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Jack-in-the-box Posted 22 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation
(J. R. R.) Tolkien
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.
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.
Top answer
I understand that it's difficult to know how J. R. R.
- 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.
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7 Answers
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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.
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.
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Please, help me!
I need this piece of information.
Thank you.
I need this piece of information.
Thank you.
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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
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
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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
Hope it helps.
Miriam
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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.
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Hi, Novalee! 
I agree that we learn something new every day.
To me personally, since I'm not a native speaker of Engl
I agree that we learn something new every day.
To me personally, since I'm not a native speaker of Engl
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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.
Thank you very much for answering me. I find this forum very useful and interesting, too.
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