Fiordiligis

Fiordiligis is a fictional language created by linguist and fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien as part of his legendarium for Middle-earth. It is the language of the Elves, specifically the Sindar, who inhabited the region of Beleriand during the First Age of Tolkien’s fictional timeline. The name "Fiordiligis" is a modern scholarly reconstruction, derived from Tolkien’s notes and drafts, which describe it as a variant of the Elvish tongue known as Sindarin.

Tolkien’s notes suggest that Fiordiligis was closely related to Sindarin but had distinct phonetic and grammatical features. It was primarily spoken in the northern parts of Beleriand, particularly around the region of the Firth of Drengist (or "Fiordilig" in Sindarin). The language was influenced by the local environment and the cultural traditions of the Sindar, who were known for their affinity with nature and the sea.

Fiordiligis is not fully reconstructed in Tolkien’s works, as his focus was primarily on Sindarin and Quenya, the two major Elvish languages. However, scholars and fans have attempted to develop it further based on Tolkien’s scattered references. Some key characteristics of Fiordiligis, as inferred from Tolkien’s notes, include a greater use of nasal consonants and a more complex vowel system compared to Sindarin. It also appears to have retained some archaic features from the earlier Elvish languages.

The language’s literary legacy is limited to brief mentions in Tolkien’s unpublished manuscripts, such as *The Shibboleth of Fëanor* and *The Etymologies*. Despite its obscurity, Fiordiligis remains a subject of interest among Tolkien scholars and Elvish linguists, who continue to explore its potential structure and role in Middle-earth’s linguistic diversity. Its study contributes to the broader understanding of Tolkien’s linguistic worldbuilding and the evolution of Elvish languages over time.