How do YOU pronounce 'Tolkien'? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Mithalwen · 08-10-2011, 12:25 PM

I am fairly sure it is Toll-keen though until I heard the radio adaptation I thought it was Tol-key-enn. A good clue is his nickname was Tollers not Tolkers.

However I must admit in my desire to get to the stories I neglected the pronunciation guides and it took a very long time to overwrite Sore-on and Seleborn and even when the blessed BBC version cured those, I am still not a hundred percent on Kir-dan - he was Sir Dan for too long...

Galadriel55 · 08-10-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

However I must admit in my desire to get to the stories I neglected the pronunciation guides and it took a very long time to overwrite Sore-on and Seleborn and even when the blessed BBC version cured those, I am still not a hundred percent on Kir-dan - he was Sir Dan for too long...

Hehe... same here. I still have half a mind to say Selegorm, Seleborn, Selebrimbor, Selebrain, etc... Also, I read half of the "ch" sounds as hh and the other half as k. It's Bragollahhhh, but Erek. I don't know why.

Though I don't recall ever reading Sauron as Soron.

Narnangol · 08-10-2011, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Though I don't recall ever reading Sauron as Soron.

Me neither. That's why it baffled me all the more when I first heard it.

Once I got my head around the hard C the Cel- names were never a problem, but for me as well, Sir Dan refuses to leave.

Faramir Jones · 08-10-2011, 03:32 PM

Here's what the Professor said about his surname, in one of his letters of 1955:

My name is TOLKIEN (not -kein). (Letters, Letter 165, p. 218.)

In another letter, of 4-5 June 1971, Tolkien talked about Jewish names, saying that 'We now associate Jewish names largely with German, and with a colloquial Yiddish that is predominantly German in origin'. To that sentence he added this footnote:

Possibly the reason why my surname is now usually misspelt TOLKEIN in spite of all my efforts to correct this - even by my college-, bank-, and lawyer's clerks! My name is Tolkien, anglicized from To(l)kiehn = tollkühn, and came from Saxony in the 18th century. It is not Jewish in origin, though I should consider it an honour if it were. (Ibid., Letter 324, p. 410.)

08-10-2011, 12:25 PM	#1
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	I am fairly sure it is Toll-keen though until I heard the radio adaptation I thought it was Tol-key-enn. A good clue is his nickname was Tollers not Tolkers. However I must admit in my desire to get to the stories I neglected the pronunciation guides and it took a very long time to overwrite Sore-on and Seleborn and even when the blessed BBC version cured those, I am still not a hundred percent on Kir-dan - he was Sir Dan for too long... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

08-10-2011, 03:32 PM	#4
Faramir Jones Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lonely Isle Posts: 706	From the 'Letters' Here's what the Professor said about his surname, in one of his letters of 1955: My name is TOLKIEN (not -kein). (Letters, Letter 165, p. 218.) In another letter, of 4-5 June 1971, Tolkien talked about Jewish names, saying that 'We now associate Jewish names largely with German, and with a colloquial Yiddish that is predominantly German in origin'. To that sentence he added this footnote: Possibly the reason why my surname is now usually misspelt TOLKEIN in spite of all my efforts to correct this - even by my college-, bank-, and lawyer's clerks! My name is Tolkien, anglicized from To(l)kiehn = tollkühn, and came from Saxony in the 18th century. It is not Jewish in origin, though I should consider it an honour if it were. (Ibid., Letter 324, p. 410.)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode