black speech word list

Black Speech

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The Black Speech text inscribed on the One Ring

The Black Speech , also known as the Dark Tongue of Mordor , was the official language of Mordor .

2 Background
3 In other versions
6 Translations
7 References

History [ ]

Sauron created the Black Speech to be the unifying language of all the servants of Mordor, used along with different varieties of Orkish and other languages used by his servants. J.R.R. Tolkien describes the language as existing in two forms, the ancient "pure" forms used by Sauron himself, the Nazgûl , and the Olog-hai , and the more "debased" form used by the soldiery of the Barad-dûr at the end of the Third Age . The only example given of "pure" Black Speech is the inscription upon the One Ring :

When translated into English, these words form the lines:

These are the first two lines from the end of a verse about the Rings of Power .

Many Orkish dialects had adopted words from the Black Speech. One Orc from the band that took Merry and Pippin prisoners utters a tirade of curses at one point that is presumably Orkish, but apparently contains at least some elements of Black Speech.

Black Speech could be understood by anyone who wore the One Ring . Samwise Gamgee wore the ring in the Tower of Cirith Ungol to be invisible from Orcs of Sauron, and in the process heard many of the Orcs' plans.

Speaking the pure Black Speech had a harshening effect on the speaker's voice and a darkening effect on the speaker's surroundings, as seen when Gandalf recited the Ring Poem at the Council of Elrond . This effect did not extend to Black Speech loanwords in other languages, such as the word "Nazgûl".

Background [ ]

In real life, J. R. R. Tolkien created this language with the intention of making it harsh and ugly. The Black Speech is unfortunately one of the more incomplete languages in Tolkien's novels, as the forces of good are reluctant to utter it. Unlike Elvish languages, there are no poems or songs written in it (apart from the Ring's inscription), and because Tolkien designed it to be unpleasant in his own mind, he did not enjoy writing in it; according to Tolkien, he once received a goblet from a fan with the Ring inscription on it in Black Speech, and Tolkien, finding it distasteful, never drank from it and used it only as an ashtray. The result is a random collection of words that are hard to actually use in day-to-day conversation. We learn from the text in the ring and its translation that the Black Speech is a strongly agglutinating language .

Russian historian Alexander Nemirovski identified an ergative case in durbatuluk and thrakatuluk according to a common suffix - tuluk meaning "them all", relating to the verb's object rather than to its subject. This was found as a similarity to other ergative languages such the Hurrian language of ancient Mesopotamia.

In other versions [ ]

Melkian had been the linguistic phylum of the servants of Melkor in an early conception of the legendarium , seen in The Lhammas . In this branch were the Black Speech, Orkish, and all other tongues of evil races. The other two phyla were Oromëan , from which descended both Elvish and Mannish languages, and Aulëan , the branch of Khuzdûl . [1]

Some of these words are true to J.R.R. Tolkien 's books; most others are part of the Neo-Black Speech lexicon invented in the making of Peter Jackson 's film trilogies.

-a - to (Debased Black Speech)
agh -and (for conjoining sentences)
burz - dark
burzum - darkness
durb - rule
carnish - ambush
gazat - dwarf
ghâsh - fire
gimb - find
glob - filth
gûl - wraith
krimp - bind
lug - tower
nazg - ring
nugu - nine
olog - troll
ombi - seven
ronk - pit/pool ( bagronk , as muttered by an Orc in The Two Towers , means "dung-pit")
sha -and (for binding nouns)
shara - man
sharkû - old/old man (Debased Black Speech)
shre - three
snaga- slave
thrak - bring
zagh - mountain pass/mountains

References [ ]

↑ The History of Middle-earth , Vol. V: The Lost Road and Other Writings , chapter VII: " The Lhammas "
Lord of the Rings
3 Aragorn II

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Black Speech

Phrases (5)
Grammar (1)
Phonetics (3)

A language devised by Sauron for his servants to use (LotR/1131). Much of the languages of the Orcs was derived from Black Speech, but Orcish languages degraded so rapidly that the speech of different tribes had little in common; they were usually forced to use Westron to communicate with Orcs of other tribes. Tolkien disliked working on such an “evil” language and there are few words available. Most of what is known about it comes from the phrases of the Ring Inscription . This lexicon lumps Black Speech together with the attested Orcish words and names.

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🧝‍♂️ Races and Peoples
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Black Speech

Development by tolkien, history of the black speech, the one ring inscription.

Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk agh Burzum-Ishi krimpatul. Click to expand...

These are the final lines of the verse on the Rings of Power . Every person who wore the One Ring could understand the Black Speech. When Samwise wore the Ring at the Tower of Cirith Ungol to hide from the Orcs of Sauron, he heard many of the Orcs' plans. Click to expand...

Búrz – dark

Gazat – dwarf
Ghâsh – fire
Gûl – wraith
Lug – tower
Nazg – Ring
Snaga – slave
Thank – bring
Until – orc
Zagh – mountain pass

Depiction in Adaptations

Neo-black speech.

In the Lord of the Rings film, Peter Jackson’s series, David Salo, a language expert, borrowed a few ideas from the Black Speech to come up with a language utilized in the film. Tolkien’s followers refer to Salo's creation as the Neo-Black Speech.
In the Hobbit movies, characters depicting the Orcs speak in Gundabad Orkish. This differs from the earlier The Lord of the Rings trilogy, where Orcs use the Common Tongue. The only scene where the Black Speech is used is during the conversation between Azog and the Necromancer in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug . [2]
In some adaptations, the Orcs do not know the Black Speech. An example of this is the Middle-earth: Shadow of War, where Ratbag does not understand his ally the Olog-hai Ranger .
Before 2014, users on thelandofshadow.com (currently defunct) developed a vocabulary of Neo-Black Speech known as 'Shadowlandian Black Speech.'

Comparison to Natural Languages

Black speech on the chart.

^ Agglutinative Language
^ The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013).

This page has been seen 23,618 times.

Created by esrbl on Jun 3, 2020 Last updated by Manwe on Sep 28, 2022

Sub-categories of Black Speech

Pages in black speech, cirith ungol, nazgûl, ring-inscription, share this page, questions & discussions about black speech.

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The first 10 lessons of Nûrlâm dialect are now out!

Feel free to ask questions or report mistakes here in the comments or in Discord channel .

I’ll sing ye famous song, how in the days of yore, When flat was our world, when Rings have not yet been made, Our first Dark Lord defeated was by Elfin maid, Where others failed; Tinúviel was name of her.

Idea of making a lullaby from Lay of Leithian came to me after reading a Russian translation of “Beren and Luthien” book, where line “Down crumpled Orc, down Balrog proud” resembled the song “Sleep tired toys, books are asleep…” from a children show. But making a lullaby for Orcs required changes to be made, for example baby-orc should be afraid of Lúthien. I've also made a quick research to be sure that scary lullabies are the thing in almost every culture.

Twitter/X account "Rings of Power Updates" posted a sample of Black Speech without translation.

Parf Edhellen: an elvish dictionary requires JavaScript to function properly. We use JavaScript to load content relevant to you, and to display the information you request. Please enable JavaScript if you are interested in using this service.

How do I enable JavaScript? (on google.com) .

Phrases 

Black speech.

The texts beneath were composed by Tolkien at some point in his life. They have undergone and are still undergoing extensive analysis by the Tolkien linguistic community.

Click or tap on the header to learn more about them.

A "yellow-fanged" Mordor Orc cursing the Uruk Uglúk One of the few examples of the horrid Black Speech. LotR/445; PM/83 by Aldaleon .

The Ring Verse The notorious Ring Verse, in its original form, in the very vile tongue of Mordor. LoTR:59 by Aldaleon .

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What do we know about the Black Speech of Mordor?

We know the Ring Verse (Ash Nazg . . .), and single words like 'Ghâsh' (Fire). Do we know any more about canonical Black Speech?

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2 Answers 2

According to Tolkien himself:

The Black Speech was not intentionally modeled on any style, but was meant to be self consistent, very different from Elvish, yet organized and expressive, as would be expected of a device of Sauron before his complete corruption. It was evidently an agglutinative language. [...] I have tried to play fair linguistically, and it is meant to have a meaning not be a mere casual group of nasty noises "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", Parma Eldalemberon 17, p. 11-12.

This is from an issue of a magazine which contained a collection of notes about the uses of his various invented languages as they occurred in The Lord of the Rings . According to the editor :

Although Tolkien never completed the commentary as originally planned, he retained the more cursory list of words and names from which he was working; and he continued to compose further notes on the grammar and history of the Elvish words and names in the story. Many of these were placed together with "Words, Phrases and Passages," and the main commentary has been supplemented by these notes in this edition. Together these texts give the clearest picture we have of how Tolkien conceived of his linguistic inventions in the forms they were revealed to his readers.

So it's a lot more than just a single verse and some words, but a lot less than a complete language with fully-formed grammar and vocabulary.

Where do we know it from? – MadTux Commented May 3, 2013 at 13:55
@MadTuy: the source is cited: Parma Eldalemberon is the name of the magazine, this is from issue no. 17, which was published in 2007 – Michael Borgwardt Commented May 3, 2013 at 14:02
Sorry, I mean where do we know so many words from? – MadTux Commented May 3, 2013 at 14:04
1 @MadTux: because they're in those notes that Tolkien wrote. – Michael Borgwardt Commented May 3, 2013 at 14:05
Here, because nobody else has mentioned this in all these years: folk.uib.no/hnohf/blackspeech.htm – can-ned_food Commented Jul 14, 2017 at 16:56

We have in total about 32 known words in Tolkien's Black Speech. The majority are from The Lord of the Rings , both from the ring verse you cited, and also in the orcish curse in the Two Towers.

'Lie quiet, or I'll tickle you with this,' he hissed. 'Don't draw attention to yourself, or I may forget my orders. Curse the Isengarders! Uglúk u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman-glob búbhosh skai ': he passed into a long angry speech in his own tongue that slowly died away into muttering and snarling. The Lord of the Rings - Book III - Chapter 3 - "The Uruk-Hai"

In addition, some other sources that have come to light later:

Parma Eldabaron 17 contains an analysis of the ring inscription, written by JRR Tolkien, a letter Tolkien wrote in 1964 where he talks a bit about Black Speech and gives some example of its verb system, and various glosses Tolkien gave on the handful of Black Speech words found in LotR.
There's a handful of glosses of some other Black Speech words published in The History of Middle-earth , Unfinished Tales , and Letters of JRR Tolkien .

All together the corpus is still very small and there is not a lot known.

Some resources you may find helpful:

Eldamo's database on Black Speech
Analysis by Un4givenOrc (Note that while this website is devoted to a fan extension of the language, this page itself confines itself to just canonical Black Speech and is the best I've seen.)
Analysis by Helge Fauskanger (Good, but written prior to the publication of PE#17, and so not up to date.)

