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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to ask you allow to pronounce 'Tolkien'?

50 replies

GeorgianMumto5 · 08/01/2013 21:17

Is is 'Tol-key-un' or 'Tol-keen'? Or some other way I haven't considered? Like Cholmondley, or something?

Either way, it's not 'Tok-leen', is it? I know someone, who is a big fan of all things LOTR, who persistently gets her Tolkien books off the shelf and tells me how much she loves 'Tok-leen'. It's making my teeth itch and I can't go in Sainsbury's and walk past the clothing section with Gok Wans' creations in, without thinking he's a designer for Hobbit apparel anymore.

I want to say, 'For goodnesssakes it's...' but obviously I would look a twat if I then got the name wrong too.

I can't tell her, anyway - it'd cause ructions - but I might feel better if I knew how to say it correctly at least.

OP posts:
Itsnotahoover · 08/01/2013 21:18

I thought it was "Tol-kin" although I'm probably wrong!

Original poster
GeorgianMumto5 · 08/01/2013 21:18

Allow?? 'How', obviously. I'm not even on an i-phone, so can't blame auto-correct. Hmm

OP posts:
FiveGoMadInDorset · 08/01/2013 21:19

Tol-kin

Picturesinthefirelight · 08/01/2013 21:19

Tol kin

littlewhitebag · 08/01/2013 21:19

I would say Tol-keen.

eslteacher · 08/01/2013 21:19

I've always said / heard 'Tol-kee-yun'.

NoelHeadbands · 08/01/2013 21:19

I say Tolkin

debka · 08/01/2013 21:19

Tol-key-un.

That would piss me off too.

InNeatCognac · 08/01/2013 21:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Notquite · 08/01/2013 21:20

I've only ever heard it pronounced Tolkeen.

Original poster
GeorgianMumto5 · 08/01/2013 21:20

Ahh - 'Tol-kin' - I can live with that. Thank you, Itsnotahoover.

That does at least make 'Tok-leen' sound like an easy mistake to make.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 08/01/2013 21:20

tolk-yen

SoMuchToBits · 08/01/2013 21:20

I used to think "Tolk y en" until I met my friends's friend who was descended from the Tolkien family. I now know it's "Tol keen".

HollyBerryBush · 08/01/2013 21:20

Tol-kin

FrankellyMyDearIDontGiveADamn · 08/01/2013 21:21

I'm of the "Tol-kin" school of thought too.

Original poster
GeorgianMumto5 · 08/01/2013 21:21

Nobody knows, do they? We're just all agreed that the letters are at least said in the order in which they appear, if not in their entirety.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 08/01/2013 21:22

Definitely Tol-Keen.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 08/01/2013 21:22

According to the phonetic spelling on Wiki, it is Tol=kin

WhatWouldGibbsDo · 08/01/2013 21:22

I've always said it 'Tol-key-un', but apparently the man himself pronounced it 'Tol-keen'.I suppose if anyone knew how to pronounce his name it would be him Grin

SoMuchToBits · 08/01/2013 21:22

But I do know, because I met someone from the family. They should know...

FiveGoMadInDorset · 08/01/2013 21:23

Actually scrap that phonetically spelt Tol-keen

WhatWouldGibbsDo · 08/01/2013 21:23

From The Letters of JRR Tolkien: Letter #347
I am nearly always written to as Tolkein (not by you): I do not know why, since it is pronounced by me always -keen.

MarmaladeSkies · 08/01/2013 21:24

Tol-keen.

Trills · 08/01/2013 21:25

Tol-keen.

But yes, YABU to ask in AIBU, this is not a question of reasonableness, you just want to ask it.

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