"How does one pronounce Tolkien?"

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Seeing Eru on a licence plate the other day made me think of this thread.

Ever since I first read about Eru, I've always pronounced it "Oo-Roo". I do not know whether that's how it's really pronounced, but it seemed to work for me and Laurinque. On second thought, when I looked at the spelling again, I read it as "Eh-roo". Does anyone know how it's supposed to be pronounced?

[Laurinquë]

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

Ever since I first read about Eru, I've always pronounced it "Oo-Roo". I do not know whether that's how it's really pronounced, but it seemed to work for me and Laurinque. On second thought, when I looked at the spelling again, I read it as "Eh-roo". Does anyone know how it's supposed to be pronounced

TheGreatElvenWarrior taught me everything I know about Tolkien; therefore I pronounce it Oo-Roo as well. What ever she said, I said.

However, my mother has completely different ideas on the pronunciation matter. She read LotR back in the '60s (and cannot recall it all that well) and pronounces Saruman as Sir-ah-nam, like the country, and Sauron as Sar-Ron among other things. I don't know where she came up with these but personally I find this rather charming; it's just creative pronunciation and part of the fun of reading Tolkien. On the other hand, it would be most interesting to see if anyone has heard these pronounced this way before, my mother may not be as creative as I think!

But before I get too far I should mention that my open ideas about pronunciation most likely stem from my utter inability to understand the sound of a word without hearing it said. I have always had a hard time with that but it wasn't too apparent until I tried to start wrapping my tongue around The Fellowship of the Ring. I seem to remember that I was a great source of amusement to TGEW.

[Galin]

There I was quoting Letters when Appendix E also notes: 'The High-elven Quenya has been spelt as much like Latin as its sounds allowed. For this reason c has been preferred to k in both Eldarin languages.'

Tolkien hid that right in front of me

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

TheGreatElvenWarrior taught me everything I know about Tolkien; therefore I pronounce it Oo-Roo as well. What ever she said, I said.

I did not teach you everything you know about Tolkien. I believe that the Downer Newspaper did.

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

But before I get too far I should mention that my open ideas about pronunciation most likely stem from my utter inability to understand the sound of a word without hearing it said. I have always had a hard time with that but it wasn't too apparent until I tried to start wrapping my tongue around The Fellowship of the Ring. I seem to remember that I was a great source of amusement to TGEW.

You heard me saying names while you were reading the Fellowship, I believe I would ask you something like Have you read about the Balrog yet? and you hadn't, I probably spoiled it for you. And, what can I say, you're amusing!

Back on topic, I originally pronounced Feanor as FEE-nor, and not as Feah-nor. Still can't figure out how to pronounce Meaglin correctly...

[Galin]

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

(...) Still can't figure out how to pronounce Meaglin correctly...

But it's Maeglin rather (-ae- not -ea-). So if you mean the diphthong, it is a combination of the individual vowels a-e (one syllable). Or even easier: 'but ae may be pronounced in the same way as ai' -- and ai has the sound of English eye.

Assuming that wasn't just a typo, that is

[Lalwendë]

I have to admit to taking wicked delight in wilfully pronouncing the names as I see fit. The world is full of pedants these days and I'd rather come down on the side of pleasure than that of being smugly correct.

Mispronouncing the names in a book is hardly crime of the century anyway, and I think we only force ourselves to do it to 'fit in', it's a completely different thing to making the effort in learning how to pronounce a real person's difficult name (says she, feeling proud at having learnt some Polish and Kenyan names today ). Davem is correct that forcing yourself to read a certain name in a book in a prescribed way, especially one as long as Lord of the Rings, can somewhat spoil your reading experience.

And yes, I pronounce it "tol-kin"

[Galin]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

The world is full of pedants these days and I'd rather come down on the side of pleasure than that of being smugly correct. Mispronouncing the names in a book is hardly crime of the century anyway, and I think we only force ourselves to do it to 'fit in',...'

I can't include myself in this 'we'. Heck, I don't know anyone within earshot who cares enough about Tolkien to talk about his tales, and nobody can hear you on the web (in these types of forums anyway).

Anyway, I would guess there are a number of people who simply want, or like, to get it right, perhaps because (externally) they know Tolkien put a lot of time and effort into creating nomenclature, and into creating the specific sounds of each language.

Also, to my mind it seems a way for readers to further engage with, and thus further enjoy, Middle-earth. If one likes Seleborn, that's obviously fine, if it enhances one's reading, fine again -- so too if it enhances one's reading to try to say Keleborn (assuming it's a change), simply because he or she 'knows' or imagines that that's how folks in the Secondary World said it.

I haven't met any smug correctors (yet). The matter seems to come up in threads on the web often enough, but there people are usually wondering how the names are supposed to be said and heard (which implies they might like some help), or are outright asking about proper pronunciation. And I can also understand the desire (at least) for good pronunciation at conventions for example, or Tolkien-related events -- for guests speakers, for instance. But at conventions or social events, one is probably not reading the book, especially aloud, in any case.

My cat used to react everytime I said Túna. He must have approved of my pronunciation

[Inziladun]

I'm one of those who feels I have to get my pronunciations in line with Tolkien's, if only to satify my persnickitiness.
I don't judge others for getting them wrong, however. Appreciation and understanding of the subject matter are much more important than knowing not to say Sore-on or Sirith Ungol.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Galin

I haven't met any smug correctors (yet). The matter seems to come up in threads on the web often enough, but there people are usually wondering how the names are supposed to be said and heard (which implies they might like some help), or are outright asking about proper pronunciation. And I can also understand the desire (at least) for good pronunciation at conventions for example, or Tolkien-related events -- for guests speakers, for instance. But at conventions or social events, one is probably not reading the book, especially aloud, in any case.

My cat used to react everytime I said Túna. He must have approved of my pronunciation

Oh yes, if you go to Oxonmoot you have to watch more than your Ps and Qs, you also have to watch your Cs and Ks

Mind it was funny to see the signs around Somerville College that said "Tolkein Convention" all altered in angry writing to "TOLKIEN!" - you could almost hear the person who had corrected them tutting