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In the Shadow of Elvish – The Black Speech and Orcish

V. Analysis of the Black Speech

The purpose of this analysis is “constructive”, with that I mean that if there are several different possible interpretations of a word or sentence the one that contributes the most to the creation of Zhâburi is chosen. The principles of the Hurrian language works as the governing principle. The analysed words are listed in the Black Speech Word list .

I have now added my reflections on the information from the Parma Eldalamberon #17 . As you notice I haven’t rewritten my analysis. I Haven’t yet developed a new system based on them so this analysis is still relevant for much of the base of Zhâburi B. The information has most impact on the #3 The Ring Verse, #9 The Question of Hyphens, and #10 A definite Article. The added notes are marked in italics.

The outline of the analysis

Pure Black Speech and Orcish debased Black Speech
Circumflex or Accent sign
The Ring Verse
The Orc-curse
Single Words
Compound Words
Isolated Words
The ending -hai
The question of Hyphens
A Definite Article?

1. Pure Black Speech and Orcish debased Black Speech In this analysis of the Black Speech we clearly distinguish between Black Speech and Orcish. We are only interested in the Black Speech. There are two arguments for analyzing them together: a larger corpus and avoiding the problem of distinguish from each other. But not distinguish them is a fundamental problem because it will never be an analysis of the pure Black Speech but of a hybrid.

With that said the orcish words will still be used but incorporated in the language. But the Orcish syntax, the structure of the language, will not. In practice this means that the language will never be pure from Orcish.

The core of the material consists of the Ring Verse Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul. And the words nazgûl , uruk, uruk-hai , olog and olog-hai .

Then there are som words that are clearly Orcish the core being the stated in the Orc-curse sentence Uglúk u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman-glob búbhosh skai.

Then there are some words that could be either: ghâsh , lugbúrz, oghor, sharkû, snaga, tark, golug and dushgoi , nar .

2. Circumflex or accent sign? One problem is that both accents (´) and circumflexes are used in writing Black Speech and Orcish. One theory is that there is no distinction between them and that Tolkien just was inconsistent when spelling Orcish and the Black Speech. This seems to be the most common interpretation. Daniel Craig has put forward the interesting hypothesis that ”’û’ is a rounded front vowel (like German ’ü’), which would be more likely to cause ’sharkû’ to be corrupted into ‘Sharkey’ as the nearest vowel in any other language in Middle Earth is ’i’.” I wonder if ’â’ in ’ghâsh’ then ought to be pronounced like German or Swedish ’ä’ (’æ’ in Danish and Norwegian) i.e. somewhat like ’ai’ English ”air.

There are five words with circumflex where two seems to share the same suffix -ûk. Three are explicitly of pure Black Speech: durbatulûk , thrakatulûk and nazgûl ; and two which are active Orcish words but could be Black speech: ghâsh and sharkû .

There are just two words spelled with accent none of which are explicit pure Black Speech words: lugbúrz and búbhosh both compound words. Then there are three Orc names: Uglúk , Grishnákh and Mauhúr . One interesting pattern is that the only word where the circumflex or the accent sign is not in the last syllable is in ’ búbhosh ’.

My hypothesis is that is that the circumflex is used for the Black Speech and that the accent is used for Orcish. The circumflex is used in the Ring Verse (suffix -ûk) and nazgûl which are clearly of the Black Speech. There are two words in which circumflex is used, ’ghâsh’ and ’sharkû’, for which it is unclear whether they are Black Speech or Orcish. The only word that might be of the Black Speech where an accent is used is in ’Lugbúrz’. Interestingly the element “dark” in the Ring Verse (burzum) have neither accent sign nor circumflex. This would interpretation means that ’Lugbúrz’ is Orcish and that the Orcish word for ”dark” is ’búrz’ with a long vowel and that the Black Speech variant is ’burz’ with a short vowel.

Another interesting interpretation is that the last syllable in the descriptive word in the end of compounds word is lengthened so that ‘lugbûrz’ would be the Black Speech variant and that the only difference would be in spelling conventions.

In Tolkien’s own remarks on the Black Speech from Parma Eldalamberon #17 he writes ‘bûrz’ with a circumflex and not ‘búrz’ as in The Lord of the Rings. This could either mean that they are equivalent or that circumflex is used in the Black Speech but not in Orcish.

Either way, here we will use circumflex for Black Speech and accent for Orcish.

3. The Ring Verse See also “ Hurrian and the Black Speech , here is the introduction to Hurrian that I use. Information on Quenya grammar can be found here and here is a Quenya word list.

The Tolkien notes of Parma Eldalamberon #17 are about the grammatical structure of the Ring Verse. I have added them in each commentary box.

Durbatulûk. durb-at=ulûk: durb-, constrain, force, dominate; at, verb ending (like a participle) (durbat = constraining, of a sort to constrain)1); ulûk, verbal ending expressing objects (particles indicating ‘subject’ were usually prefixed2)) 3rd person pl. “them” (ul) in completive or total form “them-all”.

Burzum-ishi. in the archaic ring-inscription burzumishi is evidently made up of this stem) + a particularizing suffix or ‘article’ um), and an enclitic ‘preposition’ ishi ‘in, inside’.

-at	Hurrian -ed- formant of jussive/intended future in verbal form formant of future in verbs Tolkien:
-ishi	“in”, or possibly “in the”. Similar to Quenya locative ending -ssë Tolkien:
-ul	“them”; Hurrian-lla, -l“them” as object of action in transitive verbal forms” (and subject of intransitive verbal forms Tolkien:
-um	Formant of infinitive and nominalization; Hurrian, the form –umme produces the nominal of the action, that is, the infinitive Tolkien:
-ûk	“All”, “completeness”; Hurrian -ok, formant with a meaning “fully, truthfully, really” in a verbal form Tolkien: –
agh	And; Urartian aye, the same as “mit” and “bei” in German
ash	“one” Hurrianshe (root sh-)
burz-	“dark” or “to be dark”. Quenya morë; Primitive Elvish mori “dark(ness)”, mornâ “dark”; Hurrian wur + z could really give the meaning “where the seeing is near/at its limits”; Mountains along the north of Persia.
durb-	“to rule”; Quenya tur- “to master, conquer, dominate, win”; Hurrian torub- “something (disastrous), which is predestined to occur; enemy”
gimb-	“to find”; Hurrian -ki(b) “to take, to gather”
krimp-	“To bind”; Hurrianker-imbu-, to make longer fully/completely/irreversibly”, if it respects to a rope, e.g., it nicely fits the concept of “tie tightly”
nazg	“ring”; Valarin(a)naškad“ring”; Gaelicnasg, nasc= “ring”
thrak-	“to bring”; Hurrian s/thar-(ik)- “to ask, to demand to send something to someone”, so meaning “to ask for/to cause bringing of something to someone” is implied.

The Orc curse The Orc-curse Uglúk u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman-glob búbhosh skai is uttered in LotR 3, VI by an orc. There are three different translations of this sentences .

The first translation appeared in the draft of Appendix F, published in The Peoples of Middle-earth . “Uglúk to the cesspool, sha! the dungfilth; the great Saruman-fool, skai!”.

In a second translation, published in an article by Carl F. Hostetter in Vinyar Tengwar 26 , the phrase reads Uglúk u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman-glob – búb-hosh skai! , and the translation is “Uglúk to the dung-pit with stinking Saruman-filth – pig-guts, gah!”.

The third translation, published in Parma Eldalamberon 17 , is from the late 1950s, and as far as is known, Tolkien’s last word on the subject. Here, the sentence is divided into one long sentence and one shorter – only expressing more contempt.

“[Ugluk] u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman-glob. Búbhosh – skai!” “Uglúk to torture (chamber) with stinking Saruman-filth. Dung-heap. Skai!”.

In addition, according to Nerimovskys analysis “uglúk” can be interpreted as inspired by Hurrian meaning “frightens all”.


to	to	to
cesspool	dung-pit	torture
sha	with	with
dungfilth	stinking	stinking
Saruman-fool	Saruman-filth	Saruman-filth
great	pig-guts	dung-heap
skai	gah	skai

The B-version is the most constructive because it provides the most word elements. All three agrees that ‘u’ means “to” and that ‘skai’ is just some kind of interjection like “gah” in English. The B-version provides two words two words for ‘bagronk’ – “dung” and “pit” and ‘búb-hosh’ gives us “pig” and “hosh”. Even though version A provides two word from ‘pushdug’ “dung” and “filth” the B- (and C-) versions provides us with a verb ending which I analyse as -dug which corresponds to English -ing in “stinking”. Version B is also the one that used in the Svartiska .

5. Single words There are a few single words that are quite unproblematic.

Ghâsh : Is stated to mean “fire” and that it is a common word for “fire” among Orcs and that it is derived from the Black Speech. I might be a debased form but here we treat it as a Black Speech word. Maybe it is related to Valarin igas “heat”, tentatively isolated from Aþâraigas “appointed heat” like nazg to (a)naškad “ring”.

Snaga : The word ‘snaga’ is stated to mean “slave” and could be Black Speech or Orcish. As most other nouns ends in a consonant (exceptions are the endings -hai and -ishi and sharkû). It is possible that ‘snaga’ kan be analysed as snag+a and that the final ending is an agental ending borrowed from Westron seen in words such ‘batta’ “talker” and ‘puta’ “blower”. Orcs communicated in Westron when they could not understand each other because of the differences of Orcish dialects. Is so ‘snaga’ is a Orcish word but ‘snag-‘ can be seen as a Black Speech root.

The Zhâburi interpretation is that it refers to a relation between Orcs of masters and slaves where the uruk is the word for orc master. But the this is a dynamic relationship where someone that in one relation is snaga could be a master in another relation. There is a difference between the two terms. Whereas ‘uruk’ only refers to orcs ‘snaga’ is not limited to orcs.

Tark : Orcish “man of Gondor”, probably from Westron Tarkil “person of Númenórean descent”, similar to Quenya tarcil(de) and Primitive Elvish ‘tarkhilde’ meaning “High Man”. In lack of another word for human ‘tark’ is used for humans in general.

Golug : Orcish “Noldor elf” supposed to be borowed from Sindarin ‘ Golodh’ “one of the Noldo” or “wise person, sage”; Primitive Elvish ‘ñgolodô’ of the same meaning. Just as with ‘tark’, we use it for elves in general in lack of another better word.

Nar : Orcish “no”? From the LotR, VI “The Land of Shadow”, a tracker orc and a soldier orc in conversation. The tracker snarls: “Nar! I’m going home.” In Svartiska it means “no” and it is not an unreasonable interpretation even though it is probably just an empty interjection like ‘skai’. The orc begins two later sentences with “ar!”. But with such a small corpus it is better than nothing.

