The Perils of Arrogance: How Misguided Linguistic Elitism Alienates Devotees of Tolkien's Works

 

Introduction

J.R.R. Tolkien’s Legendarium, which includes The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion, is beloved for its mythology, diverse cultures, and memorable characters. Yet, a faction within the Tolkien fan community, known as "Tolkien Linguists," has gained a reputation for elitism by claiming that a 'true' understanding of Tolkien’s works requires a deep study of the languages he created.

This view is implicitly ableist, assuming that everyone should engage with Tolkien's work through a linguistic lens, overlooking that many—including autistic individuals—process the world differently. While some fans enjoy the intricacies of Tolkien’s Elvish languages, others connect more with the narrative themes and moral questions he explores. Insisting that linguistic knowledge is essential to appreciating Tolkien’s work risks alienating those who engage more with the narrative than with language.

For autistic individuals who can also be Visual Thinkers, Tolkien’s visual descriptions and mythic storytelling may resonate more deeply than the structure of his languages. Works like Steve Silberman’s Neurotribes and Thomas Armstrong's The Power of Neurodiversity emphasize respecting the diverse cognitive profiles within any community.

Such elitism not only alienates some fans but also overlooks the main draw of Tolkien’s works: the power of the stories themselves.

Narrative: The Core of Human Experience

Humans are fundamentally storytellers. From ancient myths to modern novels, stories are the primary way we make sense of the world. This tendency is deeply embedded in our cognitive processes, helping us organize information, understand cause and effect, and connect emotionally. Walter Fisher’s "Narrative Paradigm" suggests that narrative is more persuasive and impactful than abstract logic or technical language. Jonathan Gottschall's The Storytelling Animal explores how storytelling is ingrained in our psychology and evolution.

Tolkien was a master storyteller whose tales resonate on a profound level, tapping into these deep human instincts. While languages like Quenya and Sindarin enrich Middle-earth, they are tools that serve the narrative, not its primary focus. Most readers are drawn to Tolkien’s work by the epic stories of heroism, the struggle between good and evil, and the vivid world he created.

In the Foreword to the Second Edition of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien explicitly states that his "prime motive was the desire of a tale-teller to try his hand at a really long story that would hold the attention of readers, amuse them, delight them, and at times maybe excite them or deeply move them." Here, Tolkien emphasizes that his main goal was to engage his readers through storytelling, underscoring the importance of narrative over the intricacies of language.

Similarly, in Letter #181, Tolkien reiterates that the success of a fairy story "must succeed just as a tale, excite, please, and even on occasion move." This further underscores his belief that the narrative's ability to evoke emotions and engage the reader is paramount. The linguistic elements enhance this experience but are not the primary focus.

Tolkien’s insistence on the narrative's central role is also evident in Letter #328, where he describes The Lord of the Rings as "an experiment in the arts of long narrative" and reflects on its success in pleasing a diverse audience. He notes that the work’s appeal lies in its ability to induce "Secondary Belief" and create a sense of history within Middle-earth, again pointing to the narrative as the core element that resonated with readers.

Finally, in Letter #329, Tolkien explicitly rejects the idea that biographical or other extraneous factors should dominate the interpretation of his works. He insists that his narratives are to be "enjoyed as such: to be read with literary pleasure," emphasizing that his primary objective was to craft stories that could be appreciated on their own merits, independent of linguistic or biographical analysis.

Tolkien's passion for languages undeniably shaped Middle-earth, but it is clear that he intended the narrative to be the primary vehicle for his storytelling. For the average reader, the characters, plots, and themes were meant to be the focal points, with the languages serving as an enriching, yet secondary, aspect of the experience.

The Arrogance of the "Tolkien Linguists"

Despite the central importance of narrative in Tolkien’s works, some Tolkien Linguists adopt an air of superiority, believing their linguistic focus gives them a deeper or more legitimate understanding of Tolkien’s creations. This attitude can alienate those more interested in the stories themselves.

For example, a Reddit discussion titled "Linguistic Elitism in the Tolkien Fandom" reveals how some fans feel belittled or excluded by those who prioritize linguistic aspects. Similar frustrations are voiced on the Tolkien Forum, and Mark Fisher, a Tolkien scholar, discusses the tension between linguists and non-linguists in the community. The Elvish Linguistic Fellowship (ELF) forum also features a discussion about the "Ivory Tower of Elvish" and the potential for elitism among language enthusiasts.

