How I Learned Elvish

I'll admit it.  I was that kid sitting in the back of the class in 6th grade reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  Years later I was that person waiting in line at midnight to watch each movie the day it came out (thanks to my friend Laina for babysitting!) I love Tolkien. I have read all of his books.

Important Note: Some people love Tolkein more than I do. They study his languages. They write papers critiquing each others ability to learn them. They have made English-Elvish dictionaries (and Elvish-English Dictionaries which I suppose are for the elves who are trying to learn English) There are web pages devoted to learning Elvish and other Elvish-things, for instance my Elvish name is Yáviel.

My husband  is obsessed with loves the Lord of the Rings movies.  He would probably watch them every day if he didn't have little things like work and life to get in his way. He is even a fan of LOTR on facebook, and that is what led me here...

Last night, actually this morning at Tracie Time 3 am. I was knitting a square and Thomas was on facebook. There is a new post from the LOTR page. I can hear him reading something over and over again, but can't quite make out what he is saying. I looked over at the screen to see what was going on, and this is what I saw....

"Nanye Anduril i ne Narsil i makil Elendilo. Lercuvanten i maili Mordoreo."
"Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, Ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul........." 

"What are you reading?" I ask him.

"All of the people on here speak and write in Tolkein languages," he replies.

"They can carry on a conversation in Tolkein languages? You mean, they actually know Elvish? Really? Who does that? And why do you keep reading it over and over again? Are you trying to learn?"

"No, but it sounds familiar. It reminds me of something, and I'm trying to figure it out."

Being the helpful wife that I am, I suggested maybe they had written what Gandalf says on the bridge when he is fighting the Balrog. (hey, I'm a big fat Tolkein-loving dork too, remember)

"Maybe," Thomas says, "But that isn't what I mean, it sounds like..........like.......those clothes. That's what I'm thinking about! It sounds like those clothes!"

"The elvish words sound like clothes?"

"Yeah, you know those kids overalls that they used to have commercials for"

*a lightbulb clicks on over my head*

"Oh, you mean Osh Kosh B'Gosh!"

"Yes, Osh Kosh B'Gosh! That's it! That is what I kept thinking of when I was reading this"

"So you are telling me that when Gandolf fought the Balrog, he said 'You shall not pass! Osh Kosh B'Gosh!' " (I then came up with more great Elvish phrases, but sadly, I can not remember them.)

One thing is clear. I will never watch Lord of the Rings the same way again.

I will leave you with the only Elvish I will ever learn.......
Osh Kosh B'Gosh,
Yáviel