Gûldur : Analysis will come. See my post on this . According to my analysis this word is a compound made of the two words ‘gûl’ and ‘dur’.

5.1 Uruk, Olog & Oghor

The words uruk , olog and oghor are all attested with the ending – hai . The word uruk means “orc”, oghor-hai are the drúedain or the Wood people – could be Black Speech but more probably Orcish. Olog is pure Black Speech and seams to mean “ troll “.

The interoperation of these words seem to be quite straight forward but I have an idea for a deeper and more constructive analysis. These words are a bit odd. Most attested Black Speech words are monosyllabic except from compounds and words with suffixes. And there are only a few words with initial vowel – except these three only ash (one), agh (and) the monosyllabic preposition u from the orc curse and a few names : Azog , Orcobal , Othrod , Ufthak and Uglúk .

In Hurrian (and other ancient languages such as proto-indoeuropean) words can be derived by duplication of syllables or vowels. So my proposition is that these are derived words with a prefix that duplicates the stem vowel. This analysis gives us three new stems and a new rule for deriving new words. The rule is that words for races can be derived from stems by dublicate the stam vowel and attach it in front of the stem. The only problem here is that I had a vision that Zhâburi B should only use suffixes (a rule inspired from Hurrian). The stems are: RUK , LOG – and GHOR -.

The first of these is actually attested in Primitive Elvish. H. K. Fauskanger writes : “ruk- one of the “ancient forms” of the stem RUKU, that yielded the word Orch (Orc) in Sindarin. Other forms include rauk-, uruk-, urk(u), runk-, rukut/s; also the “strengthened stem”gruk- and the “elaborated” guruk-, ñguruk (the latter by combination with a distinct stem NGUR “horror”, WJ:415). None of these derivatives are clearly glossed, though urku (or uruku) is said to have yielded Quenya urko , vague in meaning in the lore of the Blessed Realm (“bogey”), but later recognized as a cognate of Sindarin Orch . The adjective urkâ is said to mean “horrible”(WJ:389-90).” In Elvish this stem has something to do with fear which it does not have to have in Zhâburi. I have not decided what the RUK-stem meaning should be.

The stem GHOR would have to to with trees, wood and forest so oghor would be the “forest person” and oghor-hai “those of the wood men” ore something like that.

The Trolls were the Shadows answer to Ents and made of stone so LOG could very well have to do with stone or rock.

6. Compound words

Nazgûl and Lugbúrz is the only compound words of which we know what each part means. Both words have elements in them that appears in the Ring inscription ‘nazg’ and ‘burz(um-ishi)’ respectively. The pattern of word formation is interestingly and problematic different in the two compounds.

The compound ‘nazgûl’ means “ringwraith” and follows the same pattern as the English word but ‘lugbúrz’ has the opposite order – “tower-dark”. This is important because the word order of compound words determines how other compounds are supposed to be interpreted and how compounds are to supposed to be formed in the Zhâburi.

The word order of ‘lugbúrz’ is the same as the Sindarin equivalent Barad-dûr “tower dark”.

Because ‘nazgûl’ is clearly stated as a Black Speech word and ‘lugbúrz’ is not the pattern of ‘nazgûl’ is clearly that of the Black Speech and Zhâburi. The formation of ‘lugbúrz’ could be a possible pattern in the Black Speech. One interpretation is that in compounds made of two nouns the pattern is that of ‘nazgûl’ but when an adjective is part of the compound such ‘burz’ then the pattern is that of ‘lugbúrz’. A third possibility is that there is no pattern and it does not matter how two words are compounded.

The second interpretation is the most constructive because it provides a framework in which both patterns of ‘nazgûl’ and ‘lugbúrz’ fit. This pattern also follows the traditional analyses of the words from the Orc curse: ‘bagronk’ “dung pit” -> bag = “dung”; ronk = “pit”; ‘búbhosh’ “pig guts” -> búb = “pig”; hosh = “guts”.

Sharkû :“old man” (Appendix F) and is often interpreted as ‘shar’ “man” and ‘kû’ old following the pattern of lugbúrz i.e. lug “tower” and búrz “dark”. It could be the other way around – shar “old” and kû “man” follow the pattern of nazgûl “ringwraith” nazg “ring” and gûl “wraith”. Another interpretation is that it it is constituted of a stem for “old” and a suffix such as Swedish gamling (gam(mal) + ling) “old person” or it could be that the word cannot easily be broken down into different parts, like the Swedish word gubbe “old man”.

The different interpretations all have different pros and cons, the last interpretation being the least constructive because it only provides one special word. The others either gives two words and a pattern for compounding of nouns or one word and one derivative suffix. Following the interpretation of the pattern of ‘lugbúrz’ outlined above under “compound words” provided us with ‘shar’ = “(human?) man” and ‘kû’ “old”. But maybe ‘ku’ if descriptive words attached to nouns in compound words are lengthened.

Dushgoi: Orcish for “Minas Morgul” (War of Jewels). This compound is tricky to solve because we do not really no what the different parts mean. The Svartiska interpretation is that ‘dush’ means “magic” or “sorcery” and that ‘goi’ means “town” or “city” (Swedish “stad”) which renders the same meaning as the Sindarin name Barad-dûr which means “Tower of Sorcery”. This also the interpretation of A. Appleyard’s analysis of the Black Speech. This is the nazgûl-pattern of word formation, noun+noun where the first noun functions as a description of the main noun.

The element could be taken from Valarin ‘dušamanûðân’ (š=sh) meaning “marred” from Aþâraphelûn Dušamanûðân “Arda Marred” just as ‘nazg’ could be taken from Valarin ‘naškad’. My interpretation, which I admit is a bit creative, is this: The concept of ‘Arda Marred’ is that Melkor corrupted the world with his dissonance. If so, ‘dush’ can be interpreted the “marring” of Arda. More specifically ‘dush’ is the practice of the deep and dark knowledge of Melkor, i.e. sorcery. But see the word ‘gûldur’.

Then we have the element ‘goi’. The simple interpretation is that it means “town” or “city” but I am not happy with it because it does not feel to be a Black Speech Word. In my opinion the word looks more like Orcish.

7. Isolated words These are words isolated from compounds.

Gûl : From the compound ‘nazgûl’ analysed as nazg “ring” + ‘gûl’ “wraith” or “any one of the major invisible servants of Sauron dominated entirely by his will (A Tolkien Compass)”. The word ‘gûl’ is very similar to the Elvish word root NGOL “wise” or “wisdom” and Primitive Elvish ñgôlê “Science/Philosophy” and identical to Sindarin gûl “deep knowledge; perverted or evil knowledge, sorcery, necromancy, black arts, magic”. See also ‘gûldur’.

The interpretation for Zhâburi is that ‘gûl’ means someone who has gained deep knowledge through the black arts of Sauron which also means that one is dominated by his will and one’s perspective of the world is completely that of the Dark lord.

lug : ”tower”, isolated from ’lugbúrz’ ”[the] Dark Tower”, Sindarin ”Barad-dûr” of the same meaning. Could be Orcish or genuine Black Speech.

burz/búrz: ”dark”, isolated from ’burzum-ishi’ in the Ring Verse and ’lugbúrz’ ”The Black Tower”. The accent in ’lugbúrz’ is problematic because it is unclear what it means and why there is one i ’lugbúrz’ and not in ’burzum’. See the discussion of this above under ”Circumflex or Accent?”.

bag : “dung” isolated from ’bagronk’ ”dung-pit”.

búb : “pig” isolated from ’búbhosh’ ”pig-guts”.

dush : “magic, technology” isolated from ’dushgoi’ and might be taken from Valarin ‘dušamanûðân’. The difference between ‘dush’ and ‘gûl’ is that ‘gûl’ has to do with (dark) knowledge and that ‘dush’ has to do with the practice of (dark) knowledge.

goi : “town”, “city”, “administrative centre” isolated from ‘dushgoi’.

hosh : “guts” isolated from ’búbhosh’ ”pig-guts”.

kû : “old” solated from sharkû.

ronk : “pit” isolated from ’bagronk’ ”dung-pit”. The Svartiska has ”gronk” instead.

shar : “man” opposed to “woman” isolated from sharkû.

8. The suffix -hai The suffix -hai is hard to interpret. My interpretation is that i marks the substantive as descriptive (adjective), as part of something or that it has its quality. So Uruk-hai means something like “Orcish” or “Urukian”, “being part of orcs” or “has a quality of Orcs”.

This is a interpretation of the ending -hai that differs from both the LARP-orcish where it means something like “elite” and the interpretation that it means “folk”.

In the first version of Zhâburi -hai had the meaning now given to the suffix -shâ which would correspond to “folk”. But it does not really makes sense that it should mean ‘Orc-folk’. It is clearly used to indicate a particular group of orcs, the Isengarders in the chapter Uruk-hai, and in the chapter “The Land of Shadows” two orcs discuss “… then it must be a pack of rebel Uruk-hai …”. And this sentence Appendix F, “Of other races”, “Orcs and the Black Speech”: “… the word uruk [was] of the Black Speech, though it was applied as a rule only to the great soldier-orcs that at this time issued from Mordor and Isengard. The lesser kinds were called, especially by the Uruk-hai, snaga ‘slave’.

In the paragraph on Trolls it is stated that “… at the end of the Third Age a troll-race not before seen appeared in southern Mirkwood and in the mountain borders of Mordor. Olog-hai they were called in the Black Speech.

If -hai would mean ‘folk’ or ‘race’ then the uruks from Mordor like Grishnákh ought to be included in Uruk-hai. The the two orcs discussing the “rebel Uruk-hai” can be interpreted as “orc-folk rebels” but it is more plausible that they distinguish the Uruk-hai from the Uruks.

The same distinction, between Uruk and Uruk-hai and Olog and Olog-hai respectively, seems to be valid in the Appendix F parts as well. It is possible to interpret it as a plural ending so we could transform the sentence to “The lesser kinds were called, especially by the Uruks, snaga ‘slave”. In such a reading uruk is distinguished from some other unnamed groups that discusses different orc breeds in orcish or the Black Speech.

It is even more implausible interpretation with regards to the what is stated about the Olog-hai which are supposed to be a new “troll race”. If -hai indicates ‘race’ or ‘folk’ all Trolls should be included in the term Olog-hai.

There is a hypothesis that the ending means human or half indicating that Uruk-hai and Olog-hai are half bloods or half human. Such an interpretation would give that Elrond the half elf is a Golug-hai.

That -hai means ‘half blood’ does not fit with Oghor-hai ( the forest people ) even though it is reasonable for Uruk-hai and Olog-hai. It is more reasonable that it would mean something with human but only if Uruk-hai and Olog-hai really were part human.

