Elderly Swedish Lady 'violated by Dwarf'.

[davem]

'Noble' Swede: Hobbit dwarf stole my name

A woman in eastern Sweden wants to take legal action after film officials translated the name of a dwarf in The Hobbit into her own “noble” Swedish name.

Yvonne Ekenskjöld is unimpressed.

The new Peter Jackson blockbuster, The Hobbit – An Unexpected Journey, has a dwarf with her name - at least according to the Swedish subtitles.

Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the dwarves in the film based on the J.R.R. Tolkien novel, becomes Torin Ekenskölde in Swedish, a name far too similar to her own according to the 68-year-old Katerineholm resident.

“She’s suggesting that we have used a Swedish noble name in our translation,” Stefan Klockby, information head of the Swedish Film Institute told The Local.

“It’s not a noble family name anymore though; that family died out 200 years ago. We’re not really sure what she’s talking about - she’s claiming that her name is special and it's only her family that can use it.”

However, Ekenskjöld is furious over the prospect of sharing her name with a bearded and officious dwarf leader.

“It’s like a slap in the face. I don’t think our name should be associated with fairytale figures. I actually feel violated, and it’s offensive that they didn’t even bother to call and ask if it was alright,” Ekenskjöld told the Aftonbladet newspaper. http://www.thelocal.se/45144/20121218/

[Morsul the Dark]

wait we can sue over this? Tom Cruise get ready looking at you "Jerry Maguire"!

[Galadriel55]

So I can sue any real or fictional character who has my name? Splendid!

[davem]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

So I can sue any real or fictional character who has my name? Splendid!

Only if you feel 'violated'.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

So will Santa Claus be suing Futurama for Robot Santa?

[Aganzir]

I want to be violated by a dwarf too!

[Mithalwen]

I wonder what the Swedish edition of the Hobbit has used all these years?

There is a rising actress with my name. I am hoping she gets really famous so I will get free upgrades and the like by mistake..

[Morthoron]

The Swedish woman should change her name to Adolf Hitler. Problem solved. No one will take the name.

[Thinlómien]

This is ridiculous. Just how cool would it be to share a name with a Tolkien character?! As a teenager I was kind of envious of a guy who went to our school because his name was something translatable as "Barliman Warg". (Well, maybe it sounds a little funny but it's a Tolkien reference!)

Besides, given Thorin's new portrayal in the films, I'm pretty sure there are tons of ladies out there who wouldn't mind being called Mrs Oakenshield!

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

Besides, given Thorin's new portrayal in the films, I'm pretty sure there are tons of ladies out there who wouldn't mind being called Mrs Oakenshield!

Indeed. Heck, even I wouldn't.

If it was being called, say, "Mrs Pokémon", it would have been something different, although... although again, a real-life person with such a name could blame only herself... or her parents.

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

Indeed. Heck, even I wouldn't.

Darling, is there something you haven't told me?

Anyway, quite agreed. Come on, Oakenshield is pretty obscure anyway, it's not like she's called Baggins. (Or just imagine how it must feel for the dozens of Harry Potters out there. They're probably all going: "Geez, thanks a lot J.K. Rowling!")

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

I want to be violated by a dwarf too!

Why is this thread continuing when it has already reached its logical conclusion.

[davem]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

(Or just imagine how it must feel for the dozens of Harry Potters out there. They're probably all going: "Geez, thanks a lot J.K. Rowling!")

From the village where I used to live - & yes, his first name is Harry. And no, he really wasn't happy about the books/films. Don't think he ever considered legal action though.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Hookbill the Goomba

Why is this thread continuing when it has already reached its logical conclusion.

Threads going past their logical conclusion are a hallmark of The Barrow Downs. In fact, dead threads that have reached their logical conclusion years ago are often resurrected simply so folks can pontificate further!

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

Besides, given Thorin's new portrayal in the films, I'm pretty sure there are tons of ladies out there who wouldn't mind being called Mrs Oakenshield!

Richard Armitage has legions of female fans called the Armitage Army and is first choice on my ever opimistic Christmas list (ideally in Lucas North mode) again this year.. But even he and Hugo Weaving to whom I have been devoted sine I was thirteen have not lured me to the cinema.

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Richard Armitage has legions of female fans called the Armitage Army and is first choice on my ever opimistic Christmas list (ideally in Lucas North mode) again this year.. But even he and Hugo Weaving to whom I have been devoted sine I was thirteen have not lured me to the cinema.

The movie has plenty of epic Richard Armitage (although he has a beard which might be a turn-off for you if I recall correctly) and Hugo Weaving is so much better(-looking) than in LotR. I think you'd enjoy it (regardless of Radagast's bunnies, prolonged actions scenes and general stupidity).

Anyway, more in the line of the original topic, I don't understand how can that woman complain especially as Thorin's name is spelt (and pronounced) differently than hers. And it seems (first time I google stuff in Swedish! be proud of me, fellow 'downers!) there are three translations of The Hobbit into Swedish (from 1947, 1962 and 2007) and apparently at least in the 1962 translation Thorin is called Ekenskölde. So this lady's complaints are at least 60 years outdated!

Aha, and now I checked even the article davem linked says:

According to Klockby, the translation actually appeared as early as 1947 when the book was first released in Swedish. Furthermore, he claimed the woman is not even a true Ekenskjöld.

“We found out that this woman wasn't originally named Ekenskjöld - she just made it her name ten years or so ago," he told The Local.

“We don't know where this will go or what will happen next, we have told her to contact our lawyers for now.”

The Hobbit, first published in 1937, has been translated into Swedish three times, most recently in 2007 by Erik Andersson.

The first translation was completed in 1947 by Tore Zetterholm and was titled Hompen eller En resa dit och tillbaks igen however Tolkien, who had a keen interest in Scandinavian languages, didn't like the translation and considered it to have been too liberal.

Quite ridiculous.

[Mithalwen]

Oh I'd hate far more than that given I loathed Gandalf and Gollum ad the music in the first lot. But it is moot for now since I can't watch 3d or sit in acinema seat so long...but certainly prefer TDMA shaved and shorn.