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Ea Tolkien Society May Meeting Notes

by Hawke published May 20, 2015 03:40 PM, last modified Oct 20, 2015 03:38 PM
*May 9, 2015*


May
9, 2015

Attendance:
Hawke R, Chris K, Brian H

Online:
Jeremiah B

 

1. CK
read March notes (no April meeting). Discussion related to notes.

2.
HR read vocabulary lesson from Vinyar Tengwar. Nelki = teeth; lambe = tongue.

3.
Overall discussion of July meeting of Ea Tolkien society during Tolkienmoot XI
(July 17-19). Please RSVP at http://www.tolkienmoot.org/rsvp
if you wish to attend in person.

4. Best
time to hold Ea Tolkien Society meeting looks to be on Sunday, July 19 at 10 am
PST so BH can join from England while there.

5. Discussion
of general Tolkien Society in UK… publication Amon Hen 252 is out. HR’s paper
on Tolkien’s Love of Trees was read a few years ago in the UK.

6. Jeremiah
Burns joined our Google Hangout.

7.
CK read Letters of JRR Tolkien #97.

8.
Discussion of “Coventry issue”… JRRT snarky about lazy linguistics. The
impatience of old age. CK: If you don’t understand the culture [i.e. language],
you won’t understand the people. We all noted that Tolkien started with the
languages, then made the world, not the other way around. We do not think any
other fantasy writer is like this. BH pointed out that JRRT was not being
arbitrary about the name “Coventry”; he was a philologist. HR made a reference
to Babylon 5, and a quote: “Which came 1st: the thought, or the
word?” How fundamental is it to know the language in order to understand the
society?

9.
JB commented re: Tolkien’s legendarium: “If you can learn why a word developed
from one thing into another, you’ll learn something of the people using it
& their history, the whys and wherefores of their culture, and I imagine if
you begin to unravel some of these mysteries, it must be rather addictive.
Every time you pick up a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, you find yourself encouraged
to go a bit further. We’re all doomed in the future anyway… we’re all going to
talk ‘textspeak’. c u l8r”

10.
CK: We’re changing the pace of language. HR: Internet homogenization. Example
of anime.

11.
HR read Letter #98. Extensive discussion, referring briefly to Tolkien’s love
for his son & wish for his return more important than the whole abstract
war, but mostly Tolkien’s publications referenced by JRRT in this letter to
Unwin:

Ea Tolkien
Society Notes

May
9, 2015

Attendance:
Hawke R, Chris K, Brian H

Online:
Jeremiah B

 

1. CK
read March notes (no April meeting). Discussion related to notes.

2.
HR read vocabulary lesson from Vinyar Tengwar. Nelki = teeth; lambe = tongue.

3.
Overall discussion of July meeting of Ea Tolkien society during Tolkienmoot XI
(July 17-19). Please RSVP at http://www.tolkienmoot.org/rsvp
if you wish to attend in person.

4. Best
time to hold Ea Tolkien Society meeting looks to be on Sunday, July 19 at 10 am
PST so BH can join from England while there.

5. Discussion
of general Tolkien Society in UK… publication Amon Hen 252 is out. HR’s paper
on Tolkien’s Love of Trees was read a few years ago in the UK.

6. Jeremiah
Burns joined our Google Hangout.

7.
CK read Letters of JRR Tolkien #97.

8.
Discussion of “Coventry issue”… JRRT snarky about lazy linguistics. The
impatience of old age. CK: If you don’t understand the culture [i.e. language],
you won’t understand the people. We all noted that Tolkien started with the
languages, then made the world, not the other way around. We do not think any
other fantasy writer is like this. BH pointed out that JRRT was not being
arbitrary about the name “Coventry”; he was a philologist. HR made a reference
to Babylon 5, and a quote: “Which came 1st: the thought, or the
word?” How fundamental is it to know the language in order to understand the
society?