My solution and interpretation is that -hai marks that noun is part of something or has its quality. This is taken from Hurrian where there is a suffix -( h ) h e that attached to nouns marks a) ethnic and geographic adjectives like h urri+ h e > h urro- h e “Hurrian”; b) adjectives expressing the material or interior quality like h iari+hhe > h iaro- hh e “golden”; c) belonging to as in Tukrish+ h e > Tukrish- h e “belonging to Tukrish”.

According to this interpretation uruk-hai are “orcish” in that way they have a orcish part or are belonging to the Uruk society. In the same way the Olog-hai are “trollish” and the Oghor-hai are part of or belong to the woods – “woodish”.

See also “10. A definite article?” below.

9. The question of Hyphens The hyphens seen in nouns are problematic because they do not really fit the Hurrian language structure. The Hurrian language has long suffix chains for both the verb and the noun. But we only have examples of this kind of structure for verbs in the Black Speech.

We have two types examples of nouns with hyphens both involving suffixes; the suffix -hai following uruk, olog, and oghor respectively and the suffix -ishi following burzum in the ring Verse. The hyphen does not appear in the tengwar version of the Ring inscription. I seems like the hyphen is only used with grammatical endings. Word conjunctions are clearly possible like nazgûl (nazg+gûl). But in the Orc-curse ‘glob’ is attached to ‘Saruman’ with a hyphen “Saruman-glob”, probably because ‘Saruman’ is a name and maybe because it is neither Orcish or of the Black Speech.

There are two ways treat the hyphen. Either ignore it as Craig-analysis or as inte the Land of Shadow-analysis always put a hyphen between nouns and suffix. To use a hyphen is clearly more in line with the Tolkien original spelling. But what does the hyphen mark?

In the first version of Zhâburi the hyphen is used to clarify that two letters don’t form a digraph, e.g. not kh in uruk-hai/*urukhai, or some other forbidden sound combination. This solution is not consistent with the spelling of burzum-ishi and maybe not oghor-hai depending on whether rh is allowed or not. This solution is clearly not satisfying.

I have the following hypotheses: 1) It is just superficial and reminds of how cuneiform is transcribed like ‘ h urro= h e’ (hurrian). 2) It has something to do with the formation of nouns. 3) It indicates that the ending is pronounced as a free word in it self even though it is part of the noun.

All of them could of course be true but the most viable interpretation is number two, that it has something to do with the formation of nouns. There are of course many possible interpretations but I have two in mind: a) that the Black Speech uses a lot of different suffixes which are grammatically difficult to categorize and that different postpositions are attached to the noun but seen as distinct parts. b) It could be that there are are only some suffixes that are attached in this way and some are treated as part of the noun, i.e. without the hyphen, and som are attached postpositions and maybe some are unattached postpositions.

The interpretation a fits quite nicely with the the published fragments. We have the adjective ‘burz’ “dark” which has the suffix ‘-um’ attached transforming it to the noun “darkness” to which the the hyphen marked postposition or locative ending ‘-ishi’ is attached. But what if more endings are needed. The verb has long chains of endings. For example durbatulûk from the Ring inscription is usually analyzed as durb-at-ul-ûk “to rule them all” (in Zhâburi it is analyzed as durb-a-t-ul-ûk “intended to completely rule them”). It is not much of problem a sentence like “of the darkness” which with endings of Zâburi (A) would be burzum-ûb . The trouble is with word with other endings, like uruk-hai. If we suppose that it means ‘orc-folk’ and I want to say “in the Orc-folk” where is the ending attached. Should there be a hyphen between the endings like uruk-hai-ishi ? Or are they fused together to uruk-haiishi ? (The ending could of course just as same be attached in the reversed order). If one imagine the Black Speech to have endings for plural they ought to be expressed with endings marked by hyphens as well. Taking examples affixes from the Svartiska “of the elite orcs ”za-uruk-hai-ob-i” (-hai is interpreted as “elite” in the Svartiska”).

This seems to be quite cumbersome and I don’t like that many hyphens in the language and thus interpretation b it is. But which noun endings and when are they attached with hyphens.

The Hurrian language, which here functions as a model, does have long suffix chains for both the verb and the noun with both case endings, attached postpositions (syntactic particles) and a few postpositions. This seems to be the case for Primitive Elvish as well. We have one case ending, the allative -ad ( Quenya -nna and Telerin -na) attested, and one enclitic ending -m (which evolved to Quenya plurals in ‘n’ such as genitive plural -ion) and Tolkien has stated that the Quenya case endings probably evolved from postpositions.

My solution is a compromise where postpositions are attached to nouns with hyphens. These postpositions are created by adding a chain of suffixes to a postpositional “relational core” creating “suffix clusters”. These postpositions are structured in a certain order, following the same order as the Hurrian noun suffix chain, and are always attached right behind the noun.

In the Parma Eldalamberon #17 notes Tokien doesn’t use a hyphen in burzumishi, so it seems that the hyphen is not necessary.

10. A definite article? Could the Black Speech have a definite article? In the Ring Verse ‘burzum-ishi’ corresponds to English “in the darkness”. One possible interpretation is that one of the i:s in ‘ishi’ is an article. In both Quenya and Sindarin the definite article is ‘i’ as in ‘auta i lómë’ “the night is passing” and ‘i aran’ “the king”. This article precedes the noun just as in English. This article is found in Primitive Elvish where it is a “deitic particle”, i.e. meaning “this” or “that” instead of “the”.

In Hurrian there is an “article”, singular “ni/ne”, plural “na” which is attached as a suffix at the second position in the suffix chain, before the case suffix. An interpretation following this would mean that the first ‘i’ in ‘ishi’ is a marker for the definite article and that the “in-ending” is ‘-shi’, maybe from a locative ending -ze in Primitive Elvish and developed to Quenya -ssë which developed from older -zë. The one known case ending in Primitive Elvish is -da which in Quenya has developed into -nna.

It is possible that this “article” also appear in the ending -hai. My interpretation is that -hai is taken from Hurrian -( h ) h e the position of the Hurrian “article” in the noun suffix chain is just after endings such as -( h ) h e. Then the ending -hai really is just -ha with the “article” so ‘uruk-hai’ means something like “those of orcs”, “those part of orcs”, “those partly orcs” or simply “the orcish ones”.

This interpretation means that the ‘-i’ marks something in between the stronger deitic particle ‘i’ of Primitive Elvish and the weaker definitive article ‘i’ in Quenya and Sindarin.

The Tolkien notes of Eldalamberon #17 says that there really is a definite article in the Black Speech. It’s of course not the one I have constructed but -um instead of -i.

Tolkien writes: “in the archaic ring-inscription burzumishi is evidently made up of this stem + a particularizing suffix or ‘article’ um, and an enclitic ‘preposition’ ishi ‘in, inside’.”

Maybe I can retain -i as the deitic particle “this/that” and let -um be a particularizing suffix corresponding to Zhâburi “-ashi”, which sometimes can be used as an article. Then burzumishi would mean “in the particular darkness (of the dark lord)”.

Last update: 2020.11.27

Black Speech

This article deals with Black Speech as it relates to NationStates. For more general information, see the Wikipedia article on this subject.

2.1 Nations that use Black Speech
4 Vocabulary
5.1 Word order
5.2 Personal pronouns
5.3 Prepositions
5.5 A sentence in Black Speech
6 External Links

Black Speech is a language derived from the works of J.R.R. Tolkien , especially The Lord of the Rings . It is the language spoken by the servants of Sauron and the inhabitants of Mordor.

Note that, in spite of the relevance tag above, this article will in fact not remain at covering the language "as it relates to NationStates", but delve more deeply into the nature of Black Speech itself. The main reason for this is that the Wikipedia article on the subject, being part of an actual encyclopedia rather than a fictional one, contains little to no information on the exact vocabulary and grammar, since any such speculation has no place in an encyclopedic article. The information compiled below is gathered mainly from the Ardalambion (see external links), a well-known authority and source on Tolkien's languages.

Black Speech in NationStates

Nations that use black speech.

Add to this list as seen fit.

The Five Kingdoms of Melkor Unchained

Authentic Black Speech, as used in The Lord of the Rings, is present in only two original phrases, and several names. These are firstly the ring-spell:

Which, rendered in English, means:

And secondly, a curse uttered by an Orc:

Which Tolkien himself translated differently at two instances:

Thus "glob" might mean "filth" or "fool", "push-dug" either "dungfilth" or "stinking", and "bub-hosh" either "pig-guts" or "great".

The original vocabulary of the language is thus very limited, though it has been complemented by a large amount of new words invented by fans.

It should be noted that most names of places either in Mordor or implicitly connected to Sauron are named in Elvish, not in the Black Speech. This includes Mordor , Barad-Dur , Dol-Guldur , Minas Morgul , Cirith Ungol and Orodruin .

The few known words (most of them corrupted or debased forms of words derived from other languages by

Tolkien) include (derived from Ardalambion ):

From the few sources that are available, the grammar of Black Speech is nearly indiscernable. However, from the ring-spell it is possible to arrive at these conclusions (which are all conjecture, of course):

(Adjective) Subject (Object-Preposition) Verb

Example (conjectured):

Personal pronouns

Personal pronouns are not separate words, but attached to the verb as a suffix.

Prepositions

The preposition is attached by a hyphen to the object of the sentence.

The time or tense of the sentence is a suffix attached to the verb. This goes before the personal pronoun.

A sentence in Black Speech

Assuming there were sufficient vocabulary, it would be possible to translate the following sentence:

Where the bold parts are actual words in Black Speech, and the brackets stand for missing vocabulary. Note I used shadow rather than 'darkness' (for which there is BS word, burzum), in order to better illustrate the word order.

External Links

The Ardalambion (Site of Helge K. Fauskanger, a Tolkien linguist)
Wikipedia on Black Speech

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The Black Speech

It is thought that the Black Speech was designed by Sauron in the Dark Years to be used by all who served him. Even though this was a failure, many words that were devised for the Black Speech were spoken by Orcs in the Third Age. After the first overthrow of Sauron, this language in its acient form was forgotten by all except the Nazgûl. When Sauron again arose, it became the language of Mordor and Barad-dûr, used by the captains of Sauron’s army.

The “Olog-hai” was a race of trolls that appeared at the end of the Third Age in southern Mikwood and in the mountains of Mordor. Unlike the older “race of the twilight”, they were unmatched in size and strength. The only language they knew was the Black Speech of Barad-dûr (the only “con-lang” of Middle Earth).

