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Titolo: [r-isda][lungo] "Guide to the Names in the Lord of the Rings"

Sperando di far cosa grata a molti, vi copio la ""Guide to the Names in
the Lord of the Rings" scritta da Tolkien e presente (secondo google)
in "A Tolkien Compass, by J. Lobdell, 1974"
--copia
Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings
J. R. R. TOLKIEN
These Notes on Nomenclature were made by J. R. R. Tolkien to assist
translators of the book into other languages. They were composed when
only the Swedish and Dutch translations had appeared. They have been
revised for publication by Christopher Tolkien. All references to The
Lord of the Rings are by volume and page of the Second (Revised)
Edition.
-The Editor
Nomenclature of
THE LORD OF THE RINGS
All names not in the following list should be left entirely unchanged
in any language used in translation, except that inflexional -s, -es
should be rendered according to the grammar of the language.
It is desirable that the translator should read Appendix F in Volume
III of The Lord of the Rings and follow the theory there set out. In
the original text English represents the Common Speech of the supposed
period. Names that are given in modern English therefore represent
names in the Common Speech, often but not always being translations of
older names in other languages, especially Sindarin (Grey-elven). The
language of translation now replaces English as the equivalent of the
Common Speech; the names in English form should therefore be translated
into the other language according to their meaning (as closely as
possible).
Most of the names of this type should offer no difficulty to a
translator, especially not to one using a language of Germanic origin,
related to English: Dutch, German, and the Scandinavian languages; for
example Black Country, Battle Plain, Dead Marshes, Snow-mane. Some
names, however, may prove less easy. In a few cases the author, acting
as translator of Elvish names already devised and used in this book or
elsewhere, has taken pains to produce a Common Speech name that is both
a translation and also (to English ears) a euphonious name of familiar
English style, even if it does not actually occur in England. Rivendell
is a successful example, as a translation of Grey-elven Imladris 'Glen
of the Cleft'. It is desirable to translate such names, since to leave
them unchanged would disturb the carefully devised scheme of
nomenclature and introduce an unexplained element without a place in
the feigned linguistic history of the period. But of course the
translator is free to devise a name in the other language that is
suitable in sense and/or topography; not all the Common Speech names
are precise translations of those in other languages.
A further difficulty arises in some cases. Names (of places and
persons) occur, especially in the Shire, which are not 'meaningless',
but are English in form (that is, in theory the author's translation of
Common Speech names), containing elements that are in the current
language obsolete or dialectal, or are worn-down and obscured in form.
(See Appendix F.) From the author's point of view it is desirable that
translators should have some knowledge of the nomenclature of persons
and places in the languages used in translation, and of words that
occur in them that are obsolete in the current forms of those
languages, or only preserved locally. The notes I offer are intended to
assist a translator in distinguishing 'inventions', made of elements
current in modern English, such as Rivendell, Snow-mane, from actual
names in use in England, independently of this story, and therefore
elements in the modern English language that it is desirable to match
by equivalents in the language of translation, with regard to their
original meaning, and also where feasible with regard to their archaic
or altered form. I have sometimes referred to old, obsolescent, or
dialectal words in the Scandinavian and German languages which might
possibly be used as the equivalents of similar elements in the English
names found in the text. I hope that these references may be sometimes
found helpful, without suggesting that I claim any competence in these
modern languages beyond an interest in their early history.
 Names of Persons and Peoples
Appledore. An old word for 'apple-tree' (it survives in English place-
names). It should be translated by the equivalent-that is, by a
dialectal or archaic word of the same meaning. In Germanic languages
this may be a word of the same origin: for example, German (Middle High
German) aphalter; Icelandic apuldur; Norwegian, Old Swedish apald.
Baggins. Intended to recall 'bag'-compare Bilbo's conversation with
Smaug in The Hobbit -- and meant to be associated (by hobbits) with Bag
End (that is, the end of a 'bag' or 'pudding bag' = cul-de-sac), the
local name for Bilbo's house. (It was the local name for my aunt's farm
in Worcestershire, which was at the end of a lane leading to it and no
further). Compare also Sackville-Baggins. The translation should
contain an element meaning 'sack, bag'.
Banks. Clearly a topographical name containing 'bank' in the sense
'steep slope or hill-side'. It should be represented by something
similar.
Barrow-wights. Creatures dwelling in a 'barrow' (grave-mound); see
Barrow under Place-names. It is an invented name: an equivalent should
be invented. The Dutch translation has grafgeest 'grave-ghost'; the
Swedish has Kummelgast 'gravemound-ghost'.
Beechbone. This is meant to be significant, being a translation into
the Common Speech of some Entish or EIvish equivalent. It should be
translated similarly (for example as Buchbein, or probably better
Buchenbein?).
Big Folk, Big People. Translate.
Black Captain, Black One, Black Riders. Translate.
Bolger. See Budgeford.
Bounders. Evidently intended to mean 'persons watching the bounds (that
is, boundaries)'. This word exists in English, and is not marked as
obsolete in dictionaries, though I have seldom heard it used; probably
because the late nineteenth-century slang 'bounder'- an offensively
pushing and in-bred man-was for a time in very general use, and soon
became a term of contempt equivalent to 'cad'. It is a long time since
I heard it, and I think it is now forgotten by younger people. The
Dutch translation uses Poenen 'cads', probably because a well-known
dictionary only gives patser 'bounder, cad' as the meaning of bounder
(labelled as slang). In the text the latter sense is meant to be
recalled by English readers, but the primary functional sense to be
clearly understood. (This slender jest is not, of course, worth
imitating, even if possible).
Bracegirdle. A genuine English surname, used in the text, of course,
with refercnce to the hobbit tendency to be fat and so to strain their
belts. A desirable translation would recognize this by some equivalent
meaning Tight-belt, or Belt-tightener / strainer / stretcher. (The name
is a genuine English one; a compound of the Romance type with the
verbal element first, as in Drinkwater = Boileau; but it is not
necessary that the representation should be a known surname in the
language of translation. Would not Gürtelspanner do?)
Brandybuck. A rare English name which I have come across. Its origin in
English is not concerned; in The Lord of the Rings it is obviously
meant to contain elements of the Brandywine River and the family name
Oldbuck (see these entries). The latter contains the word 'buck'
(animal): either Old English bucc 'male deer' (fallow or roe), or bucca
'he-goat'.
Buckland is also meant to contain the same animal name (German Bock),
though Buckland, an English place-name, is frequently in fact derived
from 'book-land', land originally held by a written charter.
Brockhouse. Brock is an old word for the badger, still widely current
in country speech up to the end of the nineteenth century and appearing
in literature, and hence in good dictionaries, including bilinguals. So
there is not much excuse for the Dutch and Swedish translators' having
misrendered it. In the Dutch translation Broekhuis (not a misprint,
since it is repeated in the four places where this name occurs) seems
absurd: what is a 'breech-house'? The Swedish Galthus 'wild-boar house'
is not much better, since swine do not burrow! The translator evidently
did not know or look up Brock, since he uses Grävlingar for the name
Burrows (Swedish gräflingar, gräfsvin 'badgers').
Brock occurs in numerous place-names, from which surnames are derived,
such as Brockbanks. Brockhouse is, of course, feigned to be a hobbit-
name because the 'brock' builds complicated and well-ordered
underground dwellings or 'setts'. The German rendering should be
Dachsbau, I think. In Danish use Graevling.
Butterbur. So far as I know, not found as a name in England, though
Butter is so used, as well as combinations (in origin place-names) such
as Butterfield. These have in the tale been modified, to fit the
generally botanical names of Bree, to the plant-name 'butterbur'
(Petasites vulgaris). If the popular name for this contains an
equivalent of 'butter', so much the better. Otherwise use another
plant-name containing 'butter' (as German Butterblume, Butterbaum,
Dutch boterbloeme) or referring to a fat thick plant. The butterbur is
a fleshy plant with a heavy flower-head on a thick stalk, and very
large leaves.
Butterbur's first name Barliman is simply an altered spelling of
'barley' and 'man' (suitable to an innkeeper and ale-brewer), and
should be translated.
Captains of the West. Translate.
Chief, The. Translate.
Chubb. A genuine English surname, chosen because its immediate
association in English is with the adjective 'chubby', round and fat in
bodily shape (said to be derived from chub, the name of a river fish).
Corsairs. Translate. They are imagined as similar to the Mediterranean
corsairs: sea-robbers with fortified bases.
Cotton. This is a place-name in origin (as are many modern surnames),
from cot, a cottage or humble dwelling, and -ton, the usual shortening
of 'town' in place-names (Old English tun 'village'). It should be
translated in these terms.
It is a common English surname and has, of course, in origin no
connection with cotton the textile material, though it is naturally
associated with it at the present day. Hobbits are represented as using
tobacco, and this is made more or less credible by the suggestion that
the plant was brought over the Sea by the Men of Westernesse (I 18);
but it is not intended that cotton should be supposed to be known or
used at that time. Since it is highly improbable that in any other
language a normal and frequent village name should in any way resemble
the equivalent of cotton (the material), this resemblance in the
original text may be passed over. It has no importance for the
narrative, See Gamgee.