9.
JB commented re: Tolkien’s legendarium: “If you can learn why a word developed
from one thing into another, you’ll learn something of the people using it
& their history, the whys and wherefores of their culture, and I imagine if
you begin to unravel some of these mysteries, it must be rather addictive.
Every time you pick up a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, you find yourself encouraged
to go a bit further. We’re all doomed in the future anyway… we’re all going to
talk ‘textspeak’. c u l8r”

10.
CK: We’re changing the pace of language. HR: Internet homogenization. Example
of anime.

11.
HR read Letter #98. Extensive discussion, referring briefly to Tolkien’s love
for his son & wish for his return more important than the whole abstract
war, but mostly Tolkien’s publications referenced by JRRT in this letter to
Unwin:

·        
Leaf by Niggle

Ea Tolkien
Society Notes

May
9, 2015

Attendance:
Hawke R, Chris K, Brian H

Online:
Jeremiah B

 

1. CK
read March notes (no April meeting). Discussion related to notes.

2.
HR read vocabulary lesson from Vinyar Tengwar. Nelki = teeth; lambe = tongue.

3.
Overall discussion of July meeting of Ea Tolkien society during Tolkienmoot XI
(July 17-19). Please RSVP at http://www.tolkienmoot.org/rsvp
if you wish to attend in person.

4. Best
time to hold Ea Tolkien Society meeting looks to be on Sunday, July 19 at 10 am
PST so BH can join from England while there.

5. Discussion
of general Tolkien Society in UK… publication Amon Hen 252 is out. HR’s paper
on Tolkien’s Love of Trees was read a few years ago in the UK.

6. Jeremiah
Burns joined our Google Hangout.

7.
CK read Letters of JRR Tolkien #97.

8.
Discussion of “Coventry issue”… JRRT snarky about lazy linguistics. The
impatience of old age. CK: If you don’t understand the culture [i.e. language],
you won’t understand the people. We all noted that Tolkien started with the
languages, then made the world, not the other way around. We do not think any
other fantasy writer is like this. BH pointed out that JRRT was not being
arbitrary about the name “Coventry”; he was a philologist. HR made a reference
to Babylon 5, and a quote: “Which came 1st: the thought, or the
word?” How fundamental is it to know the language in order to understand the
society?

9.
JB commented re: Tolkien’s legendarium: “If you can learn why a word developed
from one thing into another, you’ll learn something of the people using it
& their history, the whys and wherefores of their culture, and I imagine if
you begin to unravel some of these mysteries, it must be rather addictive.
Every time you pick up a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, you find yourself encouraged
to go a bit further. We’re all doomed in the future anyway… we’re all going to
talk ‘textspeak’. c u l8r”

10.
CK: We’re changing the pace of language. HR: Internet homogenization. Example
of anime.

11.
HR read Letter #98. Extensive discussion, referring briefly to Tolkien’s love
for his son & wish for his return more important than the whole abstract
war, but mostly Tolkien’s publications referenced by JRRT in this letter to
Unwin:

·        
Farmer Giles

Ea Tolkien
Society Notes

May
9, 2015

Attendance:
Hawke R, Chris K, Brian H

Online:
Jeremiah B

 

1. CK
read March notes (no April meeting). Discussion related to notes.

2.
HR read vocabulary lesson from Vinyar Tengwar. Nelki = teeth; lambe = tongue.

3.
Overall discussion of July meeting of Ea Tolkien society during Tolkienmoot XI
(July 17-19). Please RSVP at http://www.tolkienmoot.org/rsvp
if you wish to attend in person.

4. Best
time to hold Ea Tolkien Society meeting looks to be on Sunday, July 19 at 10 am
PST so BH can join from England while there.

5. Discussion
of general Tolkien Society in UK… publication Amon Hen 252 is out. HR’s paper
on Tolkien’s Love of Trees was read a few years ago in the UK.

6. Jeremiah
Burns joined our Google Hangout.

7.
CK read Letters of JRR Tolkien #97.

8.
Discussion of “Coventry issue”… JRRT snarky about lazy linguistics. The
impatience of old age. CK: If you don’t understand the culture [i.e. language],
you won’t understand the people. We all noted that Tolkien started with the
languages, then made the world, not the other way around. We do not think any
other fantasy writer is like this. BH pointed out that JRRT was not being
arbitrary about the name “Coventry”; he was a philologist. HR made a reference
to Babylon 5, and a quote: “Which came 1st: the thought, or the
word?” How fundamental is it to know the language in order to understand the
society?

