#If everybody takes the helcaraxe then all the local beleriand cultural groups are much weaker when the noldor arrive

[shrikeseams]

#re the tags I don't think it's irrelevant actually#it does a lot of drawing hard lines between cultures that were and generally do mingle seamlessly#it's hard to culturally distinguish sindar and noldor#you can tell them apart cause of the eyes and a couple of other signs#but overall they are people that mingle easily and the oldor were already taking up sindarin as a language#what this *does* however it to draw a harsher line that borders on ethnic strife#reason being#speaking quenya is a perfectly neutral act it doesn't actually make you a kinslayer#but linking by royal decree the language TO the kinslaying means that the noldor are forced to either abide be it or#essentially say ''yeah sure I'm a kinslayer who cares''#that's the message that is being given to sindarin neighbours friends or even spouses#it can't be understated the level of cultural violence that is achieved here#either one disregards their mixed community and their allies by speaking quenya#or one disregards a significant part of their own culture (language)#and that isn't JUST symbolic or JUST demonstrative#(though it is both)#it also weakens the cultural bond between the people who respond to fingolfin&co and the people who respond to doriath#it's an absolutely active strike back on the social and political level -@skyeventide

Actually in relation to that last post, there’s been a lot of discussion about the point of the Quenya ban, and while I think a very good argument has been made that it’s symbolic–that Thingol had to do something to reprimand the Noldor both for their actions and for lying, but could not afford to actually cut them off as potential allies against Morgoth–I think it’s also possible the Quenya ban was demonstrative. When Maedhros sort of laughingly comments on the potential hollowness of Thingol’s claim to being “King of Beleriand,” he focuses I believe on hard power–on the fact that Thingol cannot (or will not) militarily take action against the Noldor. Which makes sense, given the Noldor attitude towards Middle-earth in general (they came here to fight a war) and Maedhros’ position as lord of Himring, which is essentially a glorified military fort. But what Thingol displays when he bans Quenya is a pretty powerful show of soft power and the true reach of his influence. No, he won’t take up arms against the Noldor for their past kinslaying–but at his word, look how many Sindar not only stop speaking Quenya, but refuse to deal with Elves who do. I do believe the Quenya ban was in part symbolic. But I think it also shows the Noldor just how respected Thingol is in Beleriand and that if they mean to really oppose him, they’re going to be facing down more Elves than just the permanent residents of Doriath. If the Sindar of Beleriand, at this point, are forced to make a choice of sides, Thingol shows with a single decree how many of them would choose him.