Cotman appears as a first name in the genealogies. It is an old word
meaning 'cottager', 'cot-dweller', and is to be found in larger
dictionaries. It is also a well-known English surname.
Dark Lord, Dark Power. Translate.
Dead, The. Translate.
Dunlendings. Leave unchanged except in the plural ending. It represents
Rohan dun(n)lending, an inhabitant of Dun(n)land.
Easterlings. Translate, as 'Easterners, men from the East' (in the
story men from the little-known regions beyond the Sea of Rhûn).
Elder Kindred, Elder Race, Elder People. Translate. In a language which
possesses two forms of the comparative of old, use the more archaic
form. (In English the older form elder implies both seniority and
kinship).
The similarity between Elda-r plural, the western Elves, and Elder is
accidental. The name Elda 'Elf' had been devised long before The Lord
of the Rings was written. There is no need to seek to imitate it; it is
not useful or significant. Compare Elder Days, which again implies a
more ancient epoch in the history of people of the same kin, that is in
the days of their far-off ancestors.
Elf-friend. Translate. It was suggested by Aelfwine, the English form
of an old Germanic name (represented for instance in the Lombardic
Alboin), though its analyzable meaning was probably not recognized or
thought significant by the many recorded bearers of the name Aelfwine
in Old English.
Elven-smiths. Translate. The archaic adjectival or composition form
elven used in The Lord of the Rings should on no account be equated
with the debased English word elfin, which has entirely wrong
associations. Use either the word for elf in the language of
translation, or a first element in a compound, or divide into elvish +
smiths, using an equivalent in the language of translation for the
correct adjective elvish.
With regard to German: I would suggest with diffidence that Elf, elfen
are perhaps to be avoided as equivalents of elf, elven. Elf is, I
believe, borrowed from English, and may retain some of the associations
of a kind that I should particularly desire not to be present (if
possible): for example those of Drayton or of A Midsummer Night's Dream
(in the translation of which, I believe, Elf was first used in German).
That is, the pretty, fanciful reduction of 'elf' to a butterfly-like
creature inhabiting flowers.
I wonder whether the word Alp (or better still the form Alb, still
given in modern dictionaries as a variant, which is historically the
more normal form) could not be used. It is the true cognate of English
elf; and if it has senses nearer to English oaf, referring to puckish
and malicious sprites, or to idiots regarded as 'changelings', that is
true also of English elf. I find these debased rustic associations less
damaging than the 'pretty' literary fancies. The Elves of the
'mythology' of The Lord of the Rings are not actually equatable with
the folklore traditions about 'fairies', and as I have said (III 415) I
should prefer the oldest available form of the name to be used, and
left to acquire its own associations for readers of my tale. In
Scandinavian languages alf is available.
Enemy, The. Translate.
Ent. Retain this, alone or in compounds, such as Entwives. It is
supposed to be a name in the language of the Vale of Anduin, including
Rohan, for these creatures. It is actually an Old English word for
'giant', which is thus right according to the system attributed to
Rohan, but the Ents of this tale are not in form or character derived
from Germanic mythology. Entings 'children of Ents' (II 78) should also
be unchanged except in the plural ending. The Grey-elven (Sindarin)
name was Onodrim (II 45).
Evenstar. As title of Arwen Undómiel. When used in the text this
translation of Undómiel (a Quenya name) should be translated.
Fairbairns, Translate. It is an English surname, a northern variant of
the name Fairchild. It is used by me to suggest that the elvish beauty
of Elanor, daughter of Sam, was long inherited by her descendants.
Elanor was also remarkable for her golden hair; and in modern English
fair when used of complexion or hair means primarily blond, but though
this association was meant to be present in the minds of English
readers, it need not be represented.
Fair Folk. The beautiful people (based on Welsh Tylwyth teg 'the
beautiful kindred' = fairies). Title of the Elves. Translate.
Fallohide. This has given difficulty. It should if possible be
translated, since it is meant to represent a name with a meaning in the
Common Speech, though one devised in the past and so containing archaic
elements. It is made of English fallow + hide (cognates of German falb
and Haut) and means 'Paleskin'. It is archaic, since fallow 'pale,
yellowish' is not now in use, except in fallow deer, and hide is no
longer applied to human skin (except as a transference back from its
use of animal hides, used for leather). But this element of archaism
need not be imitated. See III 414 on the relation of special hobbit
words to the language of Rohan.
Fang. A dog's name in I 101; translate. It is meant of course to be the
English fang 'canine or prominent tooth' (Old English fengtop; German
fangzahn); but since it is associated with Grip, the sense of the now
lost verb fang, I should think that German Fang would be a good
version.
Fatty Lumpkin. Translate. The kin is of course a diminutive suffix.
Fell Riders. Translate.
Fellowship of the Ring. Translate in the text; also if possible in the
title.
Ferny. A name in Bree. Translate. Fern and Ferny, Fernie are English
surnames, but whatever their origin the name is here used to fit the
predominantly botanical names current in Bree.
Firefoot. Translate.
Firstborn, The. Title of the Elves. Translate. ('Firstborn', since the
Elves appeared in the world before all other 'speaking peoples', not
only Men, but also Dwarves, of independent origin. Hobbits are of
course meant to be a special variety of the human race).
Fladrif. See Leaflock.
Flourdumpling. Translate.
Free Folk; Free Lords of the Free; Free Peoples. Translate.
Gamgee. A surname found in England, though uncommon. I do not know its
origin; it does not appear to be English. It is also a word for
'cotton-wool' (now obsolescent but known to me in childhood), derived
from the name of S. Gamgee (died 1886), a distinguished surgeon, who
invented 'Gamgee tissue'. In a translation it would be best to treat
this name as 'meaningless', and retain it with any spelling changes
that may seem necessary to fit it to the style of the language of
translation.
Gamling (the Old). A name of one of the Rohirrim, and best left
unchanged, though like one or two other names in Rohan (Shadowfax,
Wormtongue) it has been slightly anglicized and modernized. It should
be Gameling (with short a). It would be one of the words and names that
hobbits recognized as similar to their own, since it is an English
(that is, Common Speech) name, probably the origin of the surnames
Gamlen, Gam(b)lin, and other forms. Compare The Tale of Gamelin, a
medieval poem from which ultimately was derived part of Shakespeare's
As You Like It (It is derived from the stem gamal- 'old', the normal
word in Scandinavian languages, but only found in Old English in verse-
language, and in Old High German only as an element in personal names).
Goatleaf. A Bree name of botanical type. It is an old name of the
honeysuckle or woodbine. Compare French chèvrefeuille (medieval Latin
caprifolium, probably from the vernaculars). It presents no difficulty
in German, since Geissblatt seems one of the names in use.
Goldberry. Translate by sense.
Great Enemy. Translate.
Grey Company. Translate.
Greyhame. Modernized form of Rohan greg-hama 'greycoat'. By-name in
Rohan of Gandalf. Since both Greghama and Greyhame would probably be
unintelligible in a language of translation, whereas at least the Grey-
is meant to be intelligible to readers, it would be right, I think, to
translate this epithet: that is, to represent Éomer as translating its
sense into the Common Speech (II 37). So the Dutch version has
correctly Grijsmantel; but the Swedish wrongly gråhamn 'grey phantom'.
In German it might be Graumantel?
Grey Host. Translate.
Grey Pilgrim. Another by-name of Gandalf, translation of Mithrandir. It
should be translated by sense.
Grip. Dog-name. Translate. See Fang.
Grubb. A hobbit-name. (Grubbs, I 36, is plural.) Translate, if possible
in some way more or less suitable to sound and sense. The name is meant
to recall the English verb grub 'dig, root, in the ground.'
Guardians. Translate.
Halfling. Common Speech name for Hobbit. It is not actually an English
word, but might be (that is, it is suitably formed with appropriate
suffix). The sense is 'a half-sized man / person'. Translate with
similar invention containing the word for 'half' in the language of
translation. The Dutch translation used Halfling (presumably an
intelligible derivative of half, though not in use in Dutch any more
than in English).
Harfoots (plural). Meant to be intelligible (in its context) and
recognized as an altered form of an old name = 'hairfoot', that is,
'one with hairy feet'. It is supposed to represent archaic English
hæ¯r-fot later herfoot, with the usual change of er to ar in English.
Modern English hair, though related, is not a direct descendant of Old
English h æ¯r, her = German Haar. German Harfuss would adequately
represent the form, meaning, and slight change of spelling in an old
proper name. See Fallohide.
Harry (from Herry from Henry). Any popular man's name of a similar sort
will do.
Hayward. Translate. A local official with the duty of inspecting fences
and keeping cattle from straying (see I 19). The word is now
obsolescent, surviving chiefly in the very common surname Hayward; but
Hob (III 277, 279) was supposed actually to be a hayward. The word is
derived from hay 'fence' (not 'grass') + ward 'guard'. Compare High
Hay, Hay Gate, Haysend, place-names in Buckland. If the language of
translation possesses an old compound of similar sense, so much the
better. The Dutch translation used Schutmesster (which is very close:
'keeper of a pound or fenced enclosure'.) The Swedish used stängselvakt
'hedge-watch', which I think is made for the purpose.
Healer, The Healers. Translate.
Heathertoes. A Bree name. There is no parallel in English, though
Heather- appears in some surnames. The Dutch translation has Heideteen.
For German Heídezhen? (Presumably a joke of the Big Folk, meaning that
the Little Folk, wandering unshod, collected heather, twigs and leaves
between their toes).
Hobbit. Do not translate, since the name is supposed no longer to have
had a recognized meaning in the Shire, and not to have been derived
from the Common Speech (= English, or the language of translation).
Holman, An English surname; but here supposed to = 'hole-man'
(pronounced the same). Translate by this sense.
Hornblower. Hornblow and Hornblower are English surnames. In the Shire
they are evidendy occupational surnames. Translate by sense.
Isengrim, See III 413: 'In some old families, especially those of
Fallohide origin such as the Tooks and the Bolgers, it was ... , the
custom to give high-sounding first-names'. The name is an old Germanic
one, perhaps best known now as the name (Isegrim) adopted for the Wolf
as a character in the romance of Reynard the Fox. It is best left
untranslated since it is not supposed to be made of Common Speech
elements.
Leaflock. Translate by sense, since this is supposed to be a Common
Speech translation of the Elvish Finglas: fing 'lock of hair' + las(s)
'leaf'. Similarly the Ent-name Fladrif, translated as Skinbark.
Maggot. Intended to be a 'meaningless' name, hobbit-like in sound.
Actually it is an accident that maggot is an English word meaning
'grub', 'larva'. The Dutch translation has Van de Made (made = German
Made, Old English maða 'maggot'), but the name is probably best left
alone, as in the Swedish translation, though some assimilation to the
style of the language of translation would be in place.
Marigold. Translate this flower-name (see III 413). The name is used
because it is suitable as a name in English and because, containing
'gold' and referring to a golden flower, it suggests that there was a
'Fallohide' strain (see 1 12) in Sam's family-which, increased by the
favour of Galadriel, became notable in his children: especially Elanor,
but also Goldilocks (a name sometimes given to flowers of the buttercup
kind) who married the heir of Peregrin Took. Unfortunately the name of
the flower in the language of translation may be unsuitable as a name
in form or meaning (for instance French souci). In such a case it would
be better to substitute the name of some other yellow flower. The
Swedish translator solved the difficulty by translating the name as
Majagull and adding Ringblom (Swedish ringblomma 'marigold'; compare
German Ringelblume). The Dutch translator was content with Meizoentje
'daisy'; which is good enough. He did not include the genealogies in
his translation, and ignored 'the fact that Daisy was the name of a
much older sister of Sam and not a playmate of Rosie Cotton.
Mugwort. A Bree name; the name of a plant (Artemisia, French armoise,
akin to Wormwood, French armoise amère). Translate by the name of the
plant in the language of translation (for example German Beifuss) If
suitable; or by the name of some other herb of more or less similar
shape. There is no special reason for the choice of Mugwort, except its
hobbit-like sound.
Necromancer. Translate.
Neekerbreekers, Invented insect-name; represent it by some invention of
similar sound (supposed to be like that of a cricket).
Noakes. Adapt this to the language of translation or substitute some
suitable name in it of similar style.
Noake(s), Noke(s) is an English surname, derived probably from the not
uncommon minor place-name No(a)ke, from early English atten oke 'at the
oak'; but since this is no longer recognized, this need not be
considered. The name is in the tale unimportant.
Oldbuck. See Brandywine, Brandybuck. The -buck is derived from a
personal name Buck, in archaic form Bucca (III 368, year 1979). The
first name Gorhendad (I 108) should be left unchanged. It is a Welsh
word meaning 'great-grandfather'; the reason for giving the folk of
Buckland Welsh names or ones of similar style is given in III 413-4.
Oliphaunt. Retain this. It is an archaic form of 'elephant' used as a
'rusticism', on the supposition that rumour of the Southern beast would
have reached the Shire long ago in the form of legend. This detail
might be retained simply by substituting O for the initial E of the
ordinary name of the elephant in the language of translation: the
meaning would remain sufficiently obvious, even if that language had no
similar archaic form. In Dutch olifant remains the current form, and so
is used by the translator, but with loss of the archaic colouring.
Oliphant in English is derived from Old French olifant, but the o is
probably derived from old forms of English or German: Old English
olfend, Old High German olbenta 'camel'. The names of foreign animals,
seldom or never seen, are often misapplied in the borrowing language.
Old English olfend, Old High German olbenta, are probably ultimately
related to the classical elephant (Latin from Greek).
Orald. Forn and Orald as names of Bombadil are meant to be names in
foreign tongues (not Common Speech) and should according to the system
be left unchanged. Forn is actually the Scandinavian word for
'(belonging to) ancient (days)'. All the dwarf-names in this tale are
Norse, as representing a northern language of Men, different from but
closely related to that of the Rohirrim who came from the other side of
Mirkwood (see III 140, 415). Orald is an Old English word for 'very
ancient', evidently meant to represent the language of the Rohirrim and
their kin. It may be left unchanged; but since it is the exact
counterpart in form and sense of German uralt, this might well be used
in a German translation.
Orc. This is supposed to be the Common Speech name of these creatures
at that time; it should therefore according to the system be translated
into English, or the language of translation. It was translated
'goblin' in The Hobbit, except in one place; but this word, and other
words of similar sense in other European languages (as far as I know),
are not really suitable. The orc in The Lord of the Rings and The
Silmarillion, though of course partly made out of traditional features,
is not really comparable in supposed origin, functions, and relation to
the Elves. In any case orc seemed to me, and seems, in sound a good
name for these creatures. It should be retained.
It should be spelt ork (so the Dutch translation) in a Germanic
language, but I had used the spelling orc in so many places that I have
hesitated to change it in the English text, though the adjective is
necessarily spelt orkish. The Grey-elven form is orch, plural yrch.
I originally took the word from Old English orc [Beowulf 112 orc-nass
and the gloss orc = pyrs ('ogre'), heldeofol ('hell-devil')]. This is
supposed not to be connected with modern English orc, ork, a name
applied to various sea-beasts of the dolphin order.
Pickthorn. A Bree name; meant to be 'meaningful'. Translate.
Pimple. An opprobrious nickname. Translate.
Proudfoot. A Hobbit surname (it is an English surname). Translate.
Puddifoot. A surname in the muddy Marish; meant to suggest puddle +
foot. Translate.
Quickbeam. Ent. This is a translation of Sindarin Bregalad 'quick
(lively) tree'. Since in the story this is represented as a name given
to him because he was (for an Ent) 'hasty', it would be best to
translate the name by a compound (made for the purpose) having this
sense (for example German Quickbaum?). It is unlikely that the language
of translation would possess an actual tree-name having or appearing to
have this sense. Quickbeam and Quicken are actual English names of the
'rowan' or 'mountain ash'; also given to the related 'Service-tree'.
The rowan is here evidently intended, since 'rowan' is actually used in
Quickbeam's song (II 87).
Ring-wraiths. This is a translation of the Black Speech Nazgûl, from
nazg 'ring' and gûl, any one of the major invisible servants of Sauron
dominated entirely by his will. A compound must be made out of suitable
elements in the language of translation that has the sense of 'ring-
wraith' as nearly as possible.
Rumble. The name of an old hobbit-woman. It had no meaning (at that
time) in the Shire. A form of similar pattern to suit the language of
translation will suffice.
Sackville-Baggins. Sackville is an English name (of more aristocratic
association than Baggins). It is of course joined in the story with
Baggins because of the similar meaning in English (= Common Speech)
sack and bag, and because of the slightly comic effect of this
conjunction. Any compound in the language of translation containing
elements meaning (more or less) the equivalent of sack / bag will do.
Scatha. This is Old English ('injurer, enemy, robber') and so is from
the language of Rohan and should be left unchanged.
Shadowfax. This is an anglicized form of Rohan (that is Old English)
Sceadu-faex 'having shadow-grey mane (and coat)'. It does not actually
occur in Old English. Since it is not Common Speech, it may be
retained, though better so in a simplified form of the Rohan name:
Scadufax. But since in the text this name has been assimilated to
modern English (= Common Speech), it would be satisfactory to do the
same in a Germanic language of translation, using related elements. Fax
'hair' is now obsolete in English, except in the name Fairfax (no
longer understood). It was used in Old High German (faks) and Middle
High German (vahs, vachs), but is, I believe, also now obsolete; but it
could be revived in this name, as it is in the English text: for
example Schattenvachs? Fax (faks) is still in use in Iceland and Norway
for 'mane'; but 'shadow' has no exact equivalents in Scandinavian
languages. The Dutch version has Schaduwschicht (shadow-flash), the
Swedish Skuggfaxe.
Sharkey. This is supposed to be a nickname modified to fit the Common
Speech (in the English text anglicized), based on orkish sharkû 'old
man'. The word should therefore be kept with modification of spelling
to fit the language of translation; alteration of the diminutive and
quasi-affectionate ending -ey to fit that language would also be in
place.
Shelob. Though it sounds (I think) a suitable name for the Spider, in
some foreign (orkish) tongue, it is actually composed of She and lob (a
dialectal English word meaning 'spider'; see Bilbo's song in chapter
VIII of The Hobbit). The Dutch version retains Shelob, but the Swedish
has the rather feeble Honmonstret.
