Gandalf or Gadalv? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Birdland · 02-02-2002, 05:13 PM

Here's a quote from Bill Welden, Tolkien language scholar for 30 years, and advisor for the Lord of the Ringsfilms:

"there is a natural tendency for English speakers to darken the second "a" in "Gandalf" and swallow the "l" (so that is sounds more like "Gandoff")."

If you say it like Mr Welden suggests, with a short "a" in both syllables, and emphasize the "L", you get a sound almost like "Gan-DALV". Pretty close, anyway.

02-02-2002, 05:13 PM	#1
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Here's a quote from Bill Welden, Tolkien language scholar for 30 years, and advisor for the Lord of the Ringsfilms: "there is a natural tendency for English speakers to darken the second "a" in "Gandalf" and swallow the "l" (so that is sounds more like "Gandoff")." If you say it like Mr Welden suggests, with a short "a" in both syllables, and emphasize the "L", you get a sound almost like "Gan-DALV". Pretty close, anyway.