The Black Speech may have been devised from several different sources …. different forms of Elvish …. maybe even from a perverted form of Valarin (the tongue of the gods)….. that had been taught to Morgoth’s slaves at one time. “Urûk” is identical to an ancient Elvish form of the word “orc” and “nazg” is similar to the Valarian word “naskâd” for “ring”.

It is interesting to note that Tolkien himself hated the Black Speech. An admiring fan sent him a goblet, which Tolkien talked about in one of his Letters: “… I had a similar disappointment when a drinking goblet arrived (from a fan) which proved to be of steel, engraved with the terrible words seen on the Ring. I, of course, have never drunk from it, but use it for tobacco ash”. In “The Peoples of Middle Earth”, the Black Speech was described as …. “so full of harsh and hideous sounds and vile words that other mouths found it difficult to compass, and few indeed were willing to make the attempt”. Some of the harsh sounds are from the explosives b, d, g, k, p, t, and from words containing the different “s” sounds of s, sh, sk, and z.Alexander Nemirovsky, a historian, believes Tolkien may have based Black Speech on the ancient Hurrian-Urartian languages of the Hittites and the Hurrians (who lived in the late Bronze Age).

The entire corpus consists of only the Ring inscription, the curse made by the Mordor orc, the words “Olog-hai” and “Uruk-hai”, and a few names. The inscription on the Ring of Power was in the ancient Black Speech. The curse was a more debased form of the Black Speech, used by the soldiers of Barad-dûr.

Ring Inscription:

Ash nazg durbatulûk Ash nazg gimbatul Ash nazg thrakatulûk Agh burzum-ishi krimpatul

Below is a slightily different grouping of the English translation of the Ring Poem than others have used, leaving a more familiar infinitive form of the verb, and suggesting “tul” means “them”, instead of “-at” being a verbal ending form of “intention”. At this point, unless other Black Speech is revealed by the Tolkien estate, the separation of durbatulûk, gimbatul, thrakatulûk, and krimpatul is anyone’s guess.

*** Original words are separated by hyphens to show individual meanings of words combined together:

Ash nazg durba-tul-ûk (One ring to-rule them all)

Ash nazg gimba-tul (One ring to-find them)

Ash nazg thraka-tul-ûk (One ring to-bring them all)

Agh burz-um-ish-i krimpa-tul (And dark-ness in-the to-bind them)

Curse of the Mordor-Orc:

Uglúk u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman glob búbhosh skai.

*** There are two different translations for this sentence (which I will separate by hyphens again) …..

Uglúk u bag-ronk sha push-dug Saruman glob búb-hosh skai.

Earlier: Uglúk to the cess-pool, sha! The dung-filth; the great Saruman-fool, skai!

Later: Uglúk to the dung-pit with stinking Saruman-filth, pig-guts, gah!

Lines from the LOTR movies:

At weathertop …..

Lord of the Nazgul: Ashi! literal: The One!

Line that didn’t make the final cut for FOTR ….

Orcs: Za dash-u snak-u Zigur, Durbgu nazg-shu, Durbgu dash-shu

suggested: Orcs: ‘Hail, Sauron, Lord [of the] Ring, Lord [of the] Earth’ more literal translation: Hail to the master of earth Sauron, Ruler of the ring, Ruler of the earth.

*** A list of attested words are in CoE’s Black Speech dictionary.

…. by Naneth

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' (that is, some time in the ). It would presumably have fallen out of use after the . for use by his servants.

" , in its original ancient Black Speech
II 2

As ascended to become the new during the , he found that the who served him were divided into scattered tribes speaking mutually unintelligible dialects. therefore devised a new language to be used by all his servants, a language that came to be known as the Black Speech.

The origins of the words used in the Black Speech are obscure, but at least some of them seem to have been adopted from existing dialects. The had no language of their own, but they freely adopted and twisted words from other languages, and there are apparent examples of these words within the Black Speech.

The (who were enslaved to will) naturally adopted the Black Speech. Indeed, the word itself came from the Black Speech, being the equivalent of ' ' in that language. The proved too unruly, however, to adopt a universal tongue. Instead they retained their own multitude of dialects, though they acquired words from the Black Speech as they did from other languages. When of different tribes met, they would at times use the Black Speech as a shared language, though they would often prefer the to use the instead.

After overthrow at the end of the , the Black Speech was all but forgotten, but with the return he brought it back into use. When was reoccupied, the Black Speech was the language used by himself, his and his captains. Even the spoke a version of the tongue, though in the nature of their kind this was a broken and debased form of the Black Speech as it had originally been devised by .

Samples of the Black Speech in actual use are extremely rare, and indeed we only have two sources that provide more than a word or two. The first of these is the , the string of words running around the inside and outside of the , which read: . The translation of the inscription runs as follows:

to rule them all, to find them,
to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

Certain patterns stand out here that we can associate with other known fragments of the language. , for example, means ' ', and the word , 'ring', is also used in , ' '. is 'darkness', and that connects with , the name in the Black Speech for ' ' of . It should perhaps be noted that the was said to be in an ancient form of the Black Speech, implying that the language evolved in some respects, but words like and seem to have remained constant across its history.

Our only other significant source of Black Speech is rather less elevated than the : a string of curses from the against his fellow , and the he was forced to accompany across . It is said to have been in a debased form of the Black Speech, and runs u bagronk sha pushdug -glob búbhosh skai!. This is not interpreted in the text of , but a translation does appear in volume XII of : ' to the cesspool, sha! The dungfilth; the great -fool, skai!'

A handful of other words are known, but these are from sources and so may be somewhat corrupted from the original Black Speech form. Among these are , 'fire' and , 'slave'. Another example is , ' ', from which the soldier- known as the took their name. , 'old man', was another example of the same kind, further corrupted to ' ' as a name given to by his underlings during his brief rule in the .

1	This reference is in Appendix F I, . In fact, the Black Speech must have existed before , because the , which bears an inscription in this tongue, was forged on about that date.
2	The Gaelic languages contain a word or , a binding or link, that can be interpreted as 'ring'. The similarity to Black Speech is remarkable, but appears to be coincidental. At least, according to comments in a letter of 1967, Tolkien did not consciously base his invented word on this Gaelic source.

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List of canon Black Speech words/phrases?

I'm trying to reorganize my language learning materials including the Black Speech, and I'd like a way to distinguish between Tolkien's canon Black Speech, Peter Jackson's canon (which may have had Black Speech that wasn't in the books?), and fan-made Black Speech. Does anyone know of a list of all Black Speech words/phrases in Tolkien's works?

Black History Words – 101+ Words Related To Black History

Throughout history, words have served as powerful tools to convey ideas, tell stories, and preserve culture. When it comes to significant events and individuals that have shaped society, having a lexicon of related words becomes more than just a linguistic exercise; it becomes an essential reference for understanding and appreciating the richness of history. This is particularly true when exploring the remarkable narrative of Black history.

From the earliest resistance against slavery to the influential leaders who spearheaded the Civil Rights Movement, the lexicon of Black history is replete with words that encapsulate the struggles, achievements, and resilience of a community. Having a curated list of these words not only provides us with a deeper comprehension of the past, but it also enables us to honor the legacy of those who fought for justice and equality.

Here, we present an invaluable compilation of words related to Black history, each carrying its own significant weight and tracing a vital thread in the tapestry of the African diaspora. Brace yourself for a fascinating journey through pivotal moments, celebrated figures, and milestones that have indelibly shaped our world.

Civil rights

Discrimination, segregation, emancipation, underground railroad, harriet tubman, frederick douglass, martin luther king jr., black panther party, voting rights, integration, brown v. board of education, march on washington, montgomery bus boycott, black lives matter, nelson mandela, harlem renaissance, langston hughes, maya angelou, toni morrison, oprah winfrey, barack obama, booker t. washington, w.e.b. du bois, marcus garvey, reconstruction, tuskegee institute, black wall street, black history month, african american, segregationist, integrationist, freedom riders, medgar evers, ruby bridges, sojourner truth, thurgood marshall, shirley chisholm, jesse owens, jackie robinson, muhammad ali, serena williams, venus williams, colin kaepernick, coretta scott king, angela davis.

Civil rights movement
Black power
Black nationalism
Racial profiling

Reparations

Affirmative action, police brutality, black churches, black-owned businesses, black excellence, black culture, black literature, black music, gospel music, african diaspora, african heritage, african traditions, african american cuisine, black fashion, black inventors, george washington carver, madame c.j. walker, garrett morgan, lewis howard latimer, lonnie johnson, black scientists, black doctors, black educators, black athletes, black actors, black filmmakers, black politicians, black activists, black philosophers, black writers, black pioneers.

To have a better understanding of the words defined in this article, readers can click on the word mentioned above to jump right to its description.

Definitions For Our List Of Words Related To Black History

The cruel practice of owning and exploiting individuals as property, denying them basic human rights.

The fundamental rights and freedoms that every individual is entitled to, regardless of their race, gender, or other characteristics.

Unfair treatment or prejudice against individuals or groups based on their race, gender, religion, or other factors.

The enforced separation of different racial or ethnic groups, often resulting in unequal access to resources and opportunities.

A system of racial segregation and discrimination that was prevalent in the United States, particularly in the South, from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century.

The act or process of setting individuals or a group free from oppression or slavery.

A network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans to escape to free states and Canada during the 19th century.

An African American abolitionist and political activist who played a crucial role in helping enslaved individuals escape via the Underground Railroad.

An African American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman who escaped from slavery and became a prominent advocate for the abolition of slavery and equal rights.

An African American civil rights activist who famously refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott and becoming an important symbol of the civil rights movement.

An influential leader of the civil rights movement in the United States, known for his nonviolent activism and powerful speeches advocating for racial equality and justice.

A prominent African American civil rights activist and leader who advocated for black self-defense, black nationalism, and Pan-Africanism.

A revolutionary black nationalist and socialist organization founded in the 1960s that aimed to protect African American communities from police brutality and promote social and political empowerment.

The legal rights of individuals to participate in the democratic process by casting their votes in elections, regardless of their race, gender, or other factors.

The process of bringing different racial or ethnic groups together on an equal basis, promoting social cohesion and equal opportunities.

The landmark Supreme Court case that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

A historic civil rights demonstration in 1963 where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.

A city in Alabama known for its pivotal role in the civil rights movement, particularly the Selma to Montgomery marches.

A year-long protest against racial segregation on public buses in Montgomery, Alabama, led by Rosa Parks.

A social justice movement advocating for the rights and equality of Black individuals.

A South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who became the country’s first Black president.

A system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that existed in South Africa until the early 1990s.

An artistic and cultural movement that emerged in the 1920s in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, celebrating Black identity and creativity.

A prominent poet and writer of the Harlem Renaissance known for his powerful depictions of Black life and experiences.

A highly influential poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist known for her acclaimed work “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”

An esteemed novelist and Nobel laureate, known for her works exploring African American experiences and identity.