Shirriff(s). Actually a now obsolete form of English sheriff 'shire-
officer', used by me to make the connection with Shire plainer. In the
story Shirriff and Shire are supposed to be special hobbit words, not
generally current in the Common Speech of the time, and so derived from
their former language related to that of the Rohirrim. Since the word
is thus not supposed to be Common Speech, but a local word, it is not
necessary to translate it, or do more than accommodate its spelling to
the style of the language of translation. It should, however, resemble
in its first part whatever word is used to represent Shire (see this
entry).
Skinbark. English (= Common Speech) translation of Fladrif. The name
should therefore be suitably translated by sense. (Compare Leaflock).
Smallburrow. A meaningful hobbit-name; translate by sense.
Snowmane. A meaningful name (of King Theoden's horse), but (like
Shadowfax) translated into modern English form, for snaw-mana. It
should therefore be represented by its proper Rohan form Snawmana, or
translated (especially into a Germanic language), as for example German
Schneemähne.
Stoors. The name of a third kind of hobbit of heavier build. This is
early English stor, stoor 'large, strong', now obsolete. Since it is
thus supposed to be a special hobbit word not current in the Common
Speech, it need not be translated, and may be represented by a more or
less 'phonetic' spelling according to the use of letters in the
language of translation; but an archaic or dialectal word of this sense
would also be acceptable.
Swertings. Said by Sam to be the name in the Shire for the legendary
(to hobbits) dark-skinned people of the 'Sunlands' (far south). It may
be left unchanged as a special local word (not in the Common Speech);
but since it is evidently a derivative of swart, which is still in use
(= swarthy), it could be represented by some similar derivative of the
word for 'black / dark' in the language of translation. Compare Swarthy
Men, the Common Speech equivalent (III 73).
Thistlewool. Translate by sense.
Took. Hobbit-name of unknown origin representing actual Hobbit Tuk (see
III 415). It should thus be kept and spelt phonetically according to
the language of translation. The Took personal names should be kept in
the form and spelling of the text, as Peregrin, Paladin, Adelard,
Bandobras. Note that Bandobras' nickname 'Bullroarer' is in Common
Speech and should be translated by sense (if possible alliterating on
B). This nickname also appears in Bullroarer Took in The Hobbit 17. I
believed when I wrote it that bullroarer was a word used by
anthropologists for instruments that made a roaring sound, used by
uncivilized peoples; but I cannot find it in any dictionaries.
Treebeard. Translation of Fangorn. Translate by sense.
Twofoot. Translate by sense.
Underhill, Translate by sense.
Wandlimb. = Fimbrethil, of which it is not a translation. Translate by
sense. (An Entwife's name).
Whitfoot. Translate by 'white' and 'foot.' See Whitfurrows under place-
names.
Windfola. = 'Wind-foal', but leave unaltered since it is in the
language of Rohan (not Common Speech).
Wingfoot. A nickname; translate by sense: 'winged-foot'.
Wormtongue. 'Modernized' form of the nickname of Gríma, the evil
counsellor of Rohan: Rohan wyrm-tunga 'snake-tongue'. Translate by
sense.
Woses. This represents (modernized) the Rohan word for 'old men of the
woods'. It is not a purely invented word. The supposed genuine Rohan
word was wasa, plural wasan, which if it had survived into modern
English would be woses. It would have been better to call the 'wild
men' woodwoses, for that actually occurs in Old English wudewasa,
glossing 'faunus, satyrus, savage men, evil creatures'. This word
survived into the Tudor period as woodoses (often corrupted to
woodhouses), and survives in heraldry, since the woodhouse = a wild
hairy man clad in leaves, common as a supporter to arms. The wasa
element meant originally a forlorn or abandoned person, and now-for
instance in German Waise and Dutch wees-means 'orphan'. The origin of
this idea was no doubt the actual existence of wild folk, remnants of
former peoples driven out by invaders, or of outlaws, living a debased
and savage life in forests and mountains.
 Place-Names
Archet. This is actually an English place-name of Celtic origin. It is
used in the nomenclature of Bree to represent a stratum of names older
than those in the Common Speech or Hobbit language. So also Bree, an
English place-name from a Celtic word for 'hill'. Therefore retain
Archet and Bree unaltered, since these names no longer have a
recognized meaning in English. Chetwood is a compound of Celtic and
English, both elements meaning 'wood'; compare Brill, in Oxfordshire,
derived from bree + híll. Therefore in Chetwood retain Chet and
translate -wood.
Ashen Mountains. Common Speech translation of Ered Lithui (Sindarin
orod, plural eryd, ered, 'mountain'; lith 'ash'; + adjectival ui).
Translate by sense: mountains of ash-grey hue.
Bag End. The local name for Bilbo's house, and meant to be associated
(by hobbits) with the end of a 'bag' or 'pudding-bag' = cul-de-sac.
Translate by sense. See Baggins; the same element in the language of
translation should appear both in Baggins and in Bag End.
Bagshot Row. The row of small 'holes' in the lane below Bag End, said
to have been so named because the earth removed in excavating Bag End
was shot over the edge of the sudden fall in the hillside onto the
ground which later became the gardens and earthwalls of the humbler
dwellings. Translate by approximate sense, including the same element
in the language of translation meaning 'bag'.
Bamfurlong. An English place-name, probably from bean 'bean' and
furlong (in the sense of a division of a common field), the name being
given to a strip of land usually reserved for beans. The name is now,
and so is supposed to have been at that time in the Shire, without
clear meaning. It is the name of Farmer Maggot's farm. Translate as
seems suitable, but some compound containing the word for 'bean' and
that for 'field, cultivated ground' would seem desirable.
Baránduin. This means 'the long gold-brown river.' Leave untranslated:
Brandywine is represented as a corruption of Sindarin Baránduin (accent
on the middle syllable and), from baran 'brown, yellow-brown' + duin
'river'. The common Elvish was duine: stem dui 'flow (in volume)'. The
Quenya form would have been luine (in Quenya initial d became l), but
the word was not used. Retain when so spelt. Usually by hobbits altered
to Brandywine; see this entry.
Barrow-downs. Translate by sense: low treeless hills on which there are
many 'barrows', that is tumuli and other prehistoric grave-mounds. This
barrow is not related to modern barrow, an implement with a wheel; it
is a recent adoption by archaeologists of the English dialect word
barrow (earlier berrow, from English beorg, berg, 'hill, mound').
Barrowfield. See the preceding entry. Translate by sense: a field
containing a grave-mound.
Battle Gardens, Battle Pit. Translate by sense.
Better Smials. See Smials under Things.
Black Country, Black Land. Common Speech translation of Mordor.
Translate.
Black Stone. Translate by sense.
Blackroot Vale. Translate by sense; Common Speech translation of
Morthond (the name of a river, given because its source was in the dark
caverns of the Dead Men).
Blessed Realm. Translate by sense. The name in the Common Speech for
the Far Western Land in which the Valar (guardian powers) and the High
Elves dwelt, called in Quenya Aman; the region where the Valar dwelt
being Valimar, Valinor, and that of the Elves Eldamar. The Blessed
Realm was at this time no longer part of the physical world, and could
not, except in rare cases, be reached by mortals.
Bonfire Glade. Translate by sense.
Brandy Hall. This should be translated, but should contain the same
element as that used in the river-name (Brandywine). In this case the
whole word in the language of translation, for example Branntwein or
Brendevin, could be used, since the Hall was on the east bank of the
river. In the personal name Brandybuck it could be reduced to the first
element, for instance Brendebuk?
Brandywine. This is represented as a hobbit alteration (I 14) of the
Elvish (Sindarin) Baránduin (stressed on the middle syllable). Since
this is meant to have been intelligible at that time it should be
translated by sense; but a difficulty arises, since it would be
desirable that the translation should also be a possible corruption of
Baránduin. The Dutch translation used Brandewijn; the Swedish missed
the point, using Vinfluden, though Brännavin would have served. Danish
Brendevin or German Branntwein would also do.
Bree. Retain, since it was an old name, of obsolete meaning in an older
language; see Archet.
Bree-hill, Bree-land. Retain the first element, and translate 'hill'
and 'land.'
Brockenbores. Not (I think) a genuine English place-name; but intended
to have the recognized sense: 'badgers' borings, badgers' tunnellings'.
Translate in this sense. See Brockhouse.
Buck Hill, Buckland. The element 'buck' should be translated. See
Brandybuck, Oldbuck.
Bucklebury. The name of the chief village in the Buckland. Translate
with a name containing the 'buck' element (as above) + some equivalent
of English -bury (Old English burg, a place occupying a defensive
position, walled or enclosed; a town. Compare Norbury). The -le in
Buckle- is either an alteration of Buckenbury, with the old genitive
plural -en(a), or a reduction of Buckland.
Budgeford. Budge- was an obscured element, having at the time no clear
meaning. Since it was the main residence of the Bolger family (a
hobbit-name not to be translated) it may be regarded as a corruption of
the element bolge, bulge. Both Bolger and Bulger occur as surnames in
England. Whatever their real origin, they are used in the story to
suggest that they were in origin nicknames referring to fatness,
tubbiness.
