Middle period Noldorin is quite similar to later period Sindarin, yes? N words can often be adopted to S with small or no changes. How do Ilkorin relate to Nandorin?
I am guessing Ilkorin and Nandorin have no relationship other than being Eldarin languages. The word for "tree" is gald in Ilkorin and galad in Nandorin. The word for "Elf" is cwend in Ilkorin, but it is penni (plural) in Nandorin (singular penn?).
In the 1930s, Tolkien used the name Danian for the language of the Green Elves, and that is the likely predecessor for later Nandorin. They seem to share a few phonetic characteristics. Both preserved the initial combination sn-, which reduced to a simple nasal in all other Eldarin languages. Both preserved intervocalic g, which vanished Quenya, Sindarin and Ilkorin.
However, the only published word I know of that is attested in both Nandorin and Danian is different: the plural of "orc" is yrc in Danian, but ūriʃ (úrish?) in Nandorin.
ADDITION: I spoke too soon about intervocalic g. The Nandorin example I was thinking of, lego, had a g from primitive k. According to the Comparative Tables (PE19:23), Danian preserved intervocalic k, so this is actually a difference between Nandorin and Danian. The two languages may not have shared much in common other than being languages of the Green Elves in different periods of Tolkien’s life.
BTW, I happen to be looking at Danian phonology right now, which is why this is all fresh in my mind.
Paul Strack Apr 13, 2015 (00:59)
In the 1930s, Tolkien used the name Danian for the language of the Green Elves, and that is the likely predecessor for later Nandorin. They seem to share a few phonetic characteristics. Both preserved the initial combination sn-, which reduced to a simple nasal in all other Eldarin languages. Both preserved intervocalic g, which vanished Quenya, Sindarin and Ilkorin.
However, the only published word I know of that is attested in both Nandorin and Danian is different: the plural of "orc" is yrc in Danian, but ūriʃ (úrish?) in Nandorin.
Paul Strack Apr 13, 2015 (01:11)
BTW, I happen to be looking at Danian phonology right now, which is why this is all fresh in my mind.