The pronunciation of Smaug

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caedmon
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The pronunciation of Smaug

Post by caedmon »

I have always pronounce the dragon’s name with an ‘aw’ (like saw) sound, and then my son asked why they pronounced it with an ‘ou’ (like proud) in the movie. I assured him they were wrong and he needn’t concern himself with trifles produced by hacks.

Then I read the pronunciation guide in appendix e of ROTK. Turns out they got one thing right in those movies.

Time to go admit my mistake.
-Jack Horner

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Impression: Cædmon Reedmace | bronze founder living in Archet, Breeland. c. 3017
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Iodo
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Re: The pronunciation of Smaug

Post by Iodo »

Well, I guess I've always been wrong to then, I shared your view that they were wrong in the movies, with your first pronunciation being the way I always read it in the books. Time to retrain my brain :P
Gimli: It's true you don't see many Dwarf-women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, that they are often mistaken for Dwarf-men.
Aragorn: It's the beards.
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Elleth
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Re: The pronunciation of Smaug

Post by Elleth »

Hunh. Well of course there's a pronunciation guide. I'd forgotten that.
Being away from my books at the moment, did it note the origin of the name by any chance?

Also... interesting: there's a Westron version as well, though without any etymology it seems:
https://www.elfdict.com/w/smaug
Persona: Aerlinneth, Dúnedain of Amon Lendel c. TA 3010.
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caedmon
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Re: The pronunciation of Smaug

Post by caedmon »

Elleth wrote:Hunh. Well of course there's a pronunciation guide. I'd forgotten that.
Being away from my books at the moment, did it note the origin of the name by any chance?

Also... interesting: there's a Westron version as well, though without any etymology it seems:
https://www.elfdict.com/w/smaug

Well, Appendix E didn't reference the Smaug specifically, just the way to pronounce dipthongs in Sindarin and where other languages differed in comparison. There was only the Sindarin for the au dipthong so I assume that, without any notes to alternate spelling, the Sindarin pronunciation is the standard.
-Jack Horner

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Impression: Cædmon Reedmace | bronze founder living in Archet, Breeland. c. 3017
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Re: The pronunciation of Smaug

Post by Straelbora »

I think I've read that Smaug is related to something from Welsh, which is interesting, because the Polish word for dragon is 'smok.'
Vápnum sínum skala maðr velli á
feti ganga framar því at óvist er at vita
nær verðr á vegum úti geirs um þörf guma
Hávamál
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