Bywater. Village name: as being beside the wide pool occurring in the
course of the Water, the main river of the Shire, a tributary of the
Brandywine. Translate by sense.
Chetwood. See Archet.
The Cleft ('of the Spider') = Cirith (Ungol). Cirith means 'cleft', a
narrow passage cut through earth or rock (like a railway cutting).
Translate by sense.
Cloudyhead. Translation of Dwarvish Bundushathûr; translate by sense.
Coomb. A deep (but usually not very large) valley. It is very frequent
as an element in English place-names, spelt in various ways, such as -
comb, -cumb, -combe. In this story used in the name Deeping Coomb, or
with reference to it. See Deeping Coomb.
Crack of Doom. In modern use derived from Macbeth IV i 117, in which
the cracke of Doome means 'the announcement of the Last Day', by a
crack or peal of thunder: so it is commonly supposed, but it may mean
'the sound of the last trump', since crack could be applied to the
sudden sound of horns or trumpets (as it is in Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight lines 116, 1166). In this story crack is here used in the sense
'fissure', and refers to the volcanic fissure in the crater of Orodruin
in Mordor. See further under Doom and Mount Doom.
Crickhollow. A place-name in Buckland. It is meant to be taken as
composed of an obsolete element + the known word hollow. The -hollow (a
small depression in the ground) can be translated by sense, the crick-
retained (in the spelling of the language of translation).
Deeping Coomb. This should have been spelt Deeping-coomb, since Deeping
is not a verbal ending but one indicating relationship: the coomb or
deep valley belonging to the Deep (Helm's Deep) to which it led up. So
also Deeping Stream.
Derndingle. Said by Treebeard to be what Men called the meeting-place
of the Ents (II 82); therefore meant to be in the Common Speech. But
the Common Speech name must be supposed to have been given a long time
ago, when in Gondor more was known or remembered about the Ents. Dingle
is still known, meaning 'deep (tree-shadowed) dell', but dern 'secret,
hidden' is long obsolete, as are the related words in other Germanic
languages - except Tarn- in German Tarnkappe (from Middle High German).
Translate by sense, preferably by obsolete, poetic, or dialectal
elements.
Dimholt. The wood of dark trees at the entrance to the Dark Door. The
name is given in the form of the language of Rohan, and so should be
retained unchanged, though dim is still current in English (but here
used in an older sense, 'obscure, secret'), and holt is in occasional
poetic use.
Dimrill Dale. The Common Speech name of Dwarvish Azanulbizar, Grey-
elven Nan Duhirion. The Common Speech form is an accurate translation:
the valley of the dim (overshadowed) rills that ran down the mountain-
side. Translate by sense. Similarly Dimrill Gate, Dimrill Stair.
Doom. The word doom, in its original sense 'judgment' (formal and
legal, or personal), has in English, partly owing to its sound, and
largely to its special use in doomsday, become loaded with senses of
death, finality and fate (impending or foretold). (Outside English
doomsday is only preserved in the Scandinavian languages: Icelandic
dómsdagur, Swedish domedag, Danish dómmedag; also Finnish tuomipäivä).
The use in the text as a word descriptive of sound (especially in I
book ii chapter 5) associated with boom is nonetheless meant (and would
by most English readers be felt) to recall the noun doom, with its
sense of disaster. This is probably not possible to represent in
another language. The Dutch version represents doom boom phonetically
by doem boem, which is sufficient, and at any rate has the support of
the verb doemen, which especially in the past participle gedoemd has
the same sense as English doomed (to death or an evil fate). The
Swedish version usually has dom bom, but occasionally dum bom. This
seems (as far as I can judge) unsatisfactory, since the associations of
dum are quite out of place, and dumbom is a word for 'blockhead'
(German Dummkopf).
Mount Doom. This was (in Gondor) the Common Speech name of the volcano
Orodruin ('Mountain of red flame'), but was a translation of its other
Elvish name Amon Amarth ('Hill of Doom'), given to Sauron's forge-
mountain because it was linked in ancient and little-understood
prophecies with the 'doom', the final end of the Third Age, that it was
foretold would befall when Isildur's Bane was found again; see the
verses in I 259. Translate by sense: 'Mountain (of) doom' (in the sense
'impending fate'). See Crack of Doom.
Dunharrow. A modernisation of Rohan Dunhaerg 'the heathen fane on the
hillside', so-called because this refuge of the Rohirrim at the head of
Harrowdale was on the site of a sacred place of the old inhabitants
(now the Dead Men). The element haerg can be modernised in English
because it remains an element in place-names, notably Harrow (on the
Hill). The word has no connection with harrow the implement. It is the
Old English equivalent of Old Norse hörgr (modern Icelandic hörgur),
Old High German harug. In the language of translation it is best
represented by an approximation to the Rohan form. The Dutch version
Dunharg is satisfactory; the Swedish Dunharva may be suspected of
having taken harrow as the implement (Swedish harv).
Dunland. This contains the English adjective dun 'dark, dusky, dull-
hued'. See III 408.
Dwarrowdelf. For dwarrows = dwarves see III 415. Dwarrowdelf is a
translation of the actual Common Speech name of Moria, Phurunargian,
given an archaic English form, since Phurunargian was already itself
archaic in form. The 'archaism' is not of much importance; the name
should be translated by the same element as that used to translate
Dwarf (or a variety of that) + a word meaning 'mine, digging,
excavation' - for instance German Zwergengrube?
Eastemnet. Rohan; retain it (though it contains east it is not a Common
Speech name, but Rohan for 'east-plain'). Similarly Eastfold (see
Folde).
Eastfarthing. See Farthings.
Elvenhome, Elven Door, Elven River. See Elven-smiths, under Names of
Persons and Peoples.
Entwade, Entwash, Entwood. These are 'modernised' names in the language
of Rohan: Entwaed, Entwaesc, Entwudu. The second elements, waed 'ford',
waesc 'flood-water', wudu 'wood', are given modern English forms
because the Rohan forms were recognisably akin to the words in the
Common Speech: that is, speakers of the Common Speech, especially in
Gondor (where of course the names and geography of Rohan were well-
known), used these forms, assimilated to their own language. The -wade,
-wash, -wood may therefore be translated by sense, especially if the
language of translation contains related elements, as Swedish vad
'ford'. On Ent see that entry.
Ettendales. This is meant to be a Common Speech (not Elvish) name,
though it contains an obsolete element eten 'troll, ogre'. This should
be retained, except in a language which preserves a form of the same
word, as Danish jaette, Swedish jätte, Icelandic jötunn, = Old English
eoten, Middle English eten, English dialect eten, yeten.
Similarly Ettenmoors; moor here has the northern sense of 'high barren
land'.
Farthings. See I 18. This is the same word as English farthing (Old
English feorðing, Middle English ferthing), quarter of a penny; but
used in its original sense 'fourth part, quarter'. This is modelled on
thriding 'third part', still used of the divisions of Yorkshire, with
loss of initial th after the th or t in Northriding, Eastriding,
Westriding. The application to divisions of other measures than money
has long been obsolete in English, and farthing has been used since
early Middle English for 'a negligible amount', so that to English ears
the application to the divisions of the Shire (an area of about 18,000
square miles) is comical. This tone can hardly be reproduced, but
related words could perhaps be used: as Danish fjerding, Swedish
fjärding; or German Viertal (which is applied to 'regions, districts').
Fenmarch. A Rohan name: the fenny (marshy) border-land about the Mering
Stream (map in volume III) forming the boundary of Rohan and Anórien.
This should have been called Fenmark, but since it appears in III 78
and on the map to volume III I have retained it; the meaning of -mark,
or the French form (of Germanic origin) marche, is the same: boundary,
border (land). As a Rohan name use in translation Fenmark.
Firien. A Rohan name representing an old word (Old English firgen,
pronounced firien) for 'mountain'. Compare Halifirien 'holy mount'. As
belonging to the language of Rohan, firien should be retained.
Inconsistently, Firienfeld, the flat upland of Dunharrow, has been left
unmodernised (the Firienfield of the Index is in error), but Firienholt
has been altered to Firienwood, the wood about and on the slopes of the
Halifirien. In translation it would be best to leave both unaltered,
Firienfeld, Firienholt, as being alien (not Common Speech) names.
Folde. A Rohan name, to remain unaltered. The same word occurs in
Eastfold, which should also remain unchanged (compare Eastemnet). This
is Old English folde (Old Norse fold) 'earth, land, country', not
connected either with the English verb fold, or with (sheep) fold.
Compare Vestfold and Østfold in Norway.
The Folde was the centre of the kingdom, in which the royal house and
its kin had their dwellings; its boundary eastward was roughly a line
South-west from the junction of the Snowbourn and Entwash to the
mountains; the Eastfold was the land from that line east to the Fenmark
between Entwash and the mountains; the Westfold was the similar land
along the mountains as far as the River Isen. The defensive centre of
the Folde and Eastfold was at Edoras; of Westfold at Helm's Deep.
Frogmorton. This is not an actual English place-name; but it has the
same element as in Frogmore (Bucking-hamshire): frog + moor + town.
Since this is an intelligible name, it may be translated. Note that
moor/mor has the meaning 'marshy land', as usually in place-names of
southern and midland England.
