Before you sits a duck wearing glasses, perching atop a stool to look down at you. A yardstick is taped to her wing. "Im dreamingfifi a gen torthon. That," she says, waving a yardstick at you, "means, 'I am dreamingfifi, and you are at my mercy.' You will learn how to translate like that, and perhaps even better. If," she pauses, waving her yardstick for dramatic effect, "you work hard enough.

"Remember that you are learning a dead language, a language only spoken in fantasy, known only in books, and created by one man. This great man, Tolkien, wasn't able to finish this language, so much of the grammar and many of the words have been reconstructed by people trying their best to make the words and grammar the way Tolkien would have done. That being said, many things in the lessons are arguable and other linguists have other theories about how Tolkien would have done things. This is how I believe the Sindarin language is, and until I find evidence otherwise, I stand behind this textbook. If I find evidence otherwise, I will edit this textbook.

"Now, before you get too excited, you should have a pre-requisite completed. You must know the parts of speech and grammar very well, otherwise you will get lost in the lessons. I did simplify much of the wording, and I tried to make it as easy to understand as possible, but that can only go so far. Having studied a living language helps too. I wish you the best of luck!"