Tolkien Translated... into Googlese - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Pitchwife · 05-28-2010, 06:25 PM

Hi Orofarne, and welcome to the Downs if I haven't welcomed you yet!
Up to now, no rules about how to continue this have been agreed on, so you certainly can't have broken any.

Funny translations, anyway. You may or may not be aware of this, but Tom Bombadil's nature and identity has been a much discussed topic on these Downs, and one suggestion offered I don't know when & where by I don't know whom was that Tom & Goldberry represent an unfallen version of Adam & Eve, so I find it quite fascinating that 'Adam' would pop up in this context... wonder which language did that.
And this is rather off-topic Tolkienwise, but you inspired me to try

Quote:

When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?

which after only 10 translations became

Quote:

When he beat Adam and Eve, who is that?

PS *points to your signature* Exactly!

Pitchwife · 06-09-2010, 04:06 PM

Sorry for double-posting on my own thread, but this random quote from the upper left corner cried out to be translated, and the results were remarkably coherent, if somewhat surrealistic.

Quote:

Old fool! Why there is a large patch in the hollow of his left breast as bare as a snail out of its shell.

(Bilbo after discovering Smaug's weak spot in The Hobbit)
became after 10 translations (sorry if this isn't exactly family-friendly

):

Quote:

Life is a lie! Why is it very convenient, the famine, and a turtle in a container, such as bare breasts.

after 25:

Quote:

Life is good! Since this is so simple, thirst for container and turtle on his chest.

after maximum of translations:

Quote:

Life is beautiful! One reason for this is simple: the heart, courage and adventure in sea.

I'm sure Horatio Hornblower would have agreed.

LadyBrooke · 07-13-2010, 02:35 AM

Quote:

“Bless us and splash us, my precioussss! I guess it’s a choice feast; at least a tasty morsel it’d make us, gollum!”

quickly descends into Gollum becoming Conan. Highlights from 56 translations.

Quote:

To bless us and the beginning for us, precioussss my country! I think it was in the party elections, at least a large part of that will make us, Conan! "

Not sure what party elections have to do with becoming a different person, Gollum.

Quote:

To bless us in the beginning for us, precioussss my country! I think that elections in the country, at least most of them will allow us, Conan!

Allow you Conan how Are you a celebrity stalker waiting to kidnap and murder them?

Quote:

Let's start with a greeting precioussss home! I think the electoral situation, but at least we give Conan! '

Make up your mind. First you are him, then you want the government to allow you to do something to him, now you're giving him away.

Quote:

we go! I think the elections, we Conan the situation, at least!

How do you Conan a situation?

Quote:

I think our election Canon status, at least!

What election? Who got elected?? Aragorn held elections??? WHAT??????????

Quote:

I think our position options for the Canon, at least!

What position? You and Smeagul can't agree on a thing.

Quote:

I think our options for our attitudes, Canon, at least!

Well, yes, the fact that you have multiple personalities and they can't agree with each other is canon.

Quote:

I think our options for our relationship, Canon, at least!

There aren't options in canon. You two are never going to be anything but arguing with each other.

Quote:

I think our choice for our relationship, Canon, at least!

You don't have a choice. You're a fictional character. You do what the author says.

Quote:

I think our choice for our relationship, cannon, at least!

HEY! Why are you aiming a cannon at me? Wait what are you *bang*

Guinevere · 07-16-2010, 09:55 AM

Incredible!

I noticed that the more translations, the shorter the quote gets i.e. the more words get left out. I wonder why.

Aiwendil · 07-16-2010, 10:32 AM

I love how "Conan" appears out of nowhere, eventually becomes "Canon", and finally ends up as "cannon".

Of course, neither Conan nor cannons are in the Canon.

Bom Tombadillo · 02-07-2011, 11:05 PM

Of course, we do not see the data in the dark! "The Hobbit" is being held in the evening because it would undermine the rain, I know!

Does anybody else love how it translates to "The Hobbit?"

A rather obvious one here:

What kind of things, to break the path of wisdom.

And now, translating from the famous Upper-Left-Hand Corner:

Dark place, not our destination if we really live, the right to retain or lose, but the problem is less a breakthrough.

Rikae · 02-08-2011, 09:15 AM

1. ------ see every page, I can not go to the final cost of any change in our music, however.

2. Have a friend or an enemy, the devil Annick Election Guide, or the death of another person in the world can do without laws, and love in hell or evil, or God, not the power of the game, not ----- Taoyan protect children, but in either steal or find a ---------.

Names that didn't change removed.

07-16-2010, 09:55 AM	#4
Guinevere Banshee of Camelot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Switzerland Posts: 5,830	Incredible! I noticed that the more translations, the shorter the quote gets i.e. the more words get left out. I wonder why. __________________ Yes! "wish-fulfilment dreams" we spin to cheat our timid hearts, and ugly Fact defeat!

02-07-2011, 11:05 PM	#6
Bom Tombadillo Wight Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Behind you . . . . BOO! Posts: 222	Of course, we do not see the data in the dark! "The Hobbit" is being held in the evening because it would undermine the rain, I know! Does anybody else love how it translates to "The Hobbit?" A rather obvious one here: What kind of things, to break the path of wisdom. And now, translating from the famous Upper-Left-Hand Corner: Dark place, not our destination if we really live, the right to retain or lose, but the problem is less a breakthrough. __________________ Every human should have a cat or two in their care, to teach them the meaning of the word, and to correct them. Phenris Dorph Last edited by Bom Tombadillo; 02-07-2011 at 11:17 PM.

07-16-2010, 10:32 AM	#5
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	I love how "Conan" appears out of nowhere, eventually becomes "Canon", and finally ends up as "cannon". Of course, neither Conan nor cannons are in the Canon.

02-08-2011, 09:15 AM	#7
Rikae Mellifluous Maia Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A glade open to the stars, deep in Nan Elmoth Posts: 3,489	1. ------ see every page, I can not go to the final cost of any change in our music, however. 2. Have a friend or an enemy, the devil Annick Election Guide, or the death of another person in the world can do without laws, and love in hell or evil, or God, not the power of the game, not ----- Taoyan protect children, but in either steal or find a ---------. Names that didn't change removed.