Gladden Fields. Gladden is here the name for the 'flag' or iris (Old
English glaedene), now usually spelt gladdon, and has no connection
with English glad and the verb gladden. Translate by sense, but avoid
if possible the 'learned' name iris. Similarly in Gladden River, which
flowed into the Gladden Fields.
Golden Perch. An Inn name; probably one favored by anglers. In any case
Perch is the fish-name (and not a land-measure or bird-perch).
Great Smials. See Smials under Things.
From here to the end of G in the Index translate by sense: all the
names are in modern English (= Common Speech). But note: Grimslade,
mentioned in III 124 as the home of Grimbold, killed in battle,
contains Grim (evidently the name of an ancestor) + slade (Old English
slaed, Norwegian dialect slad), widely used in English place-names, and
still in use, mostly with the sense 'forest glade', 'dell' (especially
one on a slope up a hillside).
Halifirien. A Rohan name; retain unaltered. See Firien.
Hallows, The. A Common Speech translation (III 247, 253) of the Gondor
name (not given) for the Sacred Places of the tombs. Translate (if
possible with a word of archaic or poetic tone).
Hardbottle. In the Shire; the home of the Bracegirdles in the North
Farthing (not on the map). -bottle is an English place-name element,
Old English botl, variant of bold (from which modern English build is
derived), meaning '(large) dwelling'; it is not connected with bottle
(glass container). Compare Nobottle on the small Shire-map, which is an
actual place-name in England (Northumberland). Translate by suitable
elements, meaning 'hard dwelling'; 'hard' because excavated in or built
of stone (in the rocky North Farthing). The equivalent and related
element in German place-names is -büttel; in Scandinavian -bol
(especially in Norway).
Harrowdale. See Dunharrow.
Haysend. The end of the hay or boundary-hedge (not hay 'dried grass').
Translate as 'hedge's end'. Compare High Hay.
Helm's Deep, Helm's Dike, Helm's Gate. Helm is the name of a man and
should be retained.
Hill of Guard. Translate, since this is the Common Speech name of Amon
Tirith, the hill on which Minas Tirith was built.
Hoarwell. The Common Speech translation of Mitheithel = 'pale grey' +
'spring, source'; well, as usually in place-names, has this sense (not
that of a deep water-pit). Translate.
Hobbiton. See Hobbit; the village name should be translated by 'hobbit'
and an element meaning 'village'.
Hold. In the Hold of Dunharrow it has the sense 'stronghold, defended
refuge'.
Hollin. The Common Speech name (short for Hollin-land) of the country
called in Elvish Eregion 'Holly-region'. Hollin is an old form, still
used locally, of holly; the region abounded in holly-trees. Translate.
Hornburg, Hornrock. These are so called because of Helm's great horn,
supposed still at times to be heard blowing. Translate.
Irensaga. Rohan; it means 'iron-saw', with reference to its serrated
ridge, crest. It may be left unchanged as an alien name, or translated
(see the next entry).
Isengard and Isenmouthe. These names were intended to represent
translations into the Common Speech of the Elvish names Angrenost and
Carach Angren, but ones made at so early a date that at the period of
the tale they had become archaic in form and their original meanings
were obscured. They can therefore be left unchanged, though translation
(of one or both elements in either name) would be suitable, and I think
desirable when the language of translation is Germanic, possessing
related elements.
Isen is an old variant form in English of iron; gard a Germanic word
meaning 'enclosure', especially one round a dwelling or group of
buildings; and mouthe a derivative of mouth, representing Old English
muða from muð 'mouth') 'opening', especially used of the mouths of
rivers, but also applied to other openings (not parts of a body).
Isengard 'the Iron-court' was so called because of the great hardness
of the stone in that place and especially in the central tower. The
Isenmouthe was so called because of the great fence of pointed iron
posts that closed the gap leading into Udûn, like teeth in jaws (see
III 197, 209).
In the Dutch and Swedish versions Isengard is left unchanged. For
Isenmouthe the Dutch uses Isenmonde, translating or assimilating to
Dutch only the second element (a more complete translation to
Ijzermonde would seem to me better). The Swedish renders it Isensgap,
which is incorrect, since Isen is not a proper name but adjectival.
The gard element appears in Old Norse garðr, whence current or
dialectal Swedish gård, Danish gaard, and English garth (beside the
original English form yard); this, though usually of more lowly
associations (as English farmyard), appears for instance in Old Norse
As-garðr, now widely known as Asgard in mythology. The word was early
lost in German, except in Old High German mittin- or mittil-gart (the
inhabited lands of Men) = Old Norse mið-garðr, and Old English middan-
geard: see Middle-earth. Would not this old element in German form -
gart be suitable for a translation or assimilation to German such as
Eisengart?
Of -mouthe the German equivalent appears to be Mün-dung (or in place-
names -munde); in Scandinavian, Danish munding, Swedish mynning.
Note. Whatever form is used in Isengard must also be used in the name
of the River Isen, since the river-name was derived from Isengard, in
which it had its source.
Lake Evendim. Common Speech version of Nen Uial 'water of twilight'.
Translate by sense: 'evening-dusk/ twilight/gloaming'.
Langstrand. Translation of Anfalas. This is a Common Speech name, so
translate it by sense: 'long strand'. The shortening of long to lang,
very frequent in English place-names, can be disregarded.
Limlight (River). The spelling -light indicates that this is a Common
Speech name; but leave the obscured element lim- unchanged and
translate -light: the adjective light here means 'bright, clear'.
Lockholes. The hobbit version of 'lock-up (house)'; a place of
detention. Translate by sense.
Longbottom. The second element retains its original sense (as locally
and frequently in place-names and derived surnames such as Ramsbottom)
of 'valley' (especially the head or inner end of a valley); related
words are Swedish botten, Danish bund; also German Boden, but this does
not agree closely in sense. Translate by sense.
Lune. An anglicised, that is a hobbit, version of Elvish Lhûn. It is
thus an alien name, and should be retained in the language of
translation, assimilated if required to its spelling of such a sound as
[lun].
Marish. An old form of English marsh. Translate (using if possible a
word or form that is understood but local or out of date).
Mathomhouse. See Mathom under Things.
Mering Stream. This name appears on the map to Volume III: 'Boundary
stream'. (See Fenmarch). Retain Mering as a Rohan word not in the
Common Speech. (Old English maere, mere 'boundary').
Middle-earth. Not a special land, or world, or 'planet', as is too
often supposed, though it is made plain in the prologue, text, and
appendices that the story takes place on this earth and under skies in
general the same as now visible. The sense is 'the inhabited lands of
(Elves and) Men', envisaged as lying between the Western Sea and that
of the Far East (only known in the West by rumour). Middle-earth is a
modern alteration of medieval middel-erde from Old English middan-geard
(see Isengard). The Dutch and Swedish versions correctly use the old
mythological name assimilated to the modern languages: Dutch Midden-
aarde, Swedish Mid-gård.
Midgewater Marshes. Translate by sense. The name was suggested by
Mývatn in Iceland, of the same meaning.
Mirkwood. A name borrowed from ancient Germanic geography and legend,
chiefly preserved in Old Norse myrkviðr, though the oldest recorded
form is Old German mirkiwidu. Not preserved in English, though Mirkwood
is now used to represent Old Norse myrkviðr. Translate by sense, if
possible using elements of poetic or antique tone. The Dutch version
has Demster-wold. The Swedish has Mörkmården, the last part of which I
do not understand, since the only mård known to me is the name of the
fur-animal 'marten' (Danish maar). The translators of Norse mythology
into German or Scandinavian languages must have desired something
better?
Mirrormere. Common Speech translation of Dwarvish Kheledzâram ('glass-
lake'); translate by sense.
Mount Doom. See Doom.
Norbury. Common Speech translation of Forn-ost. The form that Old
English norð-burg would take in modern English place-names, meaning
'north (fortified) town'. Translate by sense, and by related elements
in the language of translation when available. Similarly Nor-land
'(belonging to) the north-lands', in this tale those regions envisaged
in the action north of Rohan. The longer form Northerland (I 390) has
the same reference. Northfarthing: see Farthing.
Over-heaven. Translate by sense. This is a Common Speech equivalent of
Elvish menel 'firmament', tar-menel 'high heaven' (I 247), suggested by
Old Norse upphiminn, and correctly translated Upphimlen in the Swedish
version. The Dutch has Boven-hemel.
Rivendell. 'Cloven-dell'; Common Speech translation of Imladris(t)
'deep dale of the cleft'. Translate by sense, or retain, as seems best.
The Dutch version retains the name as Rivendel; the Swedish version has
Vattnadal, which is incorrect and suggests that the translator thought
that Riven- was related to river.
Rushey. 'Rush-isle'; in origin a 'hard' among the fens of the Marish.
The element -ey, -y in the sense 'small island' (= Swedish ö, Danish ø,
OId Norse ey) is very frequent in English place-names. The German
equivalent is Aue 'river-side land, water-meadow', which would not be
unsuitable in this case.
Sarn Ford. Retain Sarn. The name is a half-translation (of Sarn-athrad
'stony-ford'), a process frequent in place-names. The Elvish Sarn is
also seen in Sarn Gebir.
Scary. A meaningless name in the Shire; but since it was in a region of
caves and rock-holes (III 301), and of a stone-quarry (marked on the
map of the Shire in Volume I) it may be supposed to contain English
dialectal scar 'rocky cliff.' Leave unchanged except as required by the
spelling of the language of translation.
Shire. An organised region with a 'county-town' (in the case of the
hobbits' Shire this was Michel Delving). Since this word is current in
modern English and therefore is in the tale in the Common Speech,
translate it by sense.
Shire, Old English scír, seems very early to have replaced the ancient
Germanic word for a 'district', found in its oldest form in Gothic
gawi, surviving now in Dutch gouw, German Gau. In English, owing to its
reduction to ge (pronounced ye), it survived only in a few old place-
names, the best known of which is Surrey (from Suðer-ge) 'southern
district'. This word would seem the nearest equivalent in antiquity and
general sense to the Shire of the story. The Dutch version uses Gouw;
Gau seems to me suitable in German, unless its recent use in regional
reorganisation under Hitler has spoilt this very old word. In
Scandinavian languages (in which a related word does not exist) some
other (preferably old) word for 'district' or 'province' should be
used. The Swedish version uses Fylki, apparently borrowing the Old
Norse (especially Norwegian) fylki 'district, province'. Actually the
Old Norse and modern Icelandic sýsla (Swedish syssla, Danish syssel,
now obsolete in the sense amt, but occurring in place-names) was in
mind, when I said that the real untranslated name of the Shire was Súza
(III 412); hence it was also said (I 14) that it was so named as 'a
district of well-ordered business'.
Silverlode. Translation of Elvish Celeb-rant. Translate by sense:
silver and lode 'course, water-channel'.
Silvertine. Translation of Elvish Celeb-dil. Translate by sense: silver
and tine 'spike, sharp horn'.
Snowbourn. Modernised form of Rohan (that is, Old English) snawburna.
Either use Snawburna, or in a language possessing related elements
modernise the name to suit it: for instance, Schneebrunnen, Snebrønd,
Snöbrunn.
Staddle. A village-name in Bree. Staddle is now dialectal, but occurs
in place-names with the meaning 'foundation', of buildings, sheds,
ricks, and so forth; from Old English staðol. Use a related equivalent
in the language of translation (if any), such as German Stadel, or
assimilate it to the spelling of the language.
Starkhorn. A mountain-name in Rohan. This may be retained, as a name
not in Common Speech; it meant a horn (peak) 'standing up stiff like a
spike'. The occurrence of stark in German (and Swedish) should make it
sufficiently intelligible. The Dutch version has Sterkhorn, the Swedish
Starkhorn. To an English reader stark now has implications of nakedness
and grimness (not originally present, but due to its application to
rigor mortos in corpses, and to the expression stark-naked), which
would perhaps be better represented in German by starr.
Stonewain Valley. Translate by sense. The Common Speech name of the
long, narrow defile along which the wains (sleds or drays) passed to
and fro from the stone-quarries.
Stoning-land. Represents Rohan Staning (land), a translation of Gondor.
Since this has been modernised (that is accommodated to the forms of
English) use the etymological equivalent of 'stone' in the language of
translation, as sten, stein, for the first element.
Sunlands. Translate by sense. It is evidently meant as a popular name,
in the Common Speech or other languages, current in Gondor and the
North-west for the little known countries of the far South.
Sunlending. This is a translation into the language of Rohan of
Anórien, the name of the land immediately attached to Minas Anor
(originally including that city and inhabited country as far as the
River Erui). It is thus 'heraldic' rather than climatic, and related to
the heraldic names of Elendil's sons Anárion and Isildur, being the
counterpart of Ithilien. It only occurs in the verses (III 77)
purporting to translate the minstrelsy of Rohan, and should be
retained. It might well be spelt (indeed more accurately) Sunnlending,
as in the Swedish version. But the translation in the Dutch, Zuiderleen
'Southern-fief' is erroneous, since the 'southern fiefs', also called
the Outlands, referred to the seaboard lands south of Anórien.
Tarlang's Neck. Translate Neck (as representing Common Speech) and
retain Tarlang. The Swedish version has Tarlangs hals; The Dutch Engte
van Tarlang.
The Neck was a long ridge of rock, over which the road climbed, joining
the main mass of the range to the branch (containing three peaks) which
separated the plain of Erech from Lamedon. Tarlang, originally the name
of this ridge, was later taken as a personal name.
Teeth of Mordor. Translate Teeth of.
Three-farthing Stone. See Farthings. Translate, using whatever word is
adopted to represent farthing.
Tighfield. This is intended to contain an old word for 'rope'
(surviving in some of the senses of the modern English noun tie, in
which the spelling is assimilated to that of the related verb tie). It
was the site of a 'rope-walk' or rope-maker's yard. It would be best
translated by some other word for 'rope' than that used in 'rope-walk'.
Related are Icelandic taug and the word with various forms toug, tov,
tog, in Danish and Norwegian; also nautical German (from Low German)
tou.
Note that English 'rope-walk' seems to have been misunderstood by
translators; certainly the Swedish, with en repbro över älven borta vid
Slättäng. There is no mention of a river in my text (II 217; Swedish II
249). Nor is it easy to see why having a 'rope-bridge' over a river
would beget an inherited knowledge in the family about the nature of
ropes, and their making. The Dutch has touwbrug, which I suspect is
also due to misunderstanding. I do not know the technical equivalent of
'rope-walk' in other languages: dictionaries give German Seilerbahn,
and Danish reberbane, but these also are possibly mistaken? A 'rope-
walk' (known in English since the seventeenth century) is so called
because the ropes were stretched out in long lines over trestles at
intervals.
The Swedish Slättäng and Dutch Weideveld do not, of course, translate
Tighfield as above defined, and are probably mere contextual guesses.
There is, however, another place-name element (peculiar to English)
that has the same forms as the 'rope' word, though it is probably not
related: in modern place-names tigh, teigh, tye, tey. This meant an
enclosed piece of land. It does not occur as the first element in a
compound.
Tindrock. Common speech name (not a translation) of Tol Brandir, the
steep inaccessible island of towering rock at the head of the falls of
Rauros. Though originally Common Speech, the name was given long before
the time of the tale, and contains the old word tind 'spike', which if
it had survived would have rhymed with find. But it now appears as tine
'prong', with loss of d. The Old Norse equivalent was tindr, Old High
German zint. It might be possible to use the latter as an archaic form;
but the current (probably related) German Zinne has precisely the right
sense. Of this Zinne the Swedish equivalent is Tinne, Danish Tind(e) -
which also seem suitable. Tol Brandir should be retained as an Elvish
name.
Tower. All the place-names under Tower(s) in the Index are contemporary
Common Speech translations or author's translations of the Grey-elven
names, and should be translated in those parts that are English.
Treegarth (of Orthanc). On garth see Isengard. Trans-late by sense:
garth is an enclosed space or garden, usually round a central building
(here Orthanc).
Underharrow, See Dunharrow. A hamlet in the valley below the Dunharrow.
Use the same word as that used for harrow ('fane') in Dunharrow.
Upbourn. Up- is used in English place-names for river-side villages far
up the named river (as Upavon in Wiltshire), especially in contrast to
larger places near its mouth, as Upwey above Weymouth. This village was
some way up the Snowbourn above Edoras, but not so far up as
Underharrow. Since the name is given in modernised English form, it may
be translated if that presents no difficulty, or retained in its proper
Rohan form Upburnan.
Watchwood. Translate.
Waymeet. On the map of the Shire in Volume I this appears as Waymoot,
but in the text modernised as Waymeet, a village at the meeting of
three ways. Translate by sense, as convenient.
Weathertop. Translate. It is the Common Speech name of the hill called
in Grey-elven Amon Sûl 'Hill of the Wind'.
Wellinghall. Treebeard's translation into the Common Speech of ('part
of') the name of his dwelling. Translate. The intended sense is 'hall
(under or behind) the outflow of the spring.'
Westemnet. Rohan: emnet 'flat-land, plain', equivalent of Danish
slette; and of German Ebene (to which it is related). Retain, as not
being a Common Speech name; but West- may be respelt (for example with
V) in a language that does not use W, since the word for West was the
same or similar in the Common Speech and in the language of Rohan.
Westernesse. The Common Speech name of Númenor (which means 'West-
land'). It is meant to be western + ess, an ending used in partly
francized names of 'romantic' lands, as Lyonesse, or Logres (England in
Arthurian Romance). The name actually occurs in the early romance King
Horn, of some kingdom reached by ship. Translate by some similar
invention containing West- or its equivalent. The Swedish version has
Västerness, the Dutch Westernisse.
Westfarthing. See Farthings.
Westfold. See Folde.
Westmarch (in the Shire). Translate. March means 'borderland'.
West Marches (in Rohan). This is given in Common Speech form and may be
translated as 'the West(ern) Borderlands': in Rohan the land bordering
the Isen.
Wetwang. Common Speech translation of Nindalf (Grey-elven nîn 'wet' +
talf 'flat field'). But it is in archaic form, wang being an old word
for 'field, flat area'. (Wetwang is an actual place-name in Yorkshire).
