The name Teleporno explains why Galadriel a Noldor elf born in Valinor -- who eclipsed her husband Celeborn in almost every way possible -- stayed with a lesser Sindar elf.
Or, to go with their mother names: Gorgeous Baby, Loud Baby, Baby Won’t Sleep, Look at His Little Red Face, Daddykins, and These Two Are Both Ginger. (There is a fiction in which Maedhros says that he prefers Russandol and Maglor reacts like this: “Hello, I am Shouty Baby and these are my brothers, Ginger, Ginger and Ginger.”)
Proving once again that Tolkien really did start with language and build from there. He’s quite possibly the most successful eccentric ever if we measure success by getting one’s eccentricity to be widely spread (if not widely understood) 😂
I know I’m commenting two weeks after this video came out but in the hopes you see this, I just wanted to say that you should see the love that fans are giving you over on Reddit, someone discovered your channel so now there’s is a thread of folks talking about how great your videos are, thought you should know.
I think the custom for many fantasy writers is to throw in a silent 'h' at random, perhaps a diacritic, and call it a day. Thus instead of calling the character "Steve", it's "Stëhve". No one, least of all the author, knows how this is meant to be pronounced, but that doesn't matter as long as it seems vaguely mysterious. Not Tolkien though; with him every morpheme had a backstory. I guess that's what happens when a fantasy writer actually knows ancient cultures. I keep thinking that he could have written The Hobbit in Old English if he'd had a mind to; probably the publisher thought it would sell better if it was in Modern English.
The whole Finwë name debacle reminds me of how the name Caesar also starts out as a name that just means 'hairy' (probably; I think Caesar is a little disputed, but Finwë isn't to my knowledge). Octavian (the later Caesar Augustus) changes his name to Caesar to strengthen the perception of his ties with his uncle and adoptive father Julius Caesar. Augustus' heir and adoptive son Tiberius also changes his name to (among other things) Caesar. A casual name becomes associated with rulership, and turns into a title of the emperor. And then there's infighting and decadence and wars and almost everybody dies and the dynasty gets wiped out.
"A name comes first and the story follows" is a deep core concept that belies the beauty and splendor of Tolkien's worldview. We are all, to a degree, spoken into existence, and it is our duty to name the world around us. Much love y'all!
I love when you get into Elven linguistics! It's one of the things that drew me to Tolkien, and the singular beauty of Quenya continues to captivate me. I also have some limited experience of renaming and its possible importance. I became a Catholic in college, and had grown up in a religious tradition that doesn't have Confirmation; when I converted, I spent some time settling on a patron saint, because I wanted to _use_ my Confirmation name. I eventually settled on St. Gabriel the Archangel, partly for non-linguistic reasons -- e.g. my work has long been in fields he has patronage of, and also it feels kinda kickass to be named after a being that isn't even human. But also, I like the sound, and still more the meaning: "God is my strength." (I tried translating it into Quenya once, and it came out as something like _Erumelco;_ do with _that_ information what you will, I suppose.)
I loved it when I learned that "Atarinke" in Elvish meant "little father", or in the vernacular, Junior. That is a name for a guy trying to invoke his dad's level of hardness when he is in fact bitch-made as Beren will attest about Curufinwe Atarinke.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ incredible but a little too deep and technical for me. Just like Tolkien himself with his superhuman language abilities. I have a hard enough time with English, my native language! Truly incredible and fascinating. I'm like proto man contemplating the black monolith. 😂❤😉❤
Weird things can happen when people don’t understand another culture’s naming conventions. In the 1960s, an Englishman named Donald Charles Alfred Crowhurst took part in an around-the-world yacht race. One of the rules was that anyone who stopped on land along the way was disqualified. Crowhurst was not the world’s best sailor, and he ended up having to stop in a small town on the coast of Argentina. The town officials needed to record his arrival, and he gave them all four of his names. They knew only Spanish naming conventions, not English. They assumed “Donald” was the English version of the Spanish title “Don,” his given name was Charles, his father’s family name was Alfred, and his mother’s family name was Crowhurst. It was Charles Alfred who was officially listed as having come ashore in an obscure Argentinian harbor, thereby keeping secret the fact that he broke the rules. It turned out not to matter, because he didn’t survive the race.
I LOVE elven names and naming customs, its one of my favorite parts of Tolkiens world, I've read the shibboleth of Fëanor more times than I can count lol. I would love to see more videos on linguistics!
One of my favorites from history is the Mughal Emperor Ahmed I, also called Ahmed the Great. Well, Ahmed means "Great," so we English call him "Great the Great."
“Ever more meticulous lore in a uniquely organic way”. Love how u put it Lexi. Such a great video as always 🔥🔥🔥. We love to watch more videos on this area of Middle Earth🧡🧡🧡.
As a would-be writer myself, I can really appreciate the care Tolkien put into determining what a person should be called among his own people. It provides this whole new layer of meaning for every character, giving insight into what they thought important enough to communicate about one another. It really allows characters to really define themselves as a concept.
With a lot of his worldbuilding, names in particular I think Tolkien shows the effort he put into getting out of his own perspective and into that of his characters. It definitely improves the experience!
I followed writing lessons by Brandon Sanderson, most of which you can find registered in videos here on YT, and he seems to repeat each year to just not waste time thinking too much about names. His words, not mine. His point semms to be that Tolkien was doing something he was passionate about while writing but that coherent naming conventions are not a requirement by no means.
Other fascinating names from Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings: Sam’s real name was Ban, and his father Ham was Ran. Meriodoc Brandybuck’s name was Kalimac Brandagamba. I wish John had given us Frodo and Pippin’s names. What a genius!
I thought Frodo's name was 'Maura' in Kuduk? Edit: Looks like Pippin's name is 'Razanur', citing The Peoples of Middle-earth, "II. The Appendix on Languages" as the source. I don't remember where I got 'Maura' from.
This video gave me much more of a perspective on how rigid elven society is. The story of people getting mad over names and the whole thing of having private names reminded me of Japan.
In my real life, I