'Bottom, thou art translated.'

[davem]

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

Well, the new German translation (by Krege) has often been cited for such things as Sam calling Frodo "Boss" - which might be what could be used nowadays, but LotR isn't nowadays! There are many other examples of vocabulary that lowers the story to a vernacular level instead of bringing out the "high and lofty" character of the book. However, I don't own the modern translation, so I can't give specific examples now. Perhaps other German language readers can add more.

That's interesting, because in a way the change from 'Master' to 'Boss' doesn't so much make the story 'more accessible' to a younger readership as change the relationship between the two into one of employer-employee.

Now, not to push this too far, but I know that a lot of accusations of racism aimed at LotR are based on the descriptions of the enemy as 'dark', 'swarthy', & suchlike, & it would be easy for a translator to 'alter' such descriptions to avoid such accusations.

However, what interests me is the extent to which such changes alter the reader's understanding. To go back the the 'Skraelings' example, to refer to the inhabitants of Vinland as 'barbarians' is very different to referring to them as 'natives'. 'Barbarians' is perjorative & 'natives' is neutral. In the same way if Sam calls Frodo 'boss' he is acknowledging that he is his employer, but if he calls him Master he is implying so much more than that, because 'Master' can also imply 'teacher' or 'guide' (& let's not ignore the implication of 'better' which is implied - something I believe Tolkien was examining, or even 'playing with'). A reader of the original will pick up on that implication whereas a reader of the German probably won't. Certainly 'boss' is not a 'neutral' translation of Master.....