9.
JB commented re: Tolkien’s legendarium: “If you can learn why a word developed
from one thing into another, you’ll learn something of the people using it
& their history, the whys and wherefores of their culture, and I imagine if
you begin to unravel some of these mysteries, it must be rather addictive.
Every time you pick up a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, you find yourself encouraged
to go a bit further. We’re all doomed in the future anyway… we’re all going to
talk ‘textspeak’. c u l8r”

10.
CK: We’re changing the pace of language. HR: Internet homogenization. Example
of anime.

11.
HR read Letter #98. Extensive discussion, referring briefly to Tolkien’s love
for his son & wish for his return more important than the whole abstract
war, but mostly Tolkien’s publications referenced by JRRT in this letter to
Unwin:

·        
King of the Green Dozen (still unpublished)

Ea Tolkien
Society Notes

May
9, 2015

Attendance:
Hawke R, Chris K, Brian H

Online:
Jeremiah B

 

1. CK
read March notes (no April meeting). Discussion related to notes.

2.
HR read vocabulary lesson from Vinyar Tengwar. Nelki = teeth; lambe = tongue.

3.
Overall discussion of July meeting of Ea Tolkien society during Tolkienmoot XI
(July 17-19). Please RSVP at http://www.tolkienmoot.org/rsvp
if you wish to attend in person.

4. Best
time to hold Ea Tolkien Society meeting looks to be on Sunday, July 19 at 10 am
PST so BH can join from England while there.

5. Discussion
of general Tolkien Society in UK… publication Amon Hen 252 is out. HR’s paper
on Tolkien’s Love of Trees was read a few years ago in the UK.

6. Jeremiah
Burns joined our Google Hangout.

7.
CK read Letters of JRR Tolkien #97.

8.
Discussion of “Coventry issue”… JRRT snarky about lazy linguistics. The
impatience of old age. CK: If you don’t understand the culture [i.e. language],
you won’t understand the people. We all noted that Tolkien started with the
languages, then made the world, not the other way around. We do not think any
other fantasy writer is like this. BH pointed out that JRRT was not being
arbitrary about the name “Coventry”; he was a philologist. HR made a reference
to Babylon 5, and a quote: “Which came 1st: the thought, or the
word?” How fundamental is it to know the language in order to understand the
society?

9.
JB commented re: Tolkien’s legendarium: “If you can learn why a word developed
from one thing into another, you’ll learn something of the people using it
& their history, the whys and wherefores of their culture, and I imagine if
you begin to unravel some of these mysteries, it must be rather addictive.
Every time you pick up a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, you find yourself encouraged
to go a bit further. We’re all doomed in the future anyway… we’re all going to
talk ‘textspeak’. c u l8r”

10.
CK: We’re changing the pace of language. HR: Internet homogenization. Example
of anime.

11.
HR read Letter #98. Extensive discussion, referring briefly to Tolkien’s love
for his son & wish for his return more important than the whole abstract
war, but mostly Tolkien’s publications referenced by JRRT in this letter to
Unwin:

·        
Silmarillion

Ea Tolkien
Society Notes

May
9, 2015

Attendance:
Hawke R, Chris K, Brian H

Online:
Jeremiah B

 

1. CK
read March notes (no April meeting). Discussion related to notes.

2.
HR read vocabulary lesson from Vinyar Tengwar. Nelki = teeth; lambe = tongue.

3.
Overall discussion of July meeting of Ea Tolkien society during Tolkienmoot XI
(July 17-19). Please RSVP at http://www.tolkienmoot.org/rsvp
if you wish to attend in person.

4. Best
time to hold Ea Tolkien Society meeting looks to be on Sunday, July 19 at 10 am
PST so BH can join from England while there.

5. Discussion
of general Tolkien Society in UK… publication Amon Hen 252 is out. HR’s paper
on Tolkien’s Love of Trees was read a few years ago in the UK.

6. Jeremiah
Burns joined our Google Hangout.

7.
CK read Letters of JRR Tolkien #97.

8.
Discussion of “Coventry issue”… JRRT snarky about lazy linguistics. The
impatience of old age. CK: If you don’t understand the culture [i.e. language],
you won’t understand the people. We all noted that Tolkien started with the
languages, then made the world, not the other way around. We do not think any
other fantasy writer is like this. BH pointed out that JRRT was not being
arbitrary about the name “Coventry”; he was a philologist. HR made a reference
to Babylon 5, and a quote: “Which came 1st: the thought, or the
word?” How fundamental is it to know the language in order to understand the
society?

