Il peut y avoir des descriptions grammaticales plus tardives, mais je pense notamment à une note très claire figurant dans le VT 49, p. 8, dans l'analyse de la "Phrase des Ambidextres" :
E.
Carl Hostetter Wrote:Tolkien's decision to omit the article in this instance might be explained by a note (apparently dating to the early 1950s) describing the distinction made in Eldarin between the definite or group-plural and the indefinite or partitive plural; this conveniently uses the word Eldar as an example:
J.R.R. Tolkien Wrote:Definite were plurals referring to whole classes, to things naturally or habitually considered in plurality [as English heavens = 'the sky', the sands = 'all the sand in a given locality: etc.], and in the syntax of many languages a plural with a definite article, meaning all the members of a group previously mentioned, or in mind. Thus in Q. Eldar (not with article!) = Elves, The Elves, All Elves; i Eldar = (all) the Elves previously named (and in some cases distinguished from other creatures); but Eldali, Elves, some Elves. With Eldali the definite article is seldom used.
E.