Elder scrolls
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AngryNord
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Re: Elder Scrolls etymology
Uhm, OK?
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Aranel
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Re: Elder Scrolls etymology
I'll give you dedication for making the list, but I don't think this has much basis in the actual usage of Elder Scroll names (be it on an NPC, location, what have you) -- mostly because I actually see more parallels with the general name themes with Dungeons and Dragons than I do with Tolkien (Dunmer first and foremost - not as much letter garble as D&D can be, but it doesn't follow the smoothness that Tolkien tends to use for his elves) and the fact that Tolkien's influence has mostly been (on the fantasy 'verse) to "give elven races more melodic, sometimes difficult to pronounce, names that usually avoid hard constants" - and there is only so many combinations that can result without a super complex name that even Talos would have a hard time saying
That said, Dunmeri has a lot of influences from Middle Eastern things (Persian, Akkadian, to name a few) with the Ayleids having Latin (and similarities between the two), so the "actual" etymology (if there is actually one) is likely to be found in Dunermis/Ayleidoon themselves or the actual inspirational languages than Tolkien's conlangs.
...That and some of the names you listed (Branwen, Morven) are actual names (Branwen in Welsh and means "beautiful raven", Morven is a Scottish place name meaning "big gap") and some other names that might be seen as "Tolkien-inspired" are also names that may have more inspiration rooted in the real world. (That being Morwen and Elenwen -- Morwen is an actual Welsh name, and Elenwen can be seen as a combination of the Welsh name "Elen" with the common name element "gwen-/-wen" at the end of it)
Not to put a damper on things, but within the last few years/decades or so, a lot of fictional works are doing more and more to develop languages of their own... Tolkien has a deep and long lasting impact on fantasy works, but I don't think it is quite as strong as when his books originally took the literary world by storm.
That said, Dunmeri has a lot of influences from Middle Eastern things (Persian, Akkadian, to name a few) with the Ayleids having Latin (and similarities between the two), so the "actual" etymology (if there is actually one) is likely to be found in Dunermis/Ayleidoon themselves or the actual inspirational languages than Tolkien's conlangs.
...That and some of the names you listed (Branwen, Morven) are actual names (Branwen in Welsh and means "beautiful raven", Morven is a Scottish place name meaning "big gap") and some other names that might be seen as "Tolkien-inspired" are also names that may have more inspiration rooted in the real world. (That being Morwen and Elenwen -- Morwen is an actual Welsh name, and Elenwen can be seen as a combination of the Welsh name "Elen" with the common name element "gwen-/-wen" at the end of it)
Not to put a damper on things, but within the last few years/decades or so, a lot of fictional works are doing more and more to develop languages of their own... Tolkien has a deep and long lasting impact on fantasy works, but I don't think it is quite as strong as when his books originally took the literary world by storm.
Re: Elder Scrolls etymology
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Last edited by Xand on Fri Sep 16, 2016 6:34 am, edited 9 times in total.
- GraveStench
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Re: Elder Scrolls etymology
I personally thought this was an awesome read. Even if not entirely related, it trully adds personality and could even be used for further character immersion (Follower of certain Gods or where to live depending on your race).