9.
JB commented re: Tolkien’s legendarium: “If you can learn why a word developed
from one thing into another, you’ll learn something of the people using it
& their history, the whys and wherefores of their culture, and I imagine if
you begin to unravel some of these mysteries, it must be rather addictive.
Every time you pick up a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, you find yourself encouraged
to go a bit further. We’re all doomed in the future anyway… we’re all going to
talk ‘textspeak’. c u l8r”

10.
CK: We’re changing the pace of language. HR: Internet homogenization. Example
of anime.

11.
HR read Letter #98. Extensive discussion, referring briefly to Tolkien’s love
for his son & wish for his return more important than the whole abstract
war, but mostly Tolkien’s publications referenced by JRRT in this letter to
Unwin:

·        
Hobbit sequel (Lord of the Rings)

Ea Tolkien
Society Notes

May
9, 2015

Attendance:
Hawke R, Chris K, Brian H

Online:
Jeremiah B

 

1. CK
read March notes (no April meeting). Discussion related to notes.

2.
HR read vocabulary lesson from Vinyar Tengwar. Nelki = teeth; lambe = tongue.

3.
Overall discussion of July meeting of Ea Tolkien society during Tolkienmoot XI
(July 17-19). Please RSVP at http://www.tolkienmoot.org/rsvp
if you wish to attend in person.

4. Best
time to hold Ea Tolkien Society meeting looks to be on Sunday, July 19 at 10 am
PST so BH can join from England while there.

5. Discussion
of general Tolkien Society in UK… publication Amon Hen 252 is out. HR’s paper
on Tolkien’s Love of Trees was read a few years ago in the UK.

6. Jeremiah
Burns joined our Google Hangout.

7.
CK read Letters of JRR Tolkien #97.

8.
Discussion of “Coventry issue”… JRRT snarky about lazy linguistics. The
impatience of old age. CK: If you don’t understand the culture [i.e. language],
you won’t understand the people. We all noted that Tolkien started with the
languages, then made the world, not the other way around. We do not think any
other fantasy writer is like this. BH pointed out that JRRT was not being
arbitrary about the name “Coventry”; he was a philologist. HR made a reference
to Babylon 5, and a quote: “Which came 1st: the thought, or the
word?” How fundamental is it to know the language in order to understand the
society?

9.
JB commented re: Tolkien’s legendarium: “If you can learn why a word developed
from one thing into another, you’ll learn something of the people using it
& their history, the whys and wherefores of their culture, and I imagine if
you begin to unravel some of these mysteries, it must be rather addictive.
Every time you pick up a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, you find yourself encouraged
to go a bit further. We’re all doomed in the future anyway… we’re all going to
talk ‘textspeak’. c u l8r”

10.
CK: We’re changing the pace of language. HR: Internet homogenization. Example
of anime.

11.
HR read Letter #98. Extensive discussion, referring briefly to Tolkien’s love
for his son & wish for his return more important than the whole abstract
war, but mostly Tolkien’s publications referenced by JRRT in this letter to
Unwin:

·        
Pearl translation

Ea Tolkien
Society Notes

May
9, 2015

Attendance:
Hawke R, Chris K, Brian H

Online:
Jeremiah B

 

1. CK
read March notes (no April meeting). Discussion related to notes.

2.
HR read vocabulary lesson from Vinyar Tengwar. Nelki = teeth; lambe = tongue.

3.
Overall discussion of July meeting of Ea Tolkien society during Tolkienmoot XI
(July 17-19). Please RSVP at http://www.tolkienmoot.org/rsvp
if you wish to attend in person.

4. Best
time to hold Ea Tolkien Society meeting looks to be on Sunday, July 19 at 10 am
PST so BH can join from England while there.

5. Discussion
of general Tolkien Society in UK… publication Amon Hen 252 is out. HR’s paper
on Tolkien’s Love of Trees was read a few years ago in the UK.

6. Jeremiah
Burns joined our Google Hangout.

7.
CK read Letters of JRR Tolkien #97.

8.
Discussion of “Coventry issue”… JRRT snarky about lazy linguistics. The
impatience of old age. CK: If you don’t understand the culture [i.e. language],
you won’t understand the people. We all noted that Tolkien started with the
languages, then made the world, not the other way around. We do not think any
other fantasy writer is like this. BH pointed out that JRRT was not being
arbitrary about the name “Coventry”; he was a philologist. HR made a reference
to Babylon 5, and a quote: “Which came 1st: the thought, or the
word?” How fundamental is it to know the language in order to understand the
society?