A media mogul, philanthropist, and talk show host who became one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry.

The 44th President of the United States, who made history as the first African American to hold the office.

An influential educator, author, and orator who advocated for the advancement of Black Americans through vocational education and economic self-reliance.

A prominent civil rights activist, sociologist, and writer who co-founded the NAACP and fought for racial equality and social justice.

Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican political leader, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who was a proponent of the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements.

The Civil War was a major armed conflict fought in the United States between 1861 and 1865, primarily over the issues of slavery and states’ rights.

Reconstruction refers to the period following the Civil War in which the United States government attempted to rebuild and reform the Southern states that had seceded from the Union.

Tuskegee Institute, now known as Tuskegee University, is a historically black university in Alabama that was founded by Booker T. Washington.

Black Wall Street was the name given to the affluent African American community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was destroyed during the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921.

Black History Month is an annual observance in the United States and Canada that celebrates the achievements and contributions of African Americans to history, culture, and society.

African American refers to individuals in the United States who are of African descent, particularly those who are descendants of enslaved Africans brought to the Americas during the Atlantic slave trade.

A segregationist is a person who advocates for the separation of different racial or ethnic groups, particularly through the enforcement of discriminatory laws and policies.

An integrationist is a person who advocates for the integration of different racial or ethnic groups, particularly through the promotion of equal rights and opportunities.

The Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated Southern United States in the early 1960s to challenge segregation and discrimination.

Medgar Evers was an African American civil rights activist who was assassinated in 1963 for his work in fighting for racial equality and justice.

Ruby Bridges was the first African American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana in 1960, symbolizing the broader struggle for racial integration in the United States.

Sojourner Truth was an African American abolitionist and women’s rights activist who delivered the famous speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” in 1851, advocating for gender and racial equality.

Nat Turner was an enslaved African American who led a rebellion of enslaved and free black people in Southampton County, Virginia in 1831, resulting in the deaths of many white individuals and subsequent retaliation against black communities.

Thurgood Marshall was an African American lawyer and civil rights activist who became the first African American Supreme Court Justice, serving from 1967 to 1991.

The first African American woman elected to the United States Congress.

An Olympic track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

The first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era.

A legendary boxer and activist known for his charisma and powerful stance against racial injustice.

A dominant tennis player who has won numerous Grand Slam titles and shattered records.

A highly accomplished tennis player and sister of Serena Williams.

A former NFL player who sparked a national conversation about racial inequality by kneeling during the national anthem.

The wife of Martin Luther King Jr. and an influential activist in her own right.

A prominent activist, scholar, and author known for her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement.

Civil Rights Movement

A social and political movement advocating for equal rights and treatment for African Americans.

Black Power

A political and social movement emphasizing racial pride, self-determination, and equality for black individuals.

A prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement who advocated for black nationalism and self-defense.

Black Nationalism

A political and social movement advocating for the unity and self-determination of black people.

Racial Profiling

The practice of targeting individuals based on their race or ethnicity for law enforcement purposes.

The compensation or amends given to individuals or communities for past wrongs, particularly related to slavery and discrimination.

A policy that aims to provide equal opportunities for historically marginalized groups in education and employment.

The excessive and often unlawful use of force by law enforcement officers towards civilians.

Acts of extrajudicial violence and murder, typically directed against African Americans, often carried out by white mobs.

Places of worship and community centers that primarily serve African American congregations.

Enterprises owned and operated by individuals of African descent.

The celebration and recognition of outstanding achievements by individuals within the Black community.

The customs, traditions, arts, and social institutions of African American communities.

Literary works written by authors of African descent, often exploring themes of race, identity, and social justice.

Artistic creations, including visual arts, sculptures, and performance art, produced by Black artists.

A diverse range of musical genres and styles originating from African American traditions.

A genre of Christian music characterized by vibrant vocals, rhythmic beats, and religious lyrics.

A genre of music that originated in African American communities, known for its improvisation and syncopated rhythms.

A genre of music rooted in African American history, expressing emotions through melancholic lyrics and soulful melodies.

A cultural movement and genre of music characterized by rapping, DJing, and urban street art.

A genre of music that combines elements of gospel, rhythm and blues, and jazz, often expressing deep emotions and spirituality.

R&B is a genre of popular music that originated in African American communities in the 1940s.

Motown is a record company founded by Berry Gordy Jr. that played a major role in the racial integration of popular music.

Afrobeat is a genre of music that combines elements of West African musical styles with American funk and jazz influences.

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica and is characterized by its off-beat rhythms and social and political lyrics.

African diaspora refers to the communities throughout the world that are descended from the historic movement of people from Africa.

African heritage encompasses the cultural, historical, and ancestral traditions and customs of the African continent.

African traditions encompass the diverse cultural practices, rituals, and beliefs that have been passed down through generations in Africa.

African American cuisine refers to the culinary traditions and cooking styles developed by African Americans throughout history.

Black fashion refers to the unique styles, trends, and aesthetics created and popularized by Black designers, models, and influencers.

Black inventors are individuals of African descent who have made significant contributions to various fields of invention and innovation.

George Washington Carver was an African American scientist and inventor known for his work in agricultural research and promoting crop diversification.

Madame C.J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove, was an African American entrepreneur and philanthropist who became the first female self-made millionaire in the United States.

Garrett Morgan was an African American inventor and entrepreneur who invented the traffic signal and the gas mask.

Lewis Howard Latimer was an African American inventor and draftsman who played a key role in the development of the telephone and electric lighting.

Lonnie Johnson is an African American inventor and engineer known for inventing the Super Soaker water gun.

Individuals of African descent who have made significant contributions to the field of science.

Medical professionals of African descent who provide healthcare services and expertise.

Teachers and professors of African descent who impart knowledge and educate students.

Individuals of African descent who excel in sports and athletic endeavors.

Performers of African descent who portray characters in films, television, and theater.

Creators and directors of African descent who produce movies and visual storytelling.

Individuals of African descent who hold positions of power and influence in government.

Advocates and organizers of African descent who work towards social and political change.

Thinkers and scholars of African descent who explore fundamental questions about life and knowledge.

Authors and storytellers of African descent who create written works and literature.

Trailblazers and innovators of African descent who break barriers and lead the way in various fields.

Exploring words related to Black history provides us with a deeper understanding of the struggles, achievements, and contributions of the Black community. These words serve as powerful reminders of the resilience and strength displayed by individuals who fought against oppression and worked towards equality.

By delving into the meanings and historical contexts of these words, we gain insights into the experiences of Black individuals throughout history. This knowledge is essential in dismantling stereotypes, challenging misconceptions, and fostering empathy and understanding.

Moreover, understanding the significance of these words allows us to appreciate the rich cultural heritage and diverse perspectives that make up the fabric of our society. It reminds us of the immense contributions made by Black individuals in various fields, including art, literature, science, politics, and civil rights activism.

Words related to Black history also serve as a call to action, urging us to continue the fight for racial justice and equality. They remind us that the struggle for freedom and equality is ongoing and that we must actively work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society.

Ultimately, exploring words related to Black history is not only an exercise in linguistic curiosity but also a means to honor the past, celebrate the present, and shape a better future. It is a reminder that we all have a role to play in promoting equality, challenging systemic racism, and fostering a society where everyone can thrive regardless of their race or ethnicity.

Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.

Black Speech and Orkish

Known Terms Background External Links References

Black Speech and Orkish refer to various languages that are used by creatures in the service of Sauron . These harsh tongues are generally considered very unpleasant to the Free Peoples , and few among them ever learn them.

The Black Speech was devised by Sauron as a common language for all his servants. But this was not to be, for after his defeat in the Second Age this original Black Speech was forgotten by all but the Nazgûl . It survived in a debased form spoken by the Orcs of Mordor , and many Black Speech words remained in the vocabulary of Orcs in the Third Age. Bereft of a Dark Lord's rule, the Orcs splintered into tribes and settlements unfriendly to one another, each with their own variant of Orkish language. Orcs tend to make coarse, rudimentary dialects based on other languages, and despite the common Black Speech origin, these dialects became mutually unintelligible. Thus, Orcs often rely on crudely-spoken Westron for inter-tribal communication. [1]

Some form of Black Speech seems to still be in use in Angmar and Southern Mirkwood , as well as by at least some White Hand Orcs. [2] [3] [4]

Known Terms

See External Links for many more definitions and details. Note that little of the true Black Speech is known, and these words have varying degrees of authenticity. Different sources may have few words in common, and sometimes give different definitions to those they do share.

J.R.R. Tolkien translated very few Black Speech words. The only known example of pure Black Speech is the One Ring 's inscription, and several translations have been given for a phrase of Third Age Mordor Black Speech. These have inspired fans to expand the lexicon with "neo-Black Speech". Some neo-Black Speech definitions and dictionaries match The Lord of the Rings Online 's usage of the language better than others. Some of the words that fit LOTRO's usage are listed on this page.

External Links

Black Speech - Tolkien Gateway
Parf Edhellen - searchable dictionary of Tolkien's languages, including what little Black Speech he published
Black Speech - The Land of Shadow - neo-Black Speech site, with invented grammar and some words used by LOTRO
Black Speech Dictionary - Angelfire - English to neo-Black Speech dictionary, with some words used by LOTRO
↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings , Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of Other Races"
↑ Chapter 4: Marching Orders
↑ A Shadow on the Camp
↑ Book 2, Chapter 2: An Orc Messenger

Black Speech Words

Words related to black speech.

Below is a list of black speech words - that is, words related to black speech. The top 4 are: westron , nazgûl , barad-dûr and the lord of the rings . You can get the definition(s) of a word in the list below by tapping the question-mark icon next to it. The words at the top of the list are the ones most associated with black speech, and as you go down the relatedness becomes more slight. By default, the words are sorted by relevance/relatedness, but you can also get the most common black speech terms by using the menu below, and there's also the option to sort the words alphabetically so you can get black speech words starting with a particular letter. You can also filter the word list so it only shows words that are also related to another word of your choosing. So for example, you could enter "westron" and click "filter", and it'd give you words that are related to black speech and westron.

You can highlight the terms by the frequency with which they occur in the written English language using the menu below. The frequency data is extracted from the English Wikipedia corpus, and updated regularly. If you just care about the words' direct semantic similarity to black speech, then there's probably no need for this.

There are already a bunch of websites on the net that help you find synonyms for various words, but only a handful that help you find related , or even loosely associated words. So although you might see some synonyms of black speech in the list below, many of the words below will have other relationships with black speech - you could see a word with the exact opposite meaning in the word list, for example. So it's the sort of list that would be useful for helping you build a black speech vocabulary list, or just a general black speech word list for whatever purpose, but it's not necessarily going to be useful if you're looking for words that mean the same thing as black speech (though it still might be handy for that).

