Hobbit languages

[Glorelendil]

Note: Maybe we now need a 3rd forum for general Tolkien lore discussion, independent of specific system.

Question:
When Bilbo is creeping about the cellars, how does he know what Galion and the Guard Captain are saying, or what the other elves say when the come down to help roll the barrels? Either they are speaking Westron (doubtful) or he understands Sindarin (more plausible, but I'm still skeptical).

[Terisonen]

I'm sure he understand (at least partially) Sindarin. Don't forget he is a elvish fanatic.

[zedturtle]

It could be, like the trolls, that what we get is more imagination than reality or might have been extrapolated after the fact.

But yeah, Bilbo having some Sindarin, esp after Rivendell, is not too unlikely.

[Glorelendil]

Post Red Book, sure. But in 2941? Where would he have learned Elvish?

[zedturtle]

Oh, I meant the early to midsummer of 2941 when he stayed at Rivendell with the dwarves.

[fjw70]

The Shire has a world class educational system.

[jamesrbrown]

Perhaps Tolkien just wanted us to know what they said and Bilbo was a good guesser?

[Falenthal]

... Bilbo was a good guesser?

Extraordinary Success on his Riddle task.

[Rich H]

The Elves had subtitles, he just read those.

[Robin Smallburrow]

You are all forgetting that Bilbo is wearing The Ring when he overhears the Guard Captain etc. I think this was why he was able to understand them!

Robin S.