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This article is not about Nûrlâm but about influential work.
Full Ring Verse by Elerrina
Tolkien left us translation of the Ring inscription into Black Speech. The whole verse was however longer:
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them, In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie
There was a translation by Elerrina (EL) in journals “Quettar” #16 (pp. 6–7, 1982) and “Vinyar Tengwar” #13 (pp. 13–15, 1990). It was not flawless but became the additional word base for later Black Speech dialects.
Gakh Nazgi Ilid/Albai/Golug durub-uuri lata-nuut. Udu takob-ishiz gund-ob Gazat-shakh-uuri. Krith Shara-uuri matuurz matat duumpuga. Ash tug Shakhbuurz-uur Uliima-tab-ishi za, Uzg-Mordor-ishi amal fauthut burguuli. [Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul Ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul] Uzg-Mordor-ishi amal fauthut burguuli.
It is not very accurate, as it translates back into English as:
Three rings for elven rulers under the sky Seven for Dwarf-lords in theirs of stone Nine for mortal men doomed to die One only for Dark Lord in this his throne In Mordor land where Shadows lie hidden [One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them] In Mordor land where Shadows lie hidden
Below is the list of words borrowed into other Black Speech dialects from Elerrina's translation. Some of them were changed, but here only original Elerrina's forms are presented.
| English | Black Speech | Etymology and Comments |
|---|---|---|
| dark | bûrz | from TK “Lugbûrz” (Dark Tower), from BS “burzum” (darkness) |
| die | mat- | EL |
| doomed | dûmpuga | EL, either from Etym. “MBAD” written reversed (“MB” is one letter in Elvish writing systems), see also Quenya “umbar”, or just stylized English word (possibly both) |
| dwarf | gazat | EL, from Khuzdul “khazad” (dwarves) |
| elven | golug | TK1), Angband Orkish “golug” (Noldor elves) from ÑGOLOD, Noldorin “golodh” (one of the wise folk, Gnome2)) |
| ilid | EL, from “ÉLED” (“Star-folk”, “Firstborn”, Eldar, departed elves); may be not suitable for elves of Middle-Earth | |
| albai | EL | |
| for | ûr | EL, dative case suffix |
| hall | — | omitted in original translation by Elerrina, “ru” in Shadowlandian (LOS) and Horngoth Orkish |
| king | durub | EL, literally translated as rulers from “durbat” (to rule) |
| land | uzg | EL |
| lie hidden | fauth- | EL, probably from Gnomish “fuitha” (to hide, lay up in secret) |
| lord | shakh | EL, Persian word for “king” |
| man, men | shara | EL, from Isengard Orkish “sharkû” (old man) |
| mortal | matûrz | EL |
| nine | krith | EL |
| of | ob | EL, genitive/possessive case suffix |
| only | tug | EL, absent in original English translation, put into “One (only) for the Dark Lord on (this) his dark throne” |
| seven | udu | EL, from Etym. “OT-” > Noldorin “odog” |
| shadow | burgûl | EL, from “bûrz” + “gûl” (dark spirit, ghost) |
| sky | nût | EL |
| stone | gund | EL, from Etym. “GOND”, compare with “Gondor” meaning “Stone Land” in Sindarin or “Gondolin” |
| their | takob | EL, original translation was “tak-ob” |
| this | za | EL, absent in original English translation, put into “One (only) for the Dark Lord on (this) his dark throne” |
| three | gakh | EL |
| throne | ulîma | EL |
| under | lata | EL |
| where | amal | EL |
These translations doesn't satisfy objectives of Nûrlâm. So check Full Ring Verse in Nûrlam article for correct Nûrlâm variant.
Links
- One Ring at Wikipedia
- One Ring at Tolkien Gateway
