(J. R. R.) Tolkien

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Jack-in-the-box

#35289 Thu, 01 Jul 04 03:10 PM

What is the correct pronunciation of the writer's surname? (I mean the author of "The lord of the rings", of course.)

Is it "tòlkiin" or "tolkìin" (in other words: is the first or the last syllable stressed)?

Perhaps some people with this surname call themselves "tòlkiin" and other people "tolkìin": is that true? But, do you know how he used to pronounce himself?

Thank you very much.

Jack-in-the-box

Joined on Thu, Jul 1 2004

Italy

Junior Member (84)

Pronunciation

Jack-in-the-box

#35384 Thu, 01 Jul 04 11:27 PM

I understand that it's difficult to know how J. R. R. Tolkien himself pronounced his surname.

But I hope that somebody from London or south-east England will be so kind as to tell me how this name is commonly pronounced there.

Thank you in advance.

Jack-in-the-box

#35486 Fri, 02 Jul 04 12:24 PM

Please, help me!

I need this piece of information.

Thank you.

Jack-in-the-box

Novalee

#35505 Fri, 02 Jul 04 04:54 PM

Hi Jack-in-the-box,
I'm not from England but I'm quite sure the stress is on the first syllable. Let's see if someone else can confirm this.
See you Wink [;)]

Novalee

Joined on Fri, Jun 11 2004

Full Member (104)

miriam

#35572 Sat, 03 Jul 04 04:42 AM

I've just checked my "English Pronouncing Dictionary" and was surprised to find there that Tolkien can take the stress either on the first or the second syllable. The option with the srtress on the first syllable, though, appears in the dictionary as the most commonly used form.

Hope it helps.

Miriam

miriam

Joined on Mon, May 10 2004

Argentina

Regular Member (821)

"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." Plato

Novalee

#35685 Sat, 03 Jul 04 09:29 PM

Miriam, thanks for clarifying this. I was surprised too when I read that it's possible to pronounce 'Tolkien' with the stress on the second syllable. Well, I guess we always learn something new every day. Wink [;)]

Novalee

miriam

#35727 Sun, 04 Jul 04 06:31 AM

Hi, Novalee! Smile [:)]

I agree that we learn something new every day.
To me personally, since I'm not a native speaker of English, the help and the information I find in these forums are priceless.

Regards,

Miriam

miriam

Regards

Jack-in-the-box

#36309 Wed, 07 Jul 04 05:29 PM

Anyway, it seems that he's commonly referred to (in Britain) as "tòlkiin", with the stress on the first syllable. Is that true?

Thank you very much for answering me. I find this forum very useful and interesting, too.

Jack-in-the-box