Description
At the time of the War of the Rings, Westron (also called the Common Speech) was an ancient Mannish speech known to all Men and Hobbits living in the old areas of Gondor and Arnor, and of the peoples of the west bank of Anduin as far north as the Gladden Fields (except for the Woses, Dunlendings, and Rohirrim). It was also the common tongue used for inter-lingual meetings, so was known to some extent by all west of Rhûn. Westron was also the public language of the Dwarves and the base for many Orkish tongues.[1]
Origin
Westron was a mixture of Adûnaic and the languages of the coast lands of Middle-earth, deeply influenced by the Sindarin of the Dúnedain. It developed in the third millennium of the Second Age with the establishment of Númenorean settlements. With Elendil's coming, it was enriched with many Sindarin words, and in later years was further altered by assorted other influences from other tongues of men, ultimately taking on the form in which it spread throughout Middle-earth.[2]
History
In the course of the Third Age Westron became the native language of almost all the speaking-peoples (except for the Elves) living in the bounds of the old kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor, i.e. along all the coasts from Umbar north to the Bay of Forochel, and inland as far as the Misty Mountains and the Ephel Dúath. It had also spread north up the Anduin, covering the lands west of the River and east of the mountains to the Gladden Fields.[3]
The Rohirrim preferred their ancestral tongue, Adûnaic, an early predecessor of the Westron, and the language of the Men of the upper Anduin and the towns of Dale and Esgaroth was derived from similar origins. The Elves also retained their own languages. But all these also knew the Common Speech and used it at need.
For the Men of Bree and Eriador, and the Halflings of the Shire, Westron had became the native language; few knew any other.
The remaining Woses (Drûghu or Drúedain), an ancient race, living in the depths of the Druadan forest in the Third Age, avoided contact with Men, retaining their own ancient language, but some few at least knew enough of the Common Speech to communicate.
The Rohirrim preferred their ancestral tongue, Adûnaic, an early predecessor of the Westron, and the language of the Men of the upper Anduin and the towns of Dale and Esgaroth was derived from similar origins. The Elves also retained their own languages. But all these also knew the Common Speech and used it at need.
For the Men of Bree and Eriador, and the Halflings of the Shire, Westron had became the native language; few knew any other.
The remaining Woses (Drûghu or Drúedain), an ancient race, living in the depths of the Druadan forest in the Third Age, avoided contact with Men, retaining their own ancient language, but some few at least knew enough of the Common Speech to communicate.
