The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - * * Principles of editing the Fall of Gondolin/Translations from the Elvish * *

**lindil** · 12-29-2002, 04:44 PM

Lindil's proposed 7th principal for TftE editing

7. ~ JRRT almost certainly would have changed it.or Aestheics or Euphony
examples: Mechanical dragons, hosts of Balrogs, 'Legolas' in Gondolin.
Much has already been worked on from different angles, but I think this subjective but realistic principle, cuts through quite a bit o red tape.
Aestheics or Euphony must also be considered when dealing with any of the material from Q30 and BoLT. Some of the elements in the names, manner of the telling are discordant with the whole feel of the later legendarium [HoME 5 and onwards]. We should not let a desire for editorial minimalism mar the beauty of the later writings. So when no suitable substitutions are available [ such as Rog] he must eliminated or glossed around as most befits the specific text.

Cases in point:
- Rog [ see above post from lindil for specific arguments],
-Mechanical Monsters [ as Aiwendil posted much earlier – “the only example I could think of for it [pt 7- lindil’s note] would be that we'd have to KEEP the mechanical dragons!” Although this has been decided upon, I think we were missing some of the key pro-points, but nonetheless we really don’t know how JRRT would have kept them, if at all.

-If we can not come up with a textual satisfying Ruin of Doriath then by this formula CJRT’s Silm chapter would stay [ or at least form the basis].

Luckily I do not think there will be too many of these type of decisions that need to made. We well may have covered them all in this thread, but probably not.

Keep in mind members even as a principle, any controversial points will still have to be voted on case by case.

Also in principle part of 7 but practically it’s own point should be – stylistic editorial changes. This can be dealth with once we deide whether we want them or not.

[ December 29, 2002: Message edited by: lindil ]

[ December 29, 2002: Message edited by: lindil ]

12-29-2002, 04:44 PM	#33
lindil Seeker of the Straight Path Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: a hidden fastness in Big Valley nor cal Posts: 1,680	Lindil's proposed 7th principal for TftE editing 7. ~ JRRT almost certainly would have changed it.or Aestheics or Euphony examples: Mechanical dragons, hosts of Balrogs, 'Legolas' in Gondolin. Much has already been worked on from different angles, but I think this subjective but realistic principle, cuts through quite a bit o red tape. Aestheics or Euphony must also be considered when dealing with any of the material from Q30 and BoLT. Some of the elements in the names, manner of the telling are discordant with the whole feel of the later legendarium [HoME 5 and onwards]. We should not let a desire for editorial minimalism mar the beauty of the later writings. So when no suitable substitutions are available [ such as Rog] he must eliminated or glossed around as most befits the specific text. Cases in point: - Rog [ see above post from lindil for specific arguments], -Mechanical Monsters [ as Aiwendil posted much earlier – “the only example I could think of for it [pt 7- lindil’s note] would be that we'd have to KEEP the mechanical dragons!” Although this has been decided upon, I think we were missing some of the key pro-points, but nonetheless we really don’t know how JRRT would have kept them, if at all. -If we can not come up with a textual satisfying Ruin of Doriath then by this formula CJRT’s Silm chapter would stay [ or at least form the basis]. Luckily I do not think there will be too many of these type of decisions that need to made. We well may have covered them all in this thread, but probably not. Keep in mind members even as a principle, any controversial points will still have to be voted on case by case. Also in principle part of 7 but practically it’s own point should be – stylistic editorial changes. This can be dealth with once we deide whether we want them or not. [ December 29, 2002: Message edited by: lindil ] [ December 29, 2002: Message edited by: lindil ] __________________ The dwindling Men of the West would often sit up late into the night exchanging lore & wisdom such as they still possessed that they should not fall back into the mean estate of those who never knew or indeed rebelled against the Light.