The topic title is self-explanatory, but I'll write it again for your benefit. In the Warhammer World, is the plural for "Dwarf" spelt "Dwarves" or "Dwarf"?

In Warhammer the plural is Dwarfs, unlike in Lord of the Rings where Tolkien called them Dwarves because it went better with Elves

Well, Dwarves does make more sense.

Before Tolkien came along, weren't "Elves" called "Elfs".

I see that you're experiencing change in the English language first hand. :wink:

I think there is already another topic with the answers youre looking for in General Off Topic

Actually I thought Tolkien´s point when he spelled it dwarves was to distinguish them from the RL dwarfs...

I say that it should be DWARVES not DWARFS but that's just me...

Could you please elaborate? I checked it, but couldn't find it.

Dwarves, Dwarfs? What does it matter just call em stunties!

But overall i think Dwarfs is batter. Just by the look of the word. The F in it looks better than V. Thats the only reason why i would use it.

But, for saying Dwarf as in the 1 Dwarf on his own then the F is the choice but i think it would change to Dwarves when your taking about more than 1, like a company of Dwarves.

SDETT

Doesn't that mean that you favour 'Dwarves', and not 'Dwarfs'? In my opinion, 'Dwarves' sounds/feels much smoother.

Dwarves should be the spelling if english ever followed their grammatical rules but since they don´t........... :happy:

I will stick to calling the Dorfs :happy:

yay! letos back but maybe he was just on when i wasnt'
i prefer to call them stunties

The Dwarfs should just be glad that they don't have you in their midst. :p

lol, i wouldn't last a day with them, those stupid stunties...
i don't like the stunties

That explains why you're collecting elves. :happy: Or is it elfs? :blink:

elfs or elves....

aha its elves just checked on the gw website

They should make it Dwarves to streamline it: Elves, Dwarves...

that would make more sense

Have been playing Gears of War/PDZ alot (lol)

The correct English plural of the word 'dwarf' is 'dwarfs'. Tolkien was aware of this and consciously chose to write it with a 'v'. He was a professor of English after all, and knew all about the language.

Now, Tolkien talks about the plural of dwarf in Return of the King, in Appendix F. He states the following -

Many other fantasy settings ape Tolkien on this, due to his great impact on the field of fantasy literature.

However, Games Workshop does not. A cursory glance at GW's website clearly indicates that they use the plural 'dwarfs'. This is therefore the correct term to use when discussing the dwarfs of the Warhammer World.

I don't know why this comes up so often or why people are so confused by it. It's extraordinarily simple. GW uses the plural 'dwarfs' in all of their publications. This is readily apparent to anyone who reads said publications. 'Dwarfs' is correct when discussing GW dwarfs. 'Dwarves' is not. End of conversation.

Thats interesting and your correct.

But for the sake of going against the crowd as i so often try to do. I will say "Dwarves". I know its 'not right' but i like the looks of the word better. Also I always say Elves so i'll say dwarves to fit them together. Well actually i normally say elfs but now i say elves.

Me confused. :huh: (lol)

SDETT

Dwarros. That kind of rolls of the tounge, eh? :biggrin:

I have to admit, 'dwarrows' does sound kind of dopey...

I am with SDETT. Dwarves just looks so much better and more sensible as does Elves.


Underlord Burrows

Oh, you can spell it with a 'v'... just be aware that such a spelling is technically incorrect when discussing Warhammer dwarfs. Personal preference is okay and all, but the correct, canonical spelling is undoubtedly 'dwarfs' and this cannot be questioned.

Well the original meaning of dwarfs refers to short human beings which are disproportionate to other humans beings. I don't know however why the plural of this has never been dwarves, which seems to make more sense. Maybe a plural term has never had much thought put into it because dwarfs are hard to come by in groups (unless you want to hire some for a party).

EDIT- also, elfs refers to

However since Tolkien's creation of "Elves", this appears to have been ammended.

To expand on what Altathir said, it would stand to reason that one of Tolkien's ideas behind using the V is to differentiate Dwarfs (short humans) with an entirely new fantasy race that has nothing to do with the short human, the Dwarf, plural Dwarves (like Wolves).

It seems that GW has not seen the need to differentiate between the two.

He said that, Caern. Remember that quote? -

He used the 'v' because he wanted to remove the word from its connotations at the time - that wasn't dwarfism he was talking about, but the popular image of a short, jolly little kobold or gnome type of creature. He ran into the exact same problem with elves, and used the 'v' to show that he was not talking about little fairies.

So, not only does it stand to reason that he wanted to differentiate his dwarves from other meanings of the word, he expressly stated it himself.

Of course, that need is not as present in today's world, and as Schmeag notes, GW hasn't seen it. Tolkien was so successful that the word 'dwarf' is often immediately assumed to mean a short, squat D&D Scottish bearded miner.

So GW has chosen to spell it with an 'f'. Which is their prerogative, and thus absolute truth regarding their products.