Public Research: First read - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

HerenIstarion · 01-31-2006, 01:14 AM

Part of Public Research Project. The main question being: what language you've read Tolkien in first? Was it English or your mothertongue or some other tranlation that hooked you in? Did you come to learn English because of Tolkien? etc...

edit: Of course, if English is your mothertongue, you put it down to English. The other two options by definition mean 'if other than English' (as I suppose cases for native English speakers of reading Tolkien in, say, Japanese would be rare) /end of edit.

This poll is public

Formendacil · 01-31-2006, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HerenIstarion

Part of Public Research Project. The main question being: what language you've read Tolkien in first? Was it English or your mothertongue or some other tranlation that hooked you in? Did you come to learn English because of Tolkien? etc...

This poll is public

But English IS my mothertongue!

Just kidding... I put down English...

But it still IS my mothertongue...

Farael · 01-31-2006, 01:53 AM

I am yet to read Tolkien's work in English... I have started, but at the time I was FINSIHING a re-read in Spanish and so finishing it up took precedense over starting it all over again

I must say, at least with the Spanish translation I have, while whoever translated it did an excelent job overall, there are things that just can't be translated... from the little bit I read of his work, it really is much better in English. As well the songs and general poetry in the books were translated into Spanish but not re-arranged so that they rhymed what so ever... and thus all the songs (that are quite beautiful in English) are an eyesore.

Still, it is an overal great work of translation...

Kath · 01-31-2006, 10:09 AM

HI, this is perhaps a stupid question, but what if your mothertongue is English?

HerenIstarion · 01-31-2006, 11:06 AM

It will obviously lead to common good if people start reading opening posts of the poll-threads, not only polls, as introductions usually tend to contain some commentary upon the subject

Kath · 01-31-2006, 02:10 PM

My apologies, read the post when it first went up and didn't reread after the edit. Brain is now in gear.

Lhunardawen · 02-01-2006, 01:10 AM

I'll be darned if there ever is a Filipino translation of any Tolkien book...and I pity the translator. (Don't get me wrong, I mean that Filipino is a complicated language, and translating LotR, let's say, in Filipino would be a hard job.)

Besides, despite being Filipino for the most part, English is my first written language.

Holbytlass · 02-13-2006, 06:42 PM

The more I participate in these polls, the more boring I seem!

English-just English

Glirdan · 02-13-2006, 06:46 PM

Well, I live in Canada and the main language is English. Can you put two and two together?

Mind you, I wouldn't mind reading LotR in French. I just need to find one...

the guy who be short · 02-14-2006, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunar

I'll be darned if there ever is a Filipino translation of any Tolkien book...and I pity the translator. (Don't get me wrong, I mean that Filipino is a complicated language, and translating LotR, let's say, in Filipino would be a hard job.)

I am in agreement with you, Lhuna. I doubt anybody would ever bother translating LotR into Gujarati, simply because it would be so annoying, difficult to translate, and pointless (I doubt think many Gujarati's would be much enamoured by British Fantasy).

Even if they did, I'm long past being able to read it...

Though I must say, it looks quite Tengwar-y to me, so I'm quite fond of it. I think it's the way vowels are placed above and below letters that does it.

Edit: Eventually I want to read LotR in French.

Guinevere · 02-17-2006, 04:45 PM

I've first read it in English, although that isn't my mothertongue. (That's because I discovered Tolkien later in life when I had already read much English literature.) I've read the German translation afterwards and was very disappointed by it!

View Poll Results: For my first time, I've read Tolkien in:
English	47	82.46%
My mothertongue	8	14.04%
Other language	2	3.51%
Voters: 57. You may not vote on this poll

01-31-2006, 01:14 AM	#1
HerenIstarion Deadnight Chanter Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,244	Public Research: First read Part of Public Research Project. The main question being: what language you've read Tolkien in first? Was it English or your mothertongue or some other tranlation that hooked you in? Did you come to learn English because of Tolkien? etc... edit: Of course, if English is your mothertongue, you put it down to English. The other two options by definition mean 'if other than English' (as I suppose cases for native English speakers of reading Tolkien in, say, Japanese would be rare) /end of edit. This poll is public __________________ Egroeg Ihkhsal - Would you believe in the love at first sight? - Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time! Last edited by HerenIstarion; 01-31-2006 at 02:34 AM.

01-31-2006, 01:53 AM	#3
Farael Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In hospitals, call rooms and (rarely) my apartment. Posts: 1,538	I am yet to read Tolkien's work in English... I have started, but at the time I was FINSIHING a re-read in Spanish and so finishing it up took precedense over starting it all over again I must say, at least with the Spanish translation I have, while whoever translated it did an excelent job overall, there are things that just can't be translated... from the little bit I read of his work, it really is much better in English. As well the songs and general poetry in the books were translated into Spanish but not re-arranged so that they rhymed what so ever... and thus all the songs (that are quite beautiful in English) are an eyesore. Still, it is an overal great work of translation... __________________ I prepared Explosive Runes this morning.

01-31-2006, 10:09 AM	#4
Kath Everlasting Whiteness Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perusing the laminated book of dreams Posts: 4,533	HI, this is perhaps a stupid question, but what if your mothertongue is English? __________________ “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

01-31-2006, 11:06 AM	#5
HerenIstarion Deadnight Chanter Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,244	Polls should be monochrome, the rainbow of colours must be distracting... It will obviously lead to common good if people start reading opening posts of the poll-threads, not only polls, as introductions usually tend to contain some commentary upon the subject __________________ Egroeg Ihkhsal - Would you believe in the love at first sight? - Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time!

01-31-2006, 02:10 PM	#6
Kath Everlasting Whiteness Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perusing the laminated book of dreams Posts: 4,533	My apologies, read the post when it first went up and didn't reread after the edit. Brain is now in gear. __________________ “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

02-01-2006, 01:10 AM	#7
Lhunardawen Hauntress of the Havens Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: IN it, but not OF it Posts: 2,538	I'll be darned if there ever is a Filipino translation of any Tolkien book...and I pity the translator. (Don't get me wrong, I mean that Filipino is a complicated language, and translating LotR, let's say, in Filipino would be a hard job.) Besides, despite being Filipino for the most part, English is my first written language.

02-13-2006, 06:42 PM	#8
Holbytlass Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Party Tree Posts: 1,042	The more I participate in these polls, the more boring I seem! English-just English __________________ Holby is an actual flesh-and-blood person, right? Not, say a sock-puppet of Nilp’s, by any chance? ~Nerwen, WWCIII

02-13-2006, 06:46 PM	#9
Glirdan Energetic Essence Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Where Lark Nor Eagle Ever Flew Posts: 3,285	Well, I live in Canada and the main language is English. Can you put two and two together? Mind you, I wouldn't mind reading LotR in French. I just need to find one... __________________ *I'm going to buy you a kitty, I'm going to let you fall in love with the kitty, and one cold, winter night, I'm going to steal into your house and punch you in the face!* Fenris Wolf

02-17-2006, 04:45 PM	#11
Guinevere Banshee of Camelot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Switzerland Posts: 5,830	I've first read it in English, although that isn't my mothertongue. (That's because I discovered Tolkien later in life when I had already read much English literature.) I've read the German translation afterwards and was very disappointed by it! __________________ Yes! "wish-fulfilment dreams" we spin to cheat our timid hearts, and ugly Fact defeat!