If you're looking for names related to black speech (e.g. business names, or pet names), this page might help you come up with ideas. The results below obviously aren't all going to be applicable for the actual name of your pet/blog/startup/etc., but hopefully they get your mind working and help you see the links between various concepts. If your pet/blog/etc. has something to do with black speech, then it's obviously a good idea to use concepts or words to do with black speech.

If you don't find what you're looking for in the list below, or if there's some sort of bug and it's not displaying black speech related words, please send me feedback using this page. Thanks for using the site - I hope it is useful to you! 🐪

the lord of the rings
languages constructed by j. r. r. tolkien
tolkien's legendarium
constructed language
ring-inscription
agglutinative language
elvish languages
mouth of sauron
linguistics
the return of the king
rings of power
the peoples of middle-earth
the two towers
vinyar tengwar
hurrian language

That's about all the black speech related words we've got! I hope this list of black speech terms was useful to you in some way or another. The words down here at the bottom of the list will be in some way associated with black speech, but perhaps tenuously (if you've currenly got it sorted by relevance, that is). If you have any feedback for the site, please share it here , but please note this is only a hobby project, so I may not be able to make regular updates to the site. Have a nice day! 🐦

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Here Are 7 Commencement Speeches You May Have Missed

1. President Joe Biden – Morehouse College

Given his support of Israel in the Gaza war, Biden has been the target of campus protests nationwide, and Morehouse was no exception. The graduates greeted him with mild applause, but several turned their backs on him as he spoke. But his speech touched on faith, optimism, resilience and what it means to be a Morehouse man.

“Class of 2024, four years ago, it probably felt like Saturday. Four years later, you made it to Sunday, to commencement, to the beginning,” Biden said. “And with faith and determination, you can push the sun above the horizon once more. You can reveal a light — hope for yourself and for your nation.

2. Quinta Brunson – Temple University

Selecting Brunson, an Emmy and Golden Globe winner, to talk to Temple graduates seemed an inspired choice. The Philadelphia native dropped out of Temple to pursue an acting career, a choice she joked about while receiving an honorary doctorate from the university.

“Mom, it only took me 11 years, two Emmys, and one Golden Globe to finally get a degree,” she joked.

3. John Legend – Loyola Marymount University

Legend, an award-winning actor, and multi-platinum singer-songwriter, told Loyola Marymount’s class of 2024 that the history through which they’ve lived — a once-in-a-century pandemic, global conflict and an attempted coup on Jan. 6, 2020 — has “forged strength of mind and character with deeper empathy, perhaps, than any generation before.”

4. Kendrick Lamar – Compton College

The songwriter and rapper was the unannounced commencement speaker for Compton College , sending the audience into pandemonium. With faculty standing behind him with big smiles and cameras out, Lamar — affectionately known as K-Dot — encouraged graduates of his hometown college, urging them to stay in touch with their inner selves.

He also talked about his unwavering beliefs in his Compton, the power of individuality, the importance of giving yourself grace, and more.

“I wanted to come out here just to tell y’all how much I appreciate y’all,” Lamar, the first rapper to win a Pulitzer prize, told the crowd. “I’m proud of the city of Compton, I’m proud of Compton College, most importantly I’m proud of the graduates out here.”

5. Angela Bassett – Spelman College

Presented with an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree, the legendary actress and star of the “Black Panther” franchise, raved about Spelman as the mecca of Black excellence and Black womanhood.

Bassett took the woman through the uncertainties and confusion she faced as a growing Black artist, but also as a Yale University graduate herself, taking a path that worried people around her, including her mother.

6. Wanda Durant – Bowie State University

Durant, a philanthropist and mother of NBA basketball star Kevin Durant, has dedicated her work to enriching the lives of youth from low-income backgrounds through educational, athletic and social programs. In her speech to graduates of Bowie State , a historically Black college in Maryland, Durant delivered a message of hope and resilience.

Back in 2022, the Durant Family Charitable Foundation donated $500,000 to Bowie for upgrades to its basketball arena.

7. Imani Perry – Georgetown University

An award-winning scholar and professor at Harvard University, Perry told graduates that their education can help change the world .

“The thing about education: when you have it, you can touch everyone in your midst with it because education is a seed as well as a blooming,” she said. “It is the product of an individual receiving instruction, of course, but if you choose to put it to purpose in every facet of your life, it also makes you a teacher not just as a job but also as a vocation.”

Juneteenth: What to know about the historical celebration that's now a federal holiday

On june 19, 1865 slaves in galveston, texas were given the news that they were freed by president abraham lincoln. now, the day is a holiday that celebrates the "second independence day" in america..

Three years after it was made a federal holiday , Juneteenth 2024 marks a day of celebration as well as education.

The federal holiday known as “Second Independence Day,” marks the day the last African American slaves were notified that they had been freed from their masters, the National Museum of African American History and Culture said.

Dr. Tim Goler, a professor of urban affairs and sociology courses and director of research for the Center for African American Public Policy at Norfolk State University, told USA TODAY that Juneteenth or "Freedom Day" is a day that shows the "beauty of our culture" that everyone should participate in.

The origins of Juneteenth date back to June 19, 1865 – more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation - when the Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, Goler said.

“This delay and the enforcement of the emancipation in Texas was due to a lack of enforcement until this general arrived," Goler said. "Then Juneteenth thus became this kind of powerful symbol of freedom and the long struggle for civil rights."

The Juneteenth National Independence Day A ct was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in June 2021. The bill was signed by President Joe Biden on June 17, 2021, which officially made the day a federal holiday.

Here's what you need to know about Juneteenth.

An African American holiday: Predating Juneteenth was nearly lost to history. It's back.

Black History, Juneteenth becoming more cemented in fabric of US

Although Juneteenth is now becoming a part of the conversation regarding Black History, there was a time when Black History was not widely discussed within the educational system, especially for historians, said Dr. Alan Singer, a professor of teaching, learning and technology at Hofstra University who writes about the history of slavery and racism.

“I didn't learn it (until) I was an adult, really (in the) 1990s, when as a teacher, I started studying more, so I (could) incorporate it into my lessons,” he said. “I went to City College in the 1960s and they had first introduced a course called ‘American Negro History’ and that was the first time I had learned about any of these things. I took the course because I became a political activist while at City College and I needed to know more about the African American civil rights struggles.”

Singer also adds that he attended high school during the Civil Rights Movement and was never taught about Black History. To change that, he decided to educate himself more to properly teach his students.

“I just felt a heavy responsibility as a teacher to really present a much more accurate picture of the history of the United States,” he said.

Goler adds that Juneteenth has been recognized for years within the Black community and history. Now, the day has become more publicly known.

"In recent years, Juneteenth has gained a much wider recognition. It's only been since 2021 that it became that designated as a federal holiday," he said. "Many Black people and Black communities around the country have celebrated Juneteenth. It's just becoming much more wider and much more visible now."

Commercialization of Juneteenth

Since Juneteenth has been declared a federal holiday, many retailers have unveiled Juneteenth attire through clothing, footwear, hats and other merchandise.

"The question is, 'who benefits from the commercialization of Juneteenth?' I’d definitely like to see more African American (and) more Black businesses benefit," Goler said. "The trend of commercialization, we risk the overshadowing of the historical context, and the ongoing struggle for racial equality that Juneteenth represents."

Singer hopes that companies that are selling Juneteenth products are also advocating for more inclusivity.

“What I'm arguing is that what we need to do is to use a day like Juneteenth as a launching pad to build a more just society,” he said. “It should not just be about the past, it has to be about the future.”

Goler hopes that the holiday will bring everyone together but also educate them about this important day in Black History.

"I think as we observe Juneteenth, it's important to focus on the education, reflection, the community engagement aspect and really ensure that the day remains of a pungent reminder of our continued and enduring fight for freedom and justice," he said.

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at [email protected] . Follow her on Instagram , Threads and X (Twitter) .

Ukraine war latest: Russian officials 'thrown out of meeting' for breaking custom; new photos emerge of Putin and Kim's day out

Vladimir Putin has arrived in Vietnam for a state visit after he spent the day in North Korea yesterday, where he signed a defence pact with Kim Jong Un. Got a question on the Ukraine war? Submit it below for our specialists to answer.

Sunday 23 June 2024 12:04, UK

Vladimir Putin in Vietnam for state visit
Russia and North Korea sign new defence deal
Russian officials 'thrown out of meeting' for breaking custom
South Korea condemns pact and says it will reconsider weapons for Ukraine
New photos emerge of Putin and Kim's day out
Analysis: Putin wants to prove he still has friends
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Ask a question or make a comment

While we haven't been able to bring you our regular live coverage, we have been keeping an eye on today's latest developments.

Here are the key updates:

The Ukrainian military issued a rare statement confirming it had struck four oil refineries in Russia during an early morning drone attack;
South Korea summoned the Russian ambassador over the country's new defence pact with North Korea;
A Russian guided bomb killed two people and wounded three others in the eastern Ukrainian town of Selydove, according to regional prosecutors;
European Union countries have formally approved the launch of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova next week;
Vladimir Putin said Russia would keep developing its arsenal of nuclear weapons to preserve the "balance of power in the world".

Here's a look at the latest situation on the ground:

That's all of our live coverage on the conflict for now.

We'll bring you any major developments overnight, and we'll be back with our regular updates in the morning.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is "deeply grateful" for Joe Biden's decision to prioritise air defence deliveries for Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president said his country was in critical need of the capabilities to protect its cities and civilians from Russian attacks.

"The partnership between Ukraine and the United States is strong and unwavering. Together, we are protecting life against terror and aggression," he added.

It comes after the US said a recent defence pact signed by Russia and North Korea was a "cause for concern".

The recently signed defence pact between Russia and North Korea is a cause of concern but is no surprise, the White House has said.

Speaking to reporters, White House spokesman John Kirby said the agreement between the two countries was a sign of Russia's desperation for foreign assistance in the Ukraine war.

The deal has seen both countries vow to help each other if they faced armed aggression, and replaces previous treaties between the countries.

Russia said the pact was needed because of "the deep evolution of the geopolitical situation in the world and the region".

Mr Kirby also said the US would reprioritise planned deliveries of foreign military equipment to go to Ukraine, which is in "desperate need" of more air defence capabilities.

Vladimir Putin has warned that South Korea would be making a "big mistake" if it decides to supply weapons to Ukraine.

The Russian president's comments come after South Korea said a new defence agreement between North Korea and Moscow was "absurd" and it would reconsider sending arms to Kyiv as a result.

Mr Putin said Seoul had nothing to worry about when it came to the mutual defence pact.

