Tolkienin

Tolkienin is a term used in fan communities and online discussions to refer to material and analysis that are related to J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendarium. It is not an official designation and does not imply scholarly consensus. The term signals a connection to Tolkien’s works, stylistic tendencies, or philological methods rather than to canonical texts.

Etymology: Tolkienin appears to be formed by adding an adjectival or-derived suffix to Tolkien’s surname, a pattern seen in various languages for creating demonyms or adjectives. Its exact coinage and spelling vary across communities.

Usage: In wikis, forums, and essays, Tolkienin is used to categorize or describe content that engages with Tolkien’s world-building, languages, or myth-making. This can include fan fiction or art that emulates Tolkien’s style, linguistic analyses that examine his invented languages, or comparative discussions about influence on other fantasy authors.

Limitations: Because the term is informal, its meaning is not fixed and can differ between communities. Some users reserve Tolkienin for more philological or stylistic discussions, while others apply it more broadly to any derivative content.

See also: J. R. R. Tolkien; Tolkien languages (Quenya, Sindarin); fan fiction; conlang; philology.