Broadcast Outage: We're investigating a broadcast transmission failure affecting the San Luis Valley from Antonito in the south to Salida in the north. We're working to resolve this issue. You can stream our live broadcast HERE or via the RMPBS+ App.

Stream live and on-demand content now on our new app:
RMPBS+

Help tell more stories in 2026 - make a year-end gift!

Give Now
It's Lit! show's poster
Culture
It's Lit!

The Constructed Languages of JRR Tolkien

It’s Lit! is a series of smart, funny video essays about our favorite books and why we love to read. Hosted by Lindsay Ellis and Princess Weekes, the series delves into topics like the evolution of YA, how science fiction mirrors our own anxieties, and why the book is sometimes just a _bit_ better than the movie.

The Constructed Languages of JRR Tolkien

Season 2 Episode 6 | 14m 17s | CC

Tolkien is widely regarded as the most influential author on the fantasy genre...period. A less-discussed aspect of Tolkien is the way he used constructed language. Nowadays authors are constantly making up words and languages for the worlds they build, but Tolkien was unique in that he constructed languages first, and then created worlds so his fictional languages would have somewhere to live.

It's Lit!

Watch more episodes

See more
See more
Made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

Get trusted Colorado stories, programs, and events from Rocky Mountain PBS straight to your inbox.

Set Your Preferences >