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

[GeorgianMumto5]

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.

Very interesting SoMuch. I will take your word for it, given your 'connections'. I rather like 'Toelkeen' from the discussion linked to by debka though. Very Linda Snell!

It's Tol-kin

That's interesting...I'll still pronounce it Tolkin though

My lecturer at uni knew him. She says it is 'Toll keen'

Well now, Trills I can't argue with that. I should have phrased my OP, 'AIBU...to want to smite someone who pronounces the Hobbit author's name as 'Tokleen'. My apologies.

I thought that his surname had Germanic origins,though I'm probably wrong,and 'ie' makes an ee sound in German,so I say Tol-Keen.That's my theory anyway.

Tokleen?!

YANBU at all to wish to smite them! :o

Tolk-yun

ShowOfHands, with your additional connections, and marmaladeSkies with your knowledge of the German language, you have the casting votes. I shall henceforth say, 'Toll keen'. Loudly.

Thank you all.

Yes definitely Tol-keen, I do lots of work with his Estate and have met his grandson Adam and that is how he was introduced to me.

Tol-keen. His daughter was my mum's landlady. People used to annoy her by saying it 'Tol-key-in' because they thought it sounded more genteel.

Thank you, Trills. You are most gracious and I appreciate that.

SuffolkNWhat - more connections! One of my lecturers at University was chummy with Roald Dahl. I've always said, 'Ro-ald' (the 'ald' being like in 'Aldborough') but said lecturer was always name-dropping 'Ruuld' into his talks (yes, first name only), so I've often wondered.

Probably people want to smite me, with my 'Ro-ald' mallarkey.

My word, you are all virtually his heirs! I do appreciate you taking the time to teach me the correct way to say his name. Thank you.

The man himself actually pronounced it Tolkin. I know because I sat on his face. He presented dh with a pen set for passing 11+ and lived opposite his fathers shop.

Just adding to the Tol-keen replies. It is correct.

Yes, horse's mouth on Ruuld (via telly, am sadly not an heir).

Wow, lots of connected people! I'd always have gone for Tolkin (and "Rolled" Dahl!)

And another for Tol-keen, which is correct in fact....

Tolkeen

Ruuld it shall henceforth be. Mind you, I used to work with someone who's dh worked for the petrol company 'Total' and she was most insistent that it was 'Toe-taaal'. I'm sure she was right, but she sounded silly, so we all carried on saying, 'How's the new job at Toe-tul?' and pausing for her to correct us. I'm going to be thinking, 'Toe-taaaaaal,' every time I say 'Ruuuld'.

morethanpotatoprints why were you sitting on his face?? What kind of presentation ceremony was that, exactly? Will no one think of the children? I'm afraid the fact that the clarity of his voice may have been impeded by the presence of your arse on his mouth leads me to dispute your 'Tolkin' assertions.

The descendants I know say Tolkeen

Tol-keen.

I know because I once bought a car off him. And then he asked me in for tea and read me an extract from the secret book 4 of the LOTR that no-one knows about.

Gandalf was there too.

Well, not really. I was just feeling left out of the general conectedness.

at kungfupannda If you hadn't added the 'fess up, I'd have believed you. Well, until the Gandalf part.

Jins you know them too? If I told Mrs Tok-leen any of this, she'd want all your autographs. I won't tell her though, because of the nasty Gok Wan business.

Anyway, my next question is, 'AIBU to want to know why morethanpotatoprints sat on Tolkien's face?'