LOTR in Other Languages

[Jonathan]

Three rings for the elf kings' power up in the blue,
seven for the dwarf counts in the halls of stone,
nine for the mortals, who the road of the flesh shall go,
one for the lord of the darkness in the dim light of the evil
in the giddy mine of the Mordorland.

One ring to unify them,
one ring to promote them,
one ring to deep in the wide country
of the darkness tame them -
in the land of Mordor where the shadows brood...

This is a direct translation from the Swedish version of LotR. Those Entmoot members who have read LotR in another language than English, you are welcome to post your language's versions of different LotR quotes.

[Shadowfax]

Originally posted by Jonathan
This is a direct translation from the Swedish version of LotR.

I'm glad you pointed out that that's a direct translation, because often when one translates things word for word, directly, it doesn't make much sense in another language. I know this first-hand, because I know a lot of French. So yeah, that's interesting to see what the Swedish means when you translate it directly, but I'm pretty sure that if you're Swedish and you read that it seems closer to the English. (like does it *really* mean "in the giddy mine of the Mordorland"?) I hope people understand what I'm trying to say; this post doesn't seem to make much sense, although, I tried.

[azalea]

So is it because there is no Swedish word for "find," for instance, which I find hard to believe, or is it done for rhyming purposes?

[Earniel]

"nine for the mortals, who the road of the meat shall go,"

the road of the meat?

rather hilarious IMO.

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by azalea
So is it because there is no Swedish word for "find," for instance, which I find hard to believe, or is it done for rhyming purposes?

Of course there is a Swedish word for "find" It's just that throughout the books, the Swedish translator has altered the poems and quotes to make them look better in Swedish. You could say it is done for rhyming purposes, yes.

[Artanis]

*not smiling anymore but rotfl*
Jonathan, I see your point. I'm very curious, could you please PM me the Swedish version? I must know where you get the word 'meat' from. In the Norwegian version it says 'kjød', which is something different. And 'giddy mine'? And those poor Elf kings 'up in the blue'.

Direct translations are truly hilarious.

[Falagar]

PM one to me too then! This I must see...

[Dúnedain]

Heck with pm'ing it, post it! lol, the road of meat rules!!! LOL

[Jonathan]

There seems to be a great demand for a Swedish version of the "One ring to rule them all"-quote. Here it comes

Tre ringar för alvkungar högt i det blå, (up in the blue)
sju för dvärgarnas furstar i salarna av sten,
nio för de dödliga som köttets väg ska gå, (the road of the meat)
en för Mörkrets herre i ondskans dunkla sken
i Mordorlandets hisnande gruva. (giddy mine)
En ring att sämja dem,
en ringa tt främja dem,
en ring att djupt i mörkrets vida riken tämja dem -
i Mordors land, där skuggorna ruva...

"Up in the blue" should maybe have been "high in the blue".

Artanis, I believe that the Norwegian word "kjød" and the Swedish word "kött" have the same meaning.
Instead of "the road of the meat", I should maybe have written "the road/way of the flesh".

About the "giddy mine", I didn't know which word to use. Maybe it should be "dizzy" or "vertigious". I lack sufficient knowledge of English to choose the right word

Hey, you Norwegian guys! Can't you post the Norwegian version of the same text? I believe that the Norwegian version ressembels the original text more than the Swedish one, I think that there are fewer adjustments in the Norwegian text.

[Artanis]

Sure!

"Tre ringer for alvene under det blå;
sju er for dvergene i saler av sten;
ni for menn som all kjødets gang må gå.
Men for Mørkets Herre en eneste én
i det dunkle Mordor hvor skyggene rår.
Én ring skal samle dem, én Ring finne dem,
én Ring betvinge dem og i mørket binde dem
i det dunkle Mordor hvor skyggene rår."

Artanis, I believe that the Norwegian word "kjød" and the Swedish word "kött" have the same meaning. Instead of "the road of the meat", I should maybe have written "the road/way of the flesh".

Yes, but the swedish word "kött" does also really mean meat, doesn't it?

[Dúnedain]

I really don't know why, but the whole "road of meat" thing keeps cracking me up, lol!!

[Jonathan]

Wow, I liked the Norwegian version

Originally posted by Artanis
Yes, but the swedish word "kött" does also really mean meat, doesn't it?

"Kött" means both flesh and meat. Doesn't the Norwegian word "kjød" also mean flesh and meat? Is there a different Norwegian word for "flesh"?

[Artanis]

kjød = flesh
kjøtt = meat

[Jonathan]

kjød, kjøtt... Big difference, why have two separate words when you could have only one of them?

[Artanis]

This is really unbelievable! We're discussing swedish and norwegian words - in English! LOL!

[Jonathan]

Jeg kan ikke og liker ikke å snakke norsk, so I speak English instead

[Artanis]

Originally posted by Jonathan
Jeg kan ikke og liker ikke å snakke norsk

That statement is a proof against the first part of the same statement.

Jag är formögligen ennu verre till at prata svenska

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by Artanis
Jag är formögligen ennu verre till at prata svenska

Well, it was a very nice try. Any Swede would understand your Swedish.
Hey, I should try reading LotR in Norwegian someday, that might be fun

[Artanis]

Thanks.

No, I don't think you should read it in Norwegian, you should read it in English, if you haven't already done so. My guess is that you will get a different feeling of the book. The 'flavour' of the language in the original version is not easily translated into Norwegian, and I don't think the Norwegian translation is very good in that respect. But maybe the Swedish translation is better.

[Jonathan]

I haven't read LotR in English, so I have nothing to compare the Swedish version to. But you're right, I should read the books in their original language.