Question for Tolkien readers who are non-native English speakers: In what language did you first read his books? If it wasn't English, did you eventually read them in English as well?
Comments
Log in with your Bluesky account to leave a comment
My first reading of The Hobbit, LOTR, and The Silmarillion was in Portuguese, but my second and third readings of The Silmarillion were in English. I haven't read LOTR in English yet
I'll be honest with you, I didn’t find it as difficult as I thought, and it was an old edition from my brother. I just bought one now with illustrations by Tolkien, and it's going well too. Ofc, there’s a lot of vocabulary Idk, but I think reading helps a lot
I’m having more trouble rereading a Russian book now in English; some translation choices seemed strange to me. I've been trying to include more English readings in my life, you know, because back in school we had English class twice a week and I thought it was too little, even though I loved it
Then I had to take an English course; there are many schools here for that, but I confess that watching movies, series, and reading articles (I didn’t choose that one haha) has really helped me improve step by step.
Dying 😂 So there must be some general issue with translations from Russian, because Italian editions suffer the same problem. I usually skim through different translations in ebook before deciding which one to buy, and read the reviews. Some are quite terrible, indeed
That’s great! Yeah, I guess that as a non-native speaker, one can only benefit from reading the silm and expand their vocabulary 😂 I’m probably getting an eng edition soon too, so it’s good to know it’s not too hard to read!
I first read them in German and then in Spanish - which are my two native languages. Years later I read it in English and all my re-reads have been in English since 😌
yes 😅 they take up an entire shelf 🙈 I have all books in at least two languages, most in 3
awww, you think German is beautiful? 🥰 that's something you don't hear everyday, most people say it always sounds like people are angry 😅 (and I don't blame them)
I think it's beautiful owning books in every language you speak, quite poetic 🥹
I live near Austria and had a German flatmate for a while, so I’m quite used to hearing German speakers--and they never sound angry to me! 😂 In fact, I really love how it sounds!
For me it actually depends, some regional accents just sound cute to me, but for others as well as high German, I can understand why it sounds angry to people 😅
I have the same thing with Russian & slavic languages though. I think it sounds so cool and hot and native speakers are always surprised
My ex-flatmate is from Tubing, and I thought her accent was adorable (I have no idea how that accent is viewed among Germans 😂). I think people from where I live speak a variation of German (at least in terms of accent, or maybe it’s even considered a dialect) since they're from South Tyrol
oooh, Fatica!💓 Ho anche io quell'edizione, anche se mi sarebbe piaciuto mettere le mani sulla precedente 👀👀 pensi di leggerli anche in inglese in futuro?
ho troppe cose da leggere quindi non penso 😔 mi piacerebbe però! di regola cerco di leggere in lingua originale se il libro è in inglese ma per i classici come tolkien le traduzioni sono molto ben fatte, non mi dispiace affatto leggerli in italiano
verissimo! Mi spiace solo per le poesie e filastrocche: per quanto ben tradotte, quelle rendono sempre meglio in lingua originale 🥲 Maaa la mia edizione del Silmarillion è un po' distrutta, quindi stavo pensando di ricomprarlo in inglese ehehe
The first time I read them in German. I don't reread lotr that often and stick to the German version. The Silmarillion I have reread much more, in German and later on English as well. Recently started some of the HoME books in English as there is no translation apart from lost tales 1&2.
The other stuff like Unfinished Tales & the Great Tales etc. I've only ever read in German. I don't have the money to buy English editions for everything as well 😂 (and I do love most of my German editions a lot)
Same here same here. I’m probably getting an English translation of the silm. HoME is at its 6th volume in Italian, but I’m thinking of buying 7-12 in English but, apart from these, I don’t think I’ll re-buy all the English editions 😂
I read the trilogy in English (my first time reading them) when I was I think 13-14! Read The Silm in English too a few years later. I eventually also read the trilogy in Finnish, because our translator (Kersti Juva) is very talented and respected (& the transl. is beautiful)!
I fell in love with the English language in primary school (thanks to a lovely teacher!) and knew I'd be able to connect with the work better if I read it in the original language. Also felt like something may be lost in translation (esp. since Tolkien was a philologist). I know this is probably
strange to some (esp. many Finns, who are very proud of the language and rightfully so – it's beautiful), but I've just always associated fantasy lit. with the English language and it sounds the most natural to me (in fantasy settings, probably due to Tolkien). What about you? ˙ᵕ˙
no no it makes perfect sense, especially with fantasy (or in general)! Our translations are very good too, but I’ve read parts of Lotr in English and can tell I’m missing something (now I really want to get the English editions). I was just impressed that you were so young!
Yeah, I must say I'm pretty bad with reading Finnish lang. lit. (because I mostly read fantasy and it's not really being published here). 😭 Hope you'll be able to get the English editions and also enjoy the books in English ‐ I'm sure both experiences are lovely. ♡
The Hobbit was read to me (in Finnish) when I was 5-6. I read LoTR in Finnish when I was about 12-13 and then again in English at age of 16. But I had started to read books in their original language when I was about 14 (lots of other sci-fi and fantasy like Adams, Pratchett, and Dragonlance, etc…)
16 is still impressive, especially for the Silmarillion. It’s so nice that you had The Hobbit read to you as a child--I wish my parents had done the same! 😂🥹
Euhh, when i was little my mom read the lord of the rings and the hobbit to me in dutch.
