A Tolkienist is someone who studies the work of J. R. R. Tolkien; the word usually refers to students of the Elvish languages (see Tolkien research). A Tolkienist can also refer to a hard-core fan of Tolkien's work, one who studies the work with the same amount of interest (or more) as others study non-fictional subjects. Many fans prefer this term, as it isn't limited to Lord of the Rings. As with the term Ringer, there is no group consensus on this designation.