logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2024
29m 20s

What I Learned about Lord of the Rings b...

Spencer Klavan
About this episode

Confession: for a long time I never understood why Tolkien had to make up a language to go with The Lord of the Rings. It felt a little bit like trying to tell an adventure story while getting bogged down in the details of imaginary corn law. But when the Daily Wire asked me to invent a new language for the Pendragon series, I instantly understood Tolkien in a whole new way. So when a listener asked me to comment on the idea that world building essentially is language building, I was all in. Here's what I learned from my first time language building, or "conlanging."

Check out more behind-the-scenes footage from Daily Wire: https://x.com/dailywireplus/status/1717656941122461910

Order Osweald Bera: https://ancientlanguage.com/vergil-press/osweald-bera/

Register for Spring courses at The Ancient Language Institute https://ancientlanguage.com/youngheretics/

Order Light of the Mind, Light of the World (and rate it five stars): https://a.co/d/2QccOfM

Up next
Jun 27
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED???
If, like me, you're still sore about what they did to the Gladiator franchise, let this episode be part of your healing journey. It's certainly part of Aeneas': with the fleet grounded back in Sicily, the crew realizes it's been one year since the death of his father Anchises. Th ... Show More
1h 13m
Jun 10
I Will Go Down with This Ship
There are some indelible scenes inscribed forever into the psyche of the West, and the death of Dido is one of them. When William Congreve wrote that "Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd," he surely had in mind this archetype of a ... Show More
1h 8m
May 29
Once in Royal David's City, ft. Doron Spielman
Major Doron Spielman has dedicated much of his life to excavating the City of David, the ancient archaeological site just outside modern Jerusalem which confirms much of the Jewish history recorded in the Bible. It's an astonishing tale of theological warfare, cutting-edge schola ... Show More
37m 40s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2022
Free English Class! Topic: Fantasy and Medieval Times! 🛡️⚔️🏰
Are you a history buff? Maybe you just like reading fantasy books? Maybe you're watching the newest Game of Thrones prequel or looking forward to the Lord of the Rings TV series. Either way, you'll want to learn English words and phrases so you can either talk about his ... Show More
23m 38s
Dec 2015
Busted Melon - 7 December 2015
When writing textbooks about slavery, which words best reflect its cold, hard reality? Some historians are dropping the word slave in favor of terms like enslaved person and captive, arguing that these terms are more accurate. And raising a bilingual child is tough enough, but wh ... Show More
53m 45s
Aug 2024
Tolkien: Middle Earth & the Middle Ages
For millions of Tolkien lovers around the world, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are more than just fantasy fiction. Their rich mix of sacred mythology and archetypal saga stories draw deeply into history and legend and profoundly resonate with universal human experience. Bu ... Show More
36m 26s
Dec 2024
How The (English) Alphabet Became A Thing, Part One: Writing Stuff Down Is A Bonkers Idea
Let's be honest: the concept of writing stuff down is both brilliant and insane. Right now, all around the world, countless people are scrawling or typing messages that may last long after the writer has passed from this mortal plane - in a way, reading your favorite dead authors ... Show More
32m 35s
Nov 2023
Shire Jail
Begin your journey into Middle-earth. The inspiration for the upcoming original series on Prime Video, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. We're talking about the Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien and related works. We have fun playing a guessing game with deranged YouT ... Show More
1h 56m
Feb 2017
037 – Daily Rituals 2 – Real English Conversations
Hi English learners! Lori here, your teacher from Betteratenglish.com. In this episode of Real English Conversations, you'll hear part 2 of my conversation with Kyla. We're discussing a book that we both really liked. It's called Daily Rituals, by Mason Currey. The book describes ... Show More
9m 53s
Aug 2024
Do I really know 20 languages?
In today's video, I discuss how many languages I really know and what it truly means to know a language. 
7m 24s
Sep 2021
118 - The Hobbit
SPONSORED BY: AUDIBLE To get a 30-day trial, a free book, and access to the library, go to audible.com/ndq or text “NDQ” to 500500. The audiobook being discussed is The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Matt choose this book narrated by Andy Serkis and Destin chose the book narrated by R ... Show More
1h 22m
Nov 2018
101 - Now I Need a Place to Hide Away
In the final pages of Book I, Chapter 2, “The Shadow of the Past”, Gandalf recounts how he found Gollum and filled in the gaps in the Ring’s history. Frodo begins to understand what he must do; and while he’s not exactly eager to do it, he won’t have to do it alone. We spend some ... Show More
1h 48m
Feb 2022
AE 1116 - Interview: Why Wasn't Einstein an Aboriginal Australian? with Kyrin Down
Access full transcripts + bonus content in the Premium Podcast and Academy memberships: https://www.AussieEnglish.com.au 👉 Listen to this episode on the podcast: https://www.aussieenglish.com.au/1116 👉 Join my 5-Day FREE English Course: https://www.aussieenglish.com.au/free-cou ... Show More
25m 45s