the homepage. And also, you've given me inspiration to teach my 8 year old daughter how to knit. I thought she might be too young, but if you taught your 6 year old.......

    Thank you. I really enjoyed looking around your blog.

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  11. Haha...sits hello:) Happy Halloween! Enjoying the blog!!:)

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  12. Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest! What a fun post!

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  13. I think I love LOTR more now than I did two minutes ago....

    Stopping by from SITS! Happy Halloween ^_^

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  14. Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!

    I suddenly have this urge to go watch Lord of the Rings...

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  15. Never read the books or saw the movies!


    Happy Late VGNO!

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  16. A BIG Osh Kosh B'Gosh to you too, from Netchick and me!
    Nice post :)

    I send you Ngitri Mangsang Tang.
    Don't ask me what it means. It's another of those, from some novel I read long ago. Let's say it means 'Have a Great weekend!'

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  17. Here from SITS Saturday Sharefest. I just cannot get into Lord of the Rings. I have great admiration for people who are, though. Sounds like you both needed sleep! ;0)

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  18. Ohhh, I love your funny conversation.

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  19. This is way too funny :oD

    Happy Halloween from SITS!

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  20. So many things are funnier than normal at 3am! Especially when you're up that late (early?) with someone else.

    Just stopping by late to say Happy Halloween, Happy VGNO & SO Happy my DUCKS beat USC!!! :)

    Stop by & check out my latest Layout of the Week. http://juliechats.blogspot.com

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  21. I can't say anything to neither the books nor the movies. It's not so my style.

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  22. Hahaha. I love the post. I knew a girl who had the words inscribed on the Ring tattooed around her bicep. Hardcore.

    Thanks for visiting my blog (a few weeks ago). Enjoy your LOTR!
    -S.

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  23. Thanks for your visit. A great post, Tracie. I love the LOTR movies, have read the book with the Elvish in it, plus 'The Hobbit', 'The Silmarillion' & 'Unfinished Tales'.

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  24. Ha ha! That is so funny! Thanks for the laugh! I really need it right now. The sickies are taking over at my house! Yuck! Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers as well-Greatly appreciated! :)

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  25. That is freakin HILARIOUS! I have to show my hubs this post. LOTR fans here but mostly we wouldn't go that far. lol

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  26. I'm a LOTR nut as well :D Haha, but like you, no Elvish for me!!! ;) :) Now I know a phrase though, hurray!!!

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  27. okay that cracked me up... I love LOTR rings too... but so far never went so far as to dress up or learn elvish.... ;)

    I have thought about designing our bedroom around a lovely elvish theme.

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