Later when i was 13 i got my hands on a gigantic english copy of the lord of the rings from the library through. It was pretty hard at times but i had a blast!
Well, I guess lotr must be quite a challenge as a first read in a non-Dutch language, especially if you’re only 13! Also, I’m so envious of everyone who had their parents read Tolkien’s books to them as children 🥲
I've read the Hobbit, Lotr and the Silm in German first but have only read the Hobbit in English so far 🤔 I own lotr in English but haven't read it yet (just until the hobbits arrive in Bree) but re-read the German version twice since then bcs it just feels cozier to me?
I started with French when I was totally fluent in English, then when I got better I started reading in English and now I’m so used to it that I couldn’t read it in another language ☺️
I first read them in my own language, and every time there is a new one for me, I read it in my own language. but I've read the hobbit in english and I really want to read lotr in english as well
I guess that’s a good start--especially with more complex books! The Silmarillion was the first Tolkien book I read, and I don’t think I would’ve been able to understand it as well if it had been in English😂
LotR in Spanish first and then the Serkis versions, Cristopher Lee's Children and Samuel an Timothy West Unfinished Tales, Gondolin, and Beren and Luthien.
I had a long commute and got used to it. I mostly listen while driving and now my commute is shorter and I miss it.
I’ve only ever heard great things about the Serkis’ edition ✨💞 but CoH with Cristopher Lee must be really something magical mmmh I’d make a try for it ☺️
Both of them are great!
The Wests readings are maybe my favourite though because the father with his old voice reads Christopher's comments and clarifications and the son reads Tolkien's main text. The overall effect is really cosy.
First in BR portuguese (old translation even) then as an adult after I taught myself english I read everything again in english (many times both languages and in the new translation as well)
I read it first in Italian (Rusconi ), without appendixes, but with the Hobbit.
Later I bought the paperback in English (which I reread constantly), and Rob English audiobook.
oh so you have the Vittoria Alliata di Villafranca's translation! I’ve read Ottavio Fatica’s version and, while it’s considered good, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the excerpts I’ve read from the earlier translation :/
I read the Hobbit, the Silmarillion and the Unfinished Tales in English, but I read LOTR and the Fall of Númenor in Spanish, although I'd like to reread LOTR in English
No, it was the Hobbit, the only reason I read LOTR in Spanish was that the cheapest edition in the bookshop was in Spanish and I didn't have much money to spend that day but I really wanted to start reading it 😅
I'd say you can do it. Obviously I didn't find it difficult bc it's my mother tongue so I may not be judging very well, but I'd say it's possible to read it with a B1 level
I was almost or just ten and after listening to an amazing audioplay of it with my dad for a couple of weeks, I read LOTR in German. Never read it fully in English, bc the translation is beautiful. Hobbit and Silm also German.The rest of I‘m slowing buying in English.
I think it’s really just nostalgia that has kept me from the original text, bc since being fluent enough I always read and watch media in it‘s original language.
Also the German book is stunning. I love holding and flipping through it.
omg the book is a REAL beauty indeed! I’m quite similar: I’ve re-read them but only in Italian; their translation is a case study but, since I only own the paperbacks and am thinking about getting hardcovers, I’m considering buying them in english
yeah, I’m so envious of the English editions (mine are all plain black. Boring black. Ew). But my Silmarillion copy has seen better days, so I was thinking of getting the English hardcover for that at least 👀
I read the first ones in portuguese (br). In the Hobbit they included the poems and songs in both portuguese and english!
Then I listened to some audiobooks in english, and now I’m reading some volumes of HoME in english because they are only being translated now.
It's so cool what they did with The Hobbit! Did you re-read those books in English too?
I'm thinking of doing the same as you with HoME for the volumes that haven’t yet been translated into Italian (7–12) because I’m getting tired of waiting 😂
As a native English speaker I loved looking at the replies to this as I can’t say I have experienced something like this before! I would like to read a book in a different language one day as it sounds like such a magical experience! ☺️
wow. I'm always amazed by people who've been loving the books for all their lives ✨I've started reading them during the pandemic, so your experience feels so much. How beautiful!!
Comments
awww, you think German is beautiful? 🥰 that's something you don't hear everyday, most people say it always sounds like people are angry 😅 (and I don't blame them)
I live near Austria and had a German flatmate for a while, so I’m quite used to hearing German speakers--and they never sound angry to me! 😂 In fact, I really love how it sounds!
I have the same thing with Russian & slavic languages though. I think it sounds so cool and hot and native speakers are always surprised
Later when i was 13 i got my hands on a gigantic english copy of the lord of the rings from the library through. It was pretty hard at times but i had a blast!
I'll likely buy all the books this year.
I had a long commute and got used to it. I mostly listen while driving and now my commute is shorter and I miss it.
The Wests readings are maybe my favourite though because the father with his old voice reads Christopher's comments and clarifications and the son reads Tolkien's main text. The overall effect is really cosy.
Later I bought the paperback in English (which I reread constantly), and Rob English audiobook.
Also the German book is stunning. I love holding and flipping through it.
Then I listened to some audiobooks in english, and now I’m reading some volumes of HoME in english because they are only being translated now.
I'm thinking of doing the same as you with HoME for the volumes that haven’t yet been translated into Italian (7–12) because I’m getting tired of waiting 😂