Russian state media quoted him as saying that Moscow expected its cooperation with North Korea to serve as a deterrent to the West.

He also refused to rule out supplying high-precision weapons to the country.

Russia is considering making changes to its nuclear weapons doctrine, Vladimir Putin has said.

The Russian president made the comments while speaking to reporters at the end of his Vietnam trip.

The existing doctrine states that Russia may use such weapons in response to a nuclear strike or in the event of a conventional attack that poses an existential threat to the country.

Ukrainian troops have been launching mid-range reconnaissance drones in Kharkiv.

Russian forces crossed into parts of the northeastern region last month, and officials claim they have seized at least a dozen villages.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Kyiv's forces are gradually pushing Russian troops out of the contested area.

A police search is under way for a woman who allegedly desecrated the graves of Ukrainian soldiers.

Kyiv city's prosecutor's office said the unknown woman vandalised the graves this morning.

Commemorative plaques and lamps were torn off and broken, it said.

The Ukrainian flag was also "mutilated", it added.

"Operational investigations and searches are being carried out to establish the woman's identity," the office said in post on Telegram.

If caught and found guilty, the woman could face up to five years in prison.

We have been reporting today on Vladimir Putin's visit to Vietnam.

Here is a recap of what the Russian president has been up to:

Mr Putin signed a series of deals with his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam during his state visit;
The two leaders signed agreements to further co-operation on education, science and technology, oil and gas exploration and health;
They also agreed to work on a road map for a nuclear science and technology centre in Vietnam;
Following the talks, Mr Putin said that the two countries share an interest in "developing a reliable security architecture" in the Asia-Pacific region based on not using force and peacefully settling disputes with no room for "closed military-political blocs";
The Russian leader also met Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and is scheduled to meet Communist Party general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong - Vietnam's most powerful politician;
The trip has resulted in a sharp rebuke from the US embassy in the country.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Romania's decision to provide his country with two Patriot air defence systems will strengthen security in Ukraine and throughout Europe.

"This crucial contribution will bolster our air shield and help us better protect our people and critical infrastructure from Russian air terror," the Ukrainian president said on X.

The Patriot, which stands for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target, is a surface-to-air missile defence system.

For months now, Ukraine has been calling for countries to provide more air defence systems to help protect it from Russian attacks.

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Black Speech
Sauron created the Black Speech to be the unifying language of all the servants of Mordor, used along with different varieties of Orkish and other languages used by his servants. J.R.R. Tolkien describes the language as existing in two forms, the ancient "pure" forms used by Sauron himself, the Nazgûl, and the Olog-hai, and the more "debased ...
Eldamo : Black Speech Words
Black Speech Words. agh conj. "and" ash num. card. "one" -at suf. "verb ending (like a participle)" bagronk n. "cesspool; torture chamber" búbhosh adj. and n. "great; dung-heap, muck heap" búrz adj. "dark" burzum n. "darkness ...
Black Speech
The Black Speech was the language of Mordor. The Ring-inscription by J.R.R. Tolkien in the first covers of The Lord of the Rings. The Black Speech was the language of Mordor.. History. This speech was created by Sauron during the Dark Years to be the sole language of all the servants of Mordor, replacing the many different varieties of Orkish and other languages used by his servants.
Black Speech
The Black Speech is one of the fictional languages constructed by J. R. R. Tolkien for his legendarium, where it was spoken in the evil realm of Mordor.In the fiction, Tolkien describes the language as created by Sauron as a constructed language to be the sole language of all the servants of Mordor.. Little is known of the Black Speech except the inscription on the One Ring.
Category:Black Speech words
Pages in category "Black Speech words" The following 20 pages are in this category, out of 20 total.
Eldamo : Black Speech Phrases
Phrases. ash nazg durbatulûk "one ring to rule them all". ash nazg gimbatul "one ring to find them". ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul "one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them". Uglúk u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman-glob búbhosh skai "Uglúk to the cesspool, sha! the dungfilth, the great Saruman ...
Black Speech Library
This is a relatively new dialect of Black Speech which draws on three primary sources - Tolkien's limited wordlist, the theory that Black Speech is inspired by Hurrian, and the Svartiska dialect. Site includes etymological discussions, grammatical rules, word lists, translations, and more. Shapog'gûr Black Speech - Rukh Nûlûrz Dialect
Eldamo : Black Speech
Black Speech. Words (37) ; Names (23) ; Phrases (5) ; Grammar (1) ; Phonetics (3) ; A language devised by Sauron for his servants to use (LotR/1131). Much of the languages of the Orcs was derived from Black Speech, but Orcish languages degraded so rapidly that the speech of different tribes had little in common; they were usually forced to use Westron to communicate with Orcs of other tribes.
️ Black Speech
The Black Speech was among the fictional languages used in J. R. R. Tolkien 's fantasy novels. It was a medium for communication in the Moldor region in Middle-earth. According to Tolkien, the Dark Lord Sauron created the language for use by all servants in Moldor, to replace the others that existed before, albeit with little success.
Black Speech School
Welcome to the Black Speech School, the place where you can learn the language of Orcs, Nazgûls and other Mordor's inhabitants.. If you are interested only in Tolkien's canonical Black Speech I advise you to read the article "Canonical".. If you don't mind against fans' additions (Neo Black Speech, Pseudo Black Speech, Neo-Orcish), start with Dialects page to understand where various ...
Phrases in Black Speech
Black Speech, Nandorin, Noldorin, Quendya, Quenya, Sindarin, Telerin are languages conceived by Tolkien and they do not belong to us; we neither can nor do claim affiliation with Middle-earth Enterprises nor Tolkien Estate. Parf Edhellen is one of the most comprehensive elvish dictionaries on the Internet, with thousands of names, words and ...
LOTR Black Speech Translator ― LingoJam
An accurate Black Speech translator, sourced from the Orcish dictionary and the Black Speech of Mordor translator. (PS: body is complicated. the first two are a mass, the last relates to a person) (non-translatable words will be made into compound words on request) grammar: Suffixes "-at" Verb Infinitive "-ob" Of (case suffix) "-uk" All (also "-uuk") "-um" -ness "-uurz" Adjectival suffix "-hai ...
What do we know about the Black Speech of Mordor?
Parma Eldabaron 17 contains an analysis of the ring inscription, written by JRR Tolkien, a letter Tolkien wrote in 1964 where he talks a bit about Black Speech and gives some example of its verb system, and various glosses Tolkien gave on the handful of Black Speech words found in LotR.
V. Analysis of the Black Speech
According to my analysis this word is a compound made of the two words 'gûl' and 'dur'. 5.1 Uruk, Olog & Oghor. The words uruk, olog and oghor are all attested with the ending - hai. The word uruk means "orc", oghor-hai are the drúedain or the Wood people - could be Black Speech but more probably Orcish.
Black Speech
Black Speech is a language derived from the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, especially The Lord of the Rings. It is the language spoken by the servants of Sauron and the inhabitants of Mordor. Note that, in spite of the relevance tag above, this article will in fact not remain at covering the language "as it relates to NationStates", but delve more ...
Black Speech Dictionary
The Black Speech Dictionary. The orcs were first bred by the Dark Power of the North in the Elder Days. It is said that they had no language of their own, but took what they could of other toungues and perverted it to their own liking, yet they made only brutal jargons, scarecely sufficient even for their own needs, unless it were for curses ...
Council of Elrond » LotR News & Information » The Black Speech
The Black Speech. It is thought that the Black Speech was designed by Sauron in the Dark Years to be used by all who served him. Even though this was a failure, many words that were devised for the Black Speech were spoken by Orcs in the Third Age. After the first overthrow of Sauron, this language in its acient form was forgotten by all except ...
The Encyclopedia of Arda
1. This reference is in The Lord of the Rings Appendix F I, Of Other Races.In fact, the Black Speech must have existed before II 1600, because the One Ring, which bears an inscription in this tongue, was forged on about that date.. 2. The Gaelic languages contain a word nasc or nasg, a binding or link, that can be interpreted as 'ring'.The similarity to Black Speech nazg is remarkable, but ...
List of canon Black Speech words/phrases? : r/lotr
Does anyone know of a list of all Black Speech words/phrases in Tolkien's works? "" Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul."". one…. There's tark, the ring verse, and there's sharku. That's all I can think of in the canon works.
Red Hand Orcs Wordlist
Lugrekh of the Red Hand Orcs (a LARP group) compiled this wordlist of Black Speech words taken from the LOS/Shadowlandian Dialect, the Horngoth Dialect and the MERP Dialect. Lugrekh put a lot of effort and time into this project, even making three recordings of phrases spoken in Black Speech and offering a Black Speech Word of the Day List to ...
Black History Words
Here, we present an invaluable compilation of words related to Black history, each carrying its own significant weight and tracing a vital thread in the tapestry of the African diaspora. Brace yourself for a fascinating journey through pivotal moments, celebrated figures, and milestones that have indelibly shaped our world. Slavery. Civil rights.
Black Speech and Orkish
3.1 References. Black Speech and Orkish refer to various languages that are used by creatures in the service of Sauron. These harsh tongues are generally considered very unpleasant to the Free Peoples, and few among them ever learn them. The Black Speech was devised by Sauron as a common language for all his servants.
Black Speech Words
Black Speech Words. Below is a list of black speech words - that is, words related to black speech. The top 4 are: westron, nazgûl, barad-dûr and the lord of the rings. You can get the definition (s) of a word in the list below by tapping the question-mark icon next to it. The words at the top of the list are the ones most associated with ...
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In her speech to graduates of Bowie State, a historically Black college in Maryland, Durant delivered a message of hope and resilience. Back in 2022, the Durant Family Charitable Foundation donated $500,000 to Bowie for upgrades to its basketball arena. ... Invest in Word In Black's mission to confront inequities, elevate solutions, and ...
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The historically expensive bid to unseat Rep. Jamaal Bowman is entering its final frantic hours as a moderate, White county executive from north of New York City - propelled by pro-Israel groups ...
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Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of Donald Trump, vowed investigations and prosecutions of those who have probed the former president and his political allies, declaring at a conservative gathering ...
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Trump uses majority-Black cities as synecdoches for urban doom, Black political corruption, and American decline. ... Now, the committee has compiled a list of other times he's slurred Milwaukee
Juneteenth 2024: What to know about the federal holiday
Three years after it was made a federal holiday, Juneteenth 2024 marks a day of celebration as well as education. The federal holiday known as "Second Independence Day," marks the day the last ...
Ukraine war latest: Russian officials 'thrown out of meeting' for
Vladimir Putin has arrived in Vietnam for a state visit after he spent the day in North Korea yesterday, where he signed a defence pact with Kim Jong Un. Got a question on the Ukraine war? Submit ...

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