Here follow the Quenya consonants: c, d, f, g, h, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, ty, v, y, w; gw,hy, hw, ly, nw, ny, qu, ry, hl, hr. Please remember that the latter ones are to be pronounced as single sounds.
2.1.2 CONSONANT CLUSTERS
The most �popular� consonant clusters are: ld, mb, mp, nc, nd, ng, ngw, nqu, nt, ps, ts and x (for cs).
2.2.1. PRONUNCIATION - CONSONANTS - PART 1
c = �c� in �cat�
d = �d� in �door�**
f = �f� �food�**
g = hard �g� in �gun�
l = clear �l� in �let�*
m = �m� in �me�**
n = 1) �n� in �now�** 2) before c, g, and qu �n� is to be pronounced like �ng� in �ring�
p = �p� in lap�**
r = �r� in Spanish �rosa� Quenya �r� should be trilled (!!!)
s = �s� in �so�. Here this letter is unvoiced.
t = �t� in �toy�**
v = �v� in �vine�*
w = �w� in �wine�*
y = �y� in �yet�
x = ([ks]) �x� in �xylite�
hl = �l�***
hr = �r�***
2.2.2. PRONUNCIATION - CONSONANTS - PART 2
h = At the beginning of words: �h� in �high�*. In the middle: hard �x� (v.s. �h� in �high�) SEE Note 2.
hy = �ch� in German �Ich�. This sound may also be heard in English �humid�
hw = �wh� in �what�
qu = [kw] �qu� in �quality�****
gw = (by analogy with �qu�) �Gw� in �Gwendolyn�****
nw = �nw� in �onward�****
ly = palatalized �l� in �lune�
ny = palatalized �n� in �new�
ry = palatalized �r�
ty = palatalized �t� in �tulip�
Reminding you once again: all Quenya vowels and consonants must sound only the way stated above. �S� is never to be pronounced like �z�. X stands for two sounds - [ks]. As applied to the rule about stress in Quenya, it is to be rated as two consonants. Thus, in the word �Helcarax�* the stress falls on the second �a� (HelcarAX�).
Note 1: Double consonants (cc, ll, mm, nn, pp, rr, ss, tt): "Consonants written twice are pronounced long, thus Yavanna has the long n heard in English unnamed, penknife, not the short n in unaimed, penny." (Christopher Tolkien, 'Silmarillion', 'Note on Pronunciation'). Thus, the word atta* (two) is pronounced like at-ta.
Note 2. On consonant cluster �ht�: before a, o, u �h� here is to be pronounced as �h� in �high�. Before i, e - like in �hy�.
2.3 STRESS
The rule is quite simple. Admit that there�s no probs with the words that have one syllable ;) If there are two syllables, the stress falls on the first - the second from the end. In the words that contain three syllables or more, the stress falls:
1) on the second to the last syllable: if it contains a long vowel (marked with an accent, e.g. ��), a diphtong (e.g.�ai�), or a short vowel that is followed by two or more consonants (Elendil)
2)on the third to the last syllable: if it contains a short vowel followed by one or less consonants.
Examples: paLANTir*, SINdarin, oSANwe, ValaRAUCo*.
EXERCISE:
On what syllable does the stress fall?
Aman
Elent�ri
Isildur
Caradhras
Yavanna
Eress�a
Silmarillion
Click here for answers.
* examples taken from the Quenya Course by H. K. Fauskanger
** This one is pronounced like the corresponding English letter
*** Originally, the consonants hl, hr were to be pronounced like unvoiced l, r (for example, �l� in �plead�). But in the Third Age these two could be pronounced like ordinary English 'l' and 'r'.
**** Correspondingly, �k� and �w�, �g� and �w�, �n� and �w� pronounced almost as a single sound.