Philology was J.R.R. Tolkien’s academic field at Oxford, focusing on languages and literature.
Philology traditionally examines languages through historical texts, comparing words, sounds, grammar, and literary traditions. Tolkien studied English language and literature and became especially skilled in Old English, Middle English, and related Germanic languages.
His scholarly interests shaped his creative work. He invented languages with historical relationships, sound changes, and distinct vocabularies, then developed peoples and stories around them. This approach differed from inventing isolated lists of fantasy words without a linguistic history.
Tolkien is sometimes described simply as a linguist, which is understandable but less precise. Philology includes linguistic study, yet also pays close attention to manuscripts, textual history, and literature. His academic essay “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics” became an influential contribution to the study of the Old English poem.