Common Eldarin, or simply Eldarin, was the primordial tongue of the Eldar, the Elves that took part in the Great Journey.
History[]
Originally, after their Awakening in the east of Middle-earth all the Elves spoke Primitive Quendian.[1] After Oromë discovered them in Cuiviénen, the Valar decided to overthrow Melkor from his fortress of Utumno and invite the Elves to Aman, in order to protect them from the power of the fallen Vala. The majority of the Elves accepted this invitation, and were named "Eldar" by Oromë. The others that refused to take part in the Great Journey and leave Middle-earth were named "Avari".
This first sundering caused the separation of Common Eldarin from the many Avarin languages, and their original language was forgotten. Since very little is known of the languages spoken by the Avari, it can be difficult to distinguish between the linguistic features developed secondly in Common Eldarin and the original features of Primitive Quendian.[1][2] Later, Common Eldarin split into Ancient Quenya and Ancient Telerin, because the Teleri lingered behind while the Vanyar and Ñoldor quickly reached the shores of the Belegaer. From Ancient Telerin descended Falmarin, Sindarin, and Nandorin, while Quenya was divided into two dialects: Vanyarin Quenya and Ñoldorin Quenya.