Both elements should be translated. In Scandinavian languages the
equivalents of both wet and wang are found: Icelandic votur and vangur;
Swedish våt and vång; Danish vaad and vang. The Dutch version retains
Wetwang, though Natwang would have been better; the Swedish has Våta
vägen, which is not the meaning, and is quite unsuitable: the Wetwang
was a pathless fen. Wang did not survive in Dutch, or in German (except
in place-names or dialect). German Wange, Dutch wang 'cheek' is a
different (but related) word.
Whitfurrows (in the Shire). Translate by sense, whit- being the usual
shortening of white in personal names (Whitlock) and local names
(Whitley). Compare Whitfoot. Similarly Whitwell in the Shire (an actual
English place-name). The reference in English place-names is usually to
the colour of the soil.
Wilderland. An invention (not actually found in English), based on
wilderness (originally meaning country of wild creatures, not inhabited
by Men), but with a side-reference to the verbs wilder 'wander astray'
and bewilder. It is supposed to be the Common Speech name of Rhovanion
(on the map, not in the text), the lands east of the Misty Mountains
(including Mirkwood) as far as the River Running. The Dutch version has
Wilderland: Dutch has wildernis, but not German or the Scandinavian
languages (German Wildnis, Danish vildnis).
Withywindle. River-name in the Old Forest, intended to be in the
language of the Shire. It was a winding river bordered by willows
(withies). Withy- is not uncommon in English place-names, but -windle
does not actually occur (Withywindle was modelled on withywind, a name
of the convolvulus or bindweed). An invention of suitable elements in
the language of translation would be desirable. Very good is the Dutch
version Wilgewinde (with wilg = English willow). I do not understand
the Swedish version Vittespring. Words related to withy are found in
the Scandinavian languages; related also is German Weide.
 Things
Few of the entries in this section of the Index require comment, since
they are either in alien (especially Elvish) languages, or simply in
modern English (= Common Speech) and require normal translation.
Elder Days. This is naturally taken by English readers to mean 'older'
(that is, former), but with an archaic flavour, since this original
form of the comparative is now only applied to persons, or used as a
noun in Elders (seniors). In inventing the expression I intended this,
as well as association with the poetic word eld 'old age, antiquity'. I
have since (recently) come across the expression in early English be
eldern dawes 'in the days of our forefathers, long ago'. This, meaning
'Days of the Seniors', might help in devising a translation that is not
just the equivalent of 'the older days'. The Swedish version has simply
i Äldre tiden; the Dutch de Oude Tid (less correctly, since this would
naturally also apply to the other ages before the Third).
The similarity to Eldar, plural of Elda 'Elf', is accidental and
unintentional. Elda is the Quenya form of the Grey-elven word edhel.
See Elder Kindred. Elven-. With regard to this old adjectival form, see
Elven-smiths.
Evermind. A flower-name, translation of Rohan simbelmynë. The element -
mind has the sense 'memory'; the name thus resembles 'forget-me-not',
but a quite different kind of flower is intended: an imagined variety
of anemone, growing in turf like Anemone pulsatilla, the pasque-flower,
but smaller and white like the wood anemone. Translate by sense. The
Swedish and Dutch versions both omit the element -mind, and so produce
names equivalent to 'everlasting flower', which is not the point.
Though the plant bloomed at all seasons, its flowers were not
'immortelles'. (The Swedish has evighetsblommor, the Dutch Immerdaar).
Ithilstone. Translate the second element -stone.
Kingsfoil. Translate: -foil (from Old French foil) = 'leaf', as in
English plant-names such as cinquefoil. Only the leaf of asëa was
valued.
Lithe. The former and later Lithe (Old English líða) were the old names
for June and July respectively. All the month-names in the Shire
Calendar are (worn-down) forms of the Old English names. In the Hobbit
Calendar (the) Lithe was the middle-day (or 183rd day) of the year (see
Appendix D). Since all Hobbit month-names are supposed not to be Common
Speech, but conservative survivals from their former language before
migration, it would be best to keep Lithe unaltered-as would be
necessary with the other calendar names in any translation of the
Appendices. The Dutch version keeps Lithe. (The word was peculiar to
English and no related calendar word is found elsewhere). The Swedish
version rewrites the passage (I 19) '. . . who was elected every seven
years at the Free Fair on the White Downs at the Lithe, that is at
Midsummer': Han valdes vart sjunde år vid midsommarvakan uppe pä
kritklipporna i sommarsolståndets natt. This, besides omitting the
'Free Fair' and misrendering the 'White Downs' as the 'chalk cliffs',
misrepresents the passage and the customs plainly alluded to. It was
not a night festival or 'wake', but a day-celebration marked by a 'Free
Fair' (Dutch version Vrije Markt), so called because anyone who wished
could set up a booth without charge. The translator has assimilated the
passage to the Scandinavian summer-solstice festival, christianised in
name by association with St. John the Baptist's day (June 24), which
occurred at more or less the right date (Icelandic Jónsvaka, Jónsmessa,
Danish Sankthansnat, Skaersommernat). But the affair was not a
Midsummer Night's Dream! See Yule.
Longbottom Leaf. See Longbottom, under Place-names.
Mathom. Leave unchanged; it is not Common Speech, but a word peculiar
to hobbits (compare Smials, and see III 414). The meaning is defined in
I 14 as 'anything that Hobbits had no immediate use for, but were
unwilling to throw away'. It represents Old English máðm 'precious
thing, treasure'.
Old Toby. A variety of tobacco, named after Tobold Hornblower. Use
whatever equivalent of Toby is used for the personal name (I 17).
Old Winyards. A wine-but of course in fact a place-name, meaning 'the
Old Vineyards'. Winyard is actually preserved as a place-name in
England, descending from Old English before the assimilation to French
and Latin vin-. This cannot, I think, be imitated, and one must remain
content with the word for 'vineyard' in the language of translation, as
weingarten, vingaard, and so on. The Dutch version has Oude
Wijngaarden. The Swedish, for no obvious reason (unless failure to
recognise Winyards as a relative of vingård), simply omits the name.
Púkel-men. A Rohan name for the effigies of men of a vanished race. It
represents Old English púcel (still surviving as puckle), one of the
forms of the puk- stem (widespread in England, Wales, Ireland, Norway
and Iceland) referring to a devil, or to a minor sprite such as Puck,
and often applied to ugly misshapen persons. The púkel-men are
adequately described, and the element púkel may be retained-or replaced
by some word of similar (possibly related) form and sense. The Dutch
version has de Púkel-mensen, the Swedish Pukel-männen.
Rope-walk. Not in the Index, but it occurs in II 217 as a technical
name for a rope-maker's yard; see Tighfield.
Smials. A word peculiar to hobbits (not Common Speech), meaning
'burrow'; leave unchanged. It is a form that the Old English word
smygel 'burrow' might have had, if it had survived. The same element
appears in Gollum's real name, Sméagol. See III 414-5.
Springle-ring. An invention; render it by a similar one suitable to the
language of translation, implying a vigorous ring-dance in which
dancers often leaped up.
Tale in Tale of Years means 'counting', 'reckoning'.
Westmansweed. Translate, as a Common Speech rendering of 'herb of the
Men of the West' (of Westernesse, Númenor),
Yule. The midwinter counterpart of Lithe. It only occurs in The Lord of
the Rings in Appendix D, and 'Midwinter' only occurs once during the
main narrative. The midwinter festival was not an Elvish custom, and so
would not have been celebrated in Rivendell. The fellowship, however,
left on December 25, which had then no significance, since the Yule, or
its equivalent, was then the last day of the year and the first of the
next year. But December 25 (setting out) and March 25 (accomplishment
of the quest) were intentionally chosen by me.
In translation, Yule should like Lithe be treated as an alien word not
generally current in the Common Speech. It should therefore be
retained, though with a spelling suitable to the language of
translation: so for example in Danish or German spelt Jule. Yule is
found in modern English (mostly as a literary archaism), but this is an
accident, and cannot be taken to imply that a similar or related word
was also found in the Common Speech at that time: the hobbit calendar
differed throughout from the official Common Speech calendars. It may,
however, be supposed that a form of the same word had been used by the
Northmen who came to form a large part of the population of Gondor (III
328), and was later in use in Rohan, so that some word like Yule was
well known in Gondor as a 'northern name' for the midwinter festival;
somewhat like the appearance in modern German of Jul (as a loan from
the North?), in such words as Julblock 'Yule-log' and Julklapp (as in
Swedish and similarly in Danish). In Scandinavia, of course Jule would
be well understood.
-- fine copia
Ciao
-- 
Mandos

 Sperando di far cosa grata a molti,
[straaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap]
O_______O
OTTANTUNO Kb di roba?
Gasp!
Forse avresti dovuto spezzarla un po', non trovi?
--
Kralizec il Sommo Faltyn
- Oh oh! Mi e' scappata una porretta! -

Forse avresti dovuto spezzarla un po', non trovi?
Mamma mia Faltyn, stai sempre a lamentarti! :-pppp
-- 
L' elfo Agaler Layenel, di Bosco Atro.
" Io rappresento il Bene e combattero' il Male fino alla fine del Mondo "
IAFo #142/IHGGer #1034/IHGGerD #22/IFeSToso #79
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