Pleased to meet you, Frodo... Reppuli? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Nerwen · 11-18-2007, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

Thanks. I thought so.

And the Australian translation... I mean, are you serious? That sounds terribly funny

From dingo - well, I would understand that, but then "Bushman" or "Nuggetberry" (I believe it has something to do with golden nuggets, Aganzir, which is the form in which gold used to be found) and... "Jackeroos of Brumbyland" cannot be really serious, now is it? You made it up, confess!

Yes, of course I did!

Legate of Amon Lanc · 11-19-2007, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nerwen

Yes, of course I did!

But good job, indeed

Nerwen · 11-19-2007, 05:50 AM

Thankyou!

Macalaure · 11-20-2007, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nerwen

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.

Well, I didn't know that back then, so it was surprising to me.

But still, I think it's interesting to see how these Old English names can pass as Modern German names so seamlessly.

Nerwen · 11-20-2007, 11:20 PM

For that matter, the German-translated names you listed, Macalaure, didn't sound "alien" to me in the way that the Finnish or Czech ones did (me being a native English speaker).

I agree with you that Kankra is just wrong. The translator must have been trying to copy the way Tolkien came up with Shelob, which is simply "she" + "lob" (dialect word for a spider).

Macalaure · 11-21-2007, 04:53 AM

Generally, I think the idea to create a German name for Shelob by following the way Tolkien originally invented that name is a good one. It's a part of making the whole universe of Middle-earth feel familiar to a speaker of a foreign language.

However, there simply had to be a way for them to come up with something better than "Kankra".

Nerwen · 11-21-2007, 06:36 AM

I know. "Shelob" sounds scary. "Kankra"... nothing much. Could be a disease.

In this case I think the translator may as well have kept "Shelob". The name doesn't mean anything in Standard English anyway.

By the way–

If anyone is curious about the words "bunyip" and "yowie" (from the celebrated Australian translation), they refer to legendary monsters.

A yowie is a large shaggy humanoid (like a yeti). A bunyip is a water monster that lurks in lakes, swamps and, of course, billabongs, preying on unwary swimmers. Nobody knows what they look like, since nobody has ever seen one and lived to tell the tale.

On the other hand, everyone in Australia knows someone whose friend's uncle saw a yowie one night.

11-21-2007, 06:36 AM	#7
Nerwen Wisest of the Noldor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ Posts: 6,694	I know. "Shelob" sounds scary. "Kankra"... nothing much. Could be a disease. In this case I think the translator may as well have kept "Shelob". The name doesn't mean anything in Standard English anyway. By the way– If anyone is curious about the words "bunyip" and "yowie" (from the celebrated Australian translation), they refer to legendary monsters. A yowie is a large shaggy humanoid (like a yeti). A bunyip is a water monster that lurks in lakes, swamps and, of course, billabongs, preying on unwary swimmers. Nobody knows what they look like, since nobody has ever seen one and lived to tell the tale. On the other hand, everyone in Australia knows someone whose friend's uncle saw a yowie one night. Last edited by Nerwen; 11-21-2007 at 08:44 AM. Reason: Adding comments

11-19-2007, 05:50 AM	#3
Nerwen Wisest of the Noldor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ Posts: 6,694	Thankyou!

11-20-2007, 11:20 PM	#5
Nerwen Wisest of the Noldor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ Posts: 6,694	For that matter, the German-translated names you listed, Macalaure, didn't sound "alien" to me in the way that the Finnish or Czech ones did (me being a native English speaker). I agree with you that Kankra is just wrong. The translator must have been trying to copy the way Tolkien came up with Shelob, which is simply "she" + "lob" (dialect word for a spider).

11-21-2007, 04:53 AM	#6
Macalaure Fading Fëanorion Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: into the flood again Posts: 2,911	Generally, I think the idea to create a German name for Shelob by following the way Tolkien originally invented that name is a good one. It's a part of making the whole universe of Middle-earth feel familiar to a speaker of a foreign language. However, there simply had to be a way for them to come up with something better than "Kankra".