Words Do Things

Inescapably Theological: Carl Edlund Anderson on Tolkien

Want to know a little more about what philology is, what Tolkien’s job was, and how languages work (both natural and constructed)? Then join these two professors for a long conversation asking things like: Which words are pretty? Why are they pretty? Does God think they’re pretty? Is English better than German? Is Welsh better than English? They get into the concept of “true names,” important discussions of war and peace, and lament the great decline. The conclusion is that Tolkien condemns coercion and petty tyrants—a topic applicable to our own times as to his.
Carl Edlund Anderson’s faculty page
Carl Edlund Anderson on Google scholar
Carl Edlund Anderson on Academia.edu
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Two Chads Talking Tolkien: Bornholdt & High on the Languages of Middle-earth

Chad & Chad begin by reviewing several important language-related terms in Tolkien: “Elvish,” “Quenya,” “Sindarin,” “Westron,” “Tengwar,” and “Cirth.” They get into the question of why make up languages at all, then delve into the functions of words in Middle-earth, including the frame story and both primary- and secondary-world problems of translation. Tentatively, they touch on the nature of magic and the fabric of reality in Tolkien’s subcreated world, including the difficulties of ret-conning and the theological tangles Tolkien wrote himself into later on when trying to “scientificate” the legendarium. When talking about six principles from JRRT about how to talk to each other, they analyze the difference between Tolkien and George R.R. Martin and what makes someone fit for leadership. Both nerdy and relevant, this episode is a delicious Chad sandwich!
Chad Bornholdt on Tolkienists.org
Chad High on Tolkienists.org
Chad Bornholdt’s Silmarillion Summaries
Chad Bornholdt’s Silmarillion School
Chad High on Tolkien Guide
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If you’re a writer, hire me as your Consulting Editor.
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Statler & Waldorf Talk Tolkien: Tom Hillman & Joe Hoffman

Continuing the "Elvish English" series, Tom Hillman & Joe Hoffman take Sørina Higgins through how myth and language are co-causational, what Tolkien believed about the Logos and creation (and subcreation), and what makes languages beautiful. They share insights into how magic and art work in Middle-earth and whether Elvish poetry auto-translates (for more on that topic, see Tom's award-winning article "The Tides of Time"!). Maybe it be long before Sørina again finds herself between two such terrible old men! ;) 
* Tom Hillman's piece that won the Tolkien Society Award for best article: https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol22/iss1/5/* If you like this work, please support it by joining my Author's Circle https://buymeacoffee.com/higginssorina * If you're a writer, hire me as your Consulting Editor: https://wyrdhoard.com/ * If you want more thoughts on politics, subscribe to my Substack: https://substack.com/@sorinahiggins 

It's like Breakfast: Verlyn Flieger on Tolkien

In the second episode in the "Elvish English" series, Sørina Higgins has the distinct honor of talking with Verlyn Flieger, one of the greats of Tolkien studies. They speculate why Tolkien loved certain sounds, how Dr. Flieger made her career on his works, and why they're her favorite books. They compare their experiences of reading Lord of the Rings for the first time and wonder whether Shakespeare or Tolkien offers more helpful insights for facing difficult times. 

The Tower of Words: Michael D. C. Drout on Tolkien

Prof. Michael D. C. Drout explains that for J.R.R. Tolkien, words work on different levels: there is pleasure in sound patterns, but real power is in the way words act on people & how people act. Words are not magical. Drout talks about Saruman’s voice, lying, and how both left-wingers and right-wingers claim Tolkien is on their side: each revolts against domination. Fantasy cannot provide consolation for loss, but can give shape to grief and point to a world where there is comfort.
* Prof. Drout’s faculty page
* Prof. Drout on Tolkien Gateway
* The Tower and the Ruin on Bookfinder (buy used! buy local!)
* If you like this work, please support it by joining my Author’s Circle
* If you’re a writer, hire me as your Consulting Editor
* If you want more thoughts on politics, subscribe to my Substack

"Elvlish English" Series 3 Trailer

Bonus: We Need a Strategic Plan

Just some raw and random thoughts about how we don't have any plan for getting out of the mess we've gotten ourselves into.

We Need Easter Every Day

Welcome to the final show—of this series. At last! Join me as I spend an hour (yeah, an hour; sorry!) looking back over what I’ve learned. Or maybe jump to 1:03 to hear what I think we should do about this mess we’ve gotten ourselves into, okay? If you watch the whole thing, you'll hear me sing. And at the end, I talk about the new, upcoming series, all about J. R. R. #Tolkien! Thanks for going on this journey with me.
* If you like this work, please support it by joining my Author's Circle https://buymeacoffee.com/higginssorina  * If you're a writer, hire me as your Consulting Editor: https://wyrdhoard.com/* If you want more thoughts on politics, subscribe to my Substack: https://substack.com/@sorinahiggins
Some other links to things mentioned in the episode: 
"No Kings No Coherence" https://sorinahiggins.substack.com/p/no-kings-and-no-coherenceThe Enemies Project https://www.enemiesproject.org/Language Jones https://www.youtube.com/@languagejones

Dueling Definitions

Sørina reviews Owen Barfield's view of controversy as two separate publics with different definitions of words, then she compares defintions of terms from guests throughout the "Bad Words" series. She concludes that arguments in America today do not result from conflicting defitions, but from disagreements about what examples fit into categories. Sadly, she doesn't have a solution to offer. 
Support this work: https://buymeacoffee.com/higginssorina Read Sørina's Substack: https://sorinahiggins.substack.com/ Hire Dr. Higgins as an editor: https://wyrdhoard.com/

Larry Rosen says "Words of Moral Judgment Break the Relationship"

In this final interview of the "Bad Words" series, Sørina Higgins interviews Larry Rosen, host of "The Enemies Project," about how to help people see that our enemies are just ourselves on the other side. Larry explains what makes people into activists and how everyone is motivated by a need for belonging. He distinguishes "platforming" from "discussion." They talk about power differentials, morality as a weapon of war, cooperation in an integrated society, and how to resist the enemy-makers. They explore what kind of language is more effective and for what ends. His advice is: Don't convince the other person; just understand them.