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

Narnangol · 08-08-2011, 06:27 PM

I've heard many people say it many ways - ranging from Tol-kuhn and Tol-kin to a very dubious Tole-key-yunn from my friend, which prompted this thread.

What have you heard, and what do you say?

Galadriel55 · 08-08-2011, 07:22 PM

I heard people say it "Tol-keen", "Tall-kin", "Tolkayn", and even "that guy who wrote the books you always carry around".

I pronounce it "Tolki-en", with the stress on TOL. Or, if it will be easier to understand this way, TOLkeeyen. So I would probably fall under your category of dubiousness.

Narnangol · 08-08-2011, 08:23 PM

Haha, no, yours is fine.

The pronunciation I called dubious had the emphasis on the last syllable. Is that not a bit strange? TolkiEN instead of TOLkien. I see differing pronunciations of it everywhere, including those you listed, because one of the Houses at my school is named after JRRT. You see people who have never heard of him before (I know!) staring at the crest on their uniform, wondering what to say.

Sometimes it seems people are unsure how to pronounce it and simply say 'the guy who wrote The Lord of the Rings' or something to that effect. I too have gotten 'you know, that one you sometimes go on about'.

On a similar note, I have also heard Numenor sans the 'oo', as in Numb-enor.

Galadriel55 · 08-09-2011, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narnangol

On a similar note, I have also heard Numenor sans the 'oo', as in Numb-enor.

That's nothing. Some people say "sore-'n" for Sauron.

Narnangol · 08-09-2011, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

That's nothing. Some people say "sore-'n" for Sauron.

Ah, Sore-on. Probably the worst when it comes to character names, yes? I just don't see how people mess that one up.
And I do hate it when some can't even distinguish between one character and another - how many times have we heard Dumbledore for Gandalf?

Bom Tombadillo · 08-09-2011, 11:34 AM

I used to pronounce it Tol-keen, but I've since been coerced by a relative who insists that it's a long I and the E is silent (if that's the proper way to describe it; I don't really know).

Narnangol · 08-09-2011, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bom Tombadillo

I used to pronounce it Tol-keen, but I've since been coerced by a relative who insists that it's a long I and the E is silent (if that's the proper way to describe it; I don't really know).

A long 'i' and silent e? Wouldn't that still make it Tol-keen? Or Tol-kine?

Do you mean Tol-kin? That's how I say it.

Galadriel55 · 08-09-2011, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narnangol

Haha, no, yours is fine. The pronunciation I called dubious had the emphasis on the last syllable. Is that not a bit strange? TolkiEN instead of TOLkien.

I tried to say that and couldn't. It just didn't work. I asked someone else to read it the way you wrote it. They also failed ("how the hell do you say that?" reaction). I know theoretically how TolkiEN would sound like, but I just can't say it. How does your friend do it? He must be a linguistic miracle!

Pronouncing it as TolkiYEN makes it sound Chinese (probably because all my failed attempts at pronouncing it turn it into Toukyan

). And Tolkeen/Tolkin - Slavic. And the Tolkayn that I mentioned - German (maybe because of the -ein endings?).

I also happened to be part of a little boring story regarding the name. In Russia, the Professor is known as TOLki-en. However, a copy of an obscure translation of one of his books put down his name on the front cover as TOLkeen/TOLkin (this is a poor effort to recount the pronounciation...). One of the Russian people I know asked me upon seeing the book who on earth wrote it, since the name sounded like a Russian last name, but the photo on the front was Tolkien's.

Eruhen · 08-09-2011, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

That's nothing. Some people say "sore-'n" for Sauron.

AHH! AHH! Flashbacks to Rankin/Bass!

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

In all seriousness, though, I say TOLK-in. Though, I hear that he pronounced it TOLK-een. Take from that what you will.

Narnangol · 08-10-2011, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

One of the Russian people I know asked me upon seeing the book who on earth wrote it, since the name sounded like a Russian last name, but the photo on the front was Tolkien's.

Hahahaha!

Well, the place a person's from does seem to have an effect. Most people I know say Tolkin/ken but the prevalent pronunciation across the pond seems to be Tolkeeyen/Tolkeen. Is that right?

The name itself is of Germanic origin, isn't it? Tol-kayn sounds German but it just doesn't sound right.

As for my friend, I think that was a slip. He was speaking fast and it just came out.

Eruhen, that was similar to my response to Sore-'n, if less zealous. Must watch that movie again, just for the giggles! Remember 'Aruman'?