9.
JB commented re: Tolkien’s legendarium: “If you can learn why a word developed
from one thing into another, you’ll learn something of the people using it
& their history, the whys and wherefores of their culture, and I imagine if
you begin to unravel some of these mysteries, it must be rather addictive.
Every time you pick up a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, you find yourself encouraged
to go a bit further. We’re all doomed in the future anyway… we’re all going to
talk ‘textspeak’. c u l8r”

10.
CK: We’re changing the pace of language. HR: Internet homogenization. Example
of anime.

11.
HR read Letter #98. Extensive discussion, referring briefly to Tolkien’s love
for his son & wish for his return more important than the whole abstract
war, but mostly Tolkien’s publications referenced by JRRT in this letter to
Unwin:

·        
MSS for Early English Text Society (Katerine)

Ea Tolkien
Society Notes

May
9, 2015

Attendance:
Hawke R, Chris K, Brian H

Online:
Jeremiah B

 

1. CK
read March notes (no April meeting). Discussion related to notes.

2.
HR read vocabulary lesson from Vinyar Tengwar. Nelki = teeth; lambe = tongue.

3.
Overall discussion of July meeting of Ea Tolkien society during Tolkienmoot XI
(July 17-19). Please RSVP at http://www.tolkienmoot.org/rsvp
if you wish to attend in person.

4. Best
time to hold Ea Tolkien Society meeting looks to be on Sunday, July 19 at 10 am
PST so BH can join from England while there.

5. Discussion
of general Tolkien Society in UK… publication Amon Hen 252 is out. HR’s paper
on Tolkien’s Love of Trees was read a few years ago in the UK.

6. Jeremiah
Burns joined our Google Hangout.

7.
CK read Letters of JRR Tolkien #97.

8.
Discussion of “Coventry issue”… JRRT snarky about lazy linguistics. The
impatience of old age. CK: If you don’t understand the culture [i.e. language],
you won’t understand the people. We all noted that Tolkien started with the
languages, then made the world, not the other way around. We do not think any
other fantasy writer is like this. BH pointed out that JRRT was not being
arbitrary about the name “Coventry”; he was a philologist. HR made a reference
to Babylon 5, and a quote: “Which came 1st: the thought, or the
word?” How fundamental is it to know the language in order to understand the
society?

9.
JB commented re: Tolkien’s legendarium: “If you can learn why a word developed
from one thing into another, you’ll learn something of the people using it
& their history, the whys and wherefores of their culture, and I imagine if
you begin to unravel some of these mysteries, it must be rather addictive.
Every time you pick up a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, you find yourself encouraged
to go a bit further. We’re all doomed in the future anyway… we’re all going to
talk ‘textspeak’. c u l8r”

10.
CK: We’re changing the pace of language. HR: Internet homogenization. Example
of anime.

11.
HR read Letter #98. Extensive discussion, referring briefly to Tolkien’s love
for his son & wish for his return more important than the whole abstract
war, but mostly Tolkien’s publications referenced by JRRT in this letter to
Unwin:

·        
The Ancrene Riwle

12.
C.S. Lewis borrowed ideas of Tolkien’s? BH remembered references in Lewis’
science fiction trilogy to eldila, which are similar to maiar spirits: “To attend to any one of them was to
make it invisible, and the minute brightness seemed often to have just left the
spot where his eyes fell. He had no doubt that he was 'seeing' – as much as he
ever would see – the eldila.

— Out of the Silent Planet, C. S. Lewis

Or possibly, as
Tolkien thought, eldila were borrowed from the Eldar of middle Earth. But both
come from the Anglo-Saxon root “eld”, old, or “aeld” chief, eminent.

13. JB noted that
Tolkien’s translation of Kullervo from the Finnish is coming out in August in
the UK/October in the USA.  

14.
Discussion about “Book 5” comment by Tolkien. Where did he think he would
finish?  Maybe at the black Gate/Mount
Doom when Frodo throws in the Ring? At this point he probably does not have the
Scouring of the Shire yet in mind.

15.
Concluding comments. Brian suggests getting a drink for JB at the pub in
Grappenhall, which is not too far from him (JB confirms it is the Ram’s Head).
St Wilfrid’s Church has a cat’s body carved in it, which may have inspired
Lewis Carroll’s “Cheshire Cat”.

16.
 BH refers to the VE day video from
British Pathe, which coincides with the chronology of Tolkien’s letters (he
does not mention the end of the War at all here).

17.
BH reads Letter  #99. To widow of Charles
Williams. Williams’ effect on Lewis & the Inklings.

18.
Other Minds magazine episode 15 just out: http://othermindsmagazine.com/  

19.
Next meeting will be June 13, 2015 @ Hawke’s house.                          

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