[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

However, I was under the impression that "Cotton" is here some sort of word derived from "cottage" - I believe I read something about how Tolkien "translated" the hobbit names from Westron. Or I am just confused, because once again, in Czech translation, "Chaloupka" means "little cottage".

I believe Cotton as a name does come from "cottage". This is what Tolkien has to say about his "translation" of the hobbits' names (from "The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F):

"However, in reducing Gammidgy to Gamgee, to represent Galpsi, no reference was intended to the connexion of Samwise with the family of Cotton, though a jest of that kind would have been hobbit-like enough, had there been any warrant in their language.

Cotton in fact represents Hlothran, a fairly common village-name in the Shire, derived from hloth, a 'two-roomed dwelling or hole", and ran(u) a small group of such dwellings on a hill-side."

Originally Posted by Macalaure

Reading this thread, I can't help thinking of Tolkien when he said he's "translating" the Westron names into English because otherwise they would seem as alien as the Elvish names. The Finnish, Czech and Ukrainian names give me the same feeling as the few Westron names that we know.Of course, unfortunately, this effect gets lost quickly if one knows the other language.


This reminds me of when I first read LotR in English, and was surprised to see that several Rohirric names (Riddermark, Erkenbrand, Elfhelm, Hornburg) were the same in the original as in the German translation. They fit in so perfectly with the translated names.

Well, Tolkien's premise was that he was using Anglo Saxon (Old English) names to "translate" the Rohirric ones, so it shouldn't be that surprising.

Some names from the Australian translation:

Bag End = Swag End
Frodo Baggins = Frodo Shiralee
Lake Evendim = Sunset Billabong
Gladden Fields = Iris Paddocks
Goldberry = Nuggetberry
Redhorn = Bluehorn (Red-heads are traditionally nicknamed "Bluey")
Blue Mountains = Red Mountains (to avoid confusion with the actual Blue Mountains)
Elf-friend = Elf-mate
Legolas Greenleaf = Legolas Gumleaf
Riders of Rohan = Jackeroos of Brumbyland
Shelob = Miss Redback
The Old Forest = The Old Bush
Ranger = Bushman
Troll = Yowie
Warg = Dingo
The Watcher in the Water = The Bunyip in the Billabong