Bom Tombadillo · 08-10-2011, 11:09 AM

Tol-kine, that's it.

Galadriel55 · 08-10-2011, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narnangol

Hahahaha!

Well, the place a person's from does seem to have an effect. Most people I know say Tolkin/ken but the prevalent pronunciation across the pond seems to be Tolkeeyen/Tolkeen. Is that right?

I can't say for sure about North America, since the only people that know about Tolkien that I've met are Russian. (

) I can say that where I'm originally from (which is Russia, and I think that some other European countries near by might also be included) he's known as Tolkeeyen.

Tolkayn sounds like cocaine. Me no like that.

Narnangol · 08-10-2011, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bom Tombadillo

Tol-kine, that's it.

TOLKINE?

I am sure that's not the way to say it.

Mithalwen · 08-10-2011, 12:25 PM

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

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

Galadriel55 · 08-10-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

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

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

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

Narnangol · 08-10-2011, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

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

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

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

Faramir Jones · 08-10-2011, 03:32 PM

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

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

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

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

08-08-2011, 06:27 PM	#1
Narnangol Animated Skeleton Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Hall of Fire Posts: 42	How do YOU pronounce 'Tolkien'? I've heard many people say it many ways - ranging from Tol-kuhn and Tol-kin to a very dubious Tole-key-yunn from my friend, which prompted this thread. What have you heard, and what do you say? __________________ A box without hinges, key, or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid.

08-08-2011, 07:22 PM	#2
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,408	I heard people say it "Tol-keen", "Tall-kin", "Tolkayn", and even "that guy who wrote the books you always carry around". I pronounce it "Tolki-en", with the stress on TOL. Or, if it will be easier to understand this way, TOLkeeyen. So I would probably fall under your category of dubiousness. __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera Last edited by Galadriel55; 08-08-2011 at 07:34 PM.

08-08-2011, 08:23 PM	#3
Narnangol Animated Skeleton Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Hall of Fire Posts: 42	Haha, no, yours is fine. The pronunciation I called dubious had the emphasis on the last syllable. Is that not a bit strange? TolkiEN instead of TOLkien. I see differing pronunciations of it everywhere, including those you listed, because one of the Houses at my school is named after JRRT. You see people who have never heard of him before (I know!) staring at the crest on their uniform, wondering what to say. Sometimes it seems people are unsure how to pronounce it and simply say 'the guy who wrote The Lord of the Rings' or something to that effect. I too have gotten 'you know, that one you sometimes go on about'. On a similar note, I have also heard Numenor sans the 'oo', as in Numb-enor. __________________ A box without hinges, key, or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid. Last edited by Narnangol; 08-08-2011 at 08:35 PM.

08-09-2011, 11:34 AM	#6
Bom Tombadillo Wight Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Behind you . . . . BOO! Posts: 222	I used to pronounce it Tol-keen, but I've since been coerced by a relative who insists that it's a long I and the E is silent (if that's the proper way to describe it; I don't really know). __________________ 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

08-10-2011, 11:09 AM	#11
Bom Tombadillo Wight Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Behind you . . . . BOO! Posts: 222	Tol-kine, that's it. __________________ 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

08-10-2011, 12:25 PM	#14
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,458	I am fairly sure it is Toll-keen though until I heard the radio adaptation I thought it was Tol-key-enn. A good clue is his nickname was Tollers not Tolkers. However I must admit in my desire to get to the stories I neglected the pronunciation guides and it took a very long time to overwrite Sore-on and Seleborn and even when the blessed BBC version cured those, I am still not a hundred percent on Kir-dan - he was Sir Dan for too long... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

08-10-2011, 03:32 PM	#17
Faramir Jones Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lonely Isle Posts: 706	From the 'Letters' Here's what the Professor said about his surname, in one of his letters of 1955: My name is TOLKIEN (not -kein). (Letters, Letter 165, p. 218.) In another letter, of 4-5 June 1971, Tolkien talked about Jewish names, saying that 'We now associate Jewish names largely with German, and with a colloquial Yiddish that is predominantly German in origin'. To that sentence he added this footnote: Possibly the reason why my surname is now usually misspelt TOLKEIN in spite of all my efforts to correct this - even by my college-, bank-, and lawyer's clerks! My name is Tolkien, anglicized from To(l)kiehn = tollkühn, and came from Saxony in the 18th century. It is not Jewish in origin, though I should consider it an honour if it were. (Ibid., Letter 324, p. 410.)