It seems that we're running into more problems with our Exercises in both Sindarin and Quenya. I thought this might happen eventually, but when the Forum was created I wanted to get things moving. Perhaps it will help if I set out the reasons why I chose to use these resources in the first place and then everyone can chip in with their alternative ideas.
Why I Chose To Use Thorsten's Courses?
1 We have beginners joining us from time to time who would possibly find Helge's Quenya Course much too technical.
2 His courses are easy to obtain - in book form if one wants, or in downloads. I have the books and write in them, which I find most helpful.
3 Helge has no Course for Sindarin, and making one from all the variety of essays on his site would be complicated.
4 As yet Helge has still not updated his Course since VT49 & PE17 came out and changed our understanding of much vocabulary and various linguistic concepts.
5 Despite some of his editorial choices Thorsten revises his work every time significant new material is published.
Why Thorsten's Courses Are Unsatisfactory
1 He makes some odd editorial choices - especially in the difficult area of Pronominal Suffixes
2 Sometimes his explanations are too simple and unclear.
3 He makes one or two dubious leaps of imagination - although he always 'greys' them so that one can tell that's what they are.
What Can We Do?
1 Does anyone know of a good alternative?
2 Can we write a longer explanatory piece at the beginning of each set of Exercises - explaining (tactfully) that Thorsten's choices are not always universally accepted.
3 Could we provide some alternative Exercises just on the problematic areas of pronouns, and let people choose which ones to learn and use?
I would be extremely glad if we can find a way around this problem. I knew it would be a problem, but couldn't see a way around it when we began. Do please chip in with ideas, even of the simplest kind.
And does anyone know when or if Helge will complete his revision of his Quenya Course?