Inside Language

Tolkien's views on language, though never published as a formalised theory, were in some aspects rather 'heretic' (to use Tom Shippey's term) and seemed to fly into the face of 'established' linguistic theory - most notably his conception of 'native (hereditary) language' and, related to it, the idea of 'linguistic aesthetic' and 'phonetic fitness'. Unfortunately, this aspect of Tolkien's linguistic work has, as yet, not received the attention it deserves and Ross Smith is one of the first Tolkien scholars to investigate the question of Tolkien's position on language vis-a-vis the then (and even now) dominant tenet(s) in some depth. This is a second, revised edition.

Smith provides an interesting survey of the linguistic and philosophical contexts of the 20th century that Tolkien resided in and, to some extent, responded to in his fiction and essays; a useful summary of prior work for non-specialist student (or professor) of English literature, particularly that of Shippey and Flieger; and a ringing defense of the poetic and aesthetic aspects of language, both generally and with specific application to Tolkien." Carl F. Hostetter --Seven: An Anglo-American Literary Review, Volume 26

"Treating Tolkien's linguistic invention as an integral part of his fiction has been for too long neglected by many students of Tolkien, and Smith's book is a brave beginning." Dimitra Fimi --Tolkien Studies, Volume 5