These examples illustrate how the arrogance of some Tolkien Linguists can create barriers for fans who are primarily interested in the stories. Overemphasizing linguistic expertise risks alienating a large portion of the fanbase and promoting the false idea that Tolkien's works can only be fully appreciated through a linguistic lens.

The Consequences of Linguistic Elitism

This arrogance has several negative consequences. It alienates a significant part of Tolkien’s fanbase, driving away readers who love his works for their narratives but feel unwelcome in discussions dominated by linguistic elitism.

Moreover, the belief that Tolkien’s works can only be truly understood through linguistic expertise is fundamentally flawed. While Tolkien stated that his work was "fundamentally linguistic in inspiration," he also knew that language alone wasn’t enough. His stories are enhanced by his linguistic creations, but they don’t depend solely on them for their power and appeal. Understanding Tolkien’s work requires an appreciation of the narrative above all else—a domain in which every reader, regardless of linguistic knowledge, can find meaning and joy.

By focusing too heavily on linguistic details and dismissing those who do not share this focus, "Tolkien Linguists" risk misrepresenting Tolkien’s works and fostering a culture of exclusivity, which contradicts the inclusive spirit of storytelling that invites all readers to explore Middle-earth and find meaning in its stories.

Conclusion

Tolkien’s works are beloved not for their linguistic intricacies but for the powerful stories they tell. The arrogance displayed by some "Tolkien Linguists," who claim that true understanding of Tolkien’s works is reserved for those with linguistic expertise, alienates a portion of the fanbase and misrepresents the true essence of Tolkien’s creations. It is the narrative that lies at the heart of Tolkien’s appeal, and it is through narrative that his works will continue to inspire and resonate with readers for generations to come.

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NOTE ON REFERENCES: Most of the online references were supplied by various AIs—primarily because, as a Visual Thinker with minimal knowledge of linguistics, navigating these sources is quite challenging. My lack of familiarity with linguistic terminology makes it difficult for me to comprehend specialized forums, where it would quickly become apparent that I don’t fully grasp the subject. Additionally, pinpointing specific references is tricky, as AI-generated content often synthesizes information from various sources without providing direct quotes. Search engines also struggle to index or retrieve specific forum posts, further complicating the search for exact references.

References:

1. Fisher, W. R. (1984). Narration as a Human Communication Paradigm: The Case of Public Moral Argument. Communication Monographs, 51(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637758409390180
2. Gottschall, J. (2012). The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
3. Tolkien, J. R. R. (2004). The Lord of the Rings. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. (Original work published 1954).
4. Tolkien, J. R. R. (1981). The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien (H. Carpenter, Ed.). Houghton Mifflin.
5. Linguistic Elitism in the Tolkien Fandom. (2020). Reddit. Retrieved from: https://www.reddit.com/r/Tolkien/comments/j3k2tq/linguistic_elitism_in_the_tolkien_fandom/
6. Linguistic Overload. (2011). Tolkien Forum. Retrieved from: http://www.thetolkienforum.com/index.php?threads/linguistic-overload.16764/
7. Fisher, M. (2011). Tolkien's Languages and the Linguistic Community. Retrieved from: https://www.markfisher.net/2011/04/tolkiens-languages-and-linguistic-community/
8. The Ivory Tower of Elvish. (2009). Elvish Linguistic Fellowship Forum. Retrieved from: https://www.elvish.org/gwaith/elf_boards/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showthreaded&Number=13371

Neurodiverse Thought References:

9. Silberman, S. (2016). Neurotribes: The legacy of autism and the future of neurodiversity. Avery.
10. Armstrong, T. (2011). The power of neurodiversity: Unleashing the advantages of your differently wired brain. Da Capo Lifelong Books.
11. Carruthers, P. (2002). The cognitive functions of language. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 25(6), 657-674.
12. Temple Grandin (2006). Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism (Expanded Edition). Vintage.

—Way of Arda's Lore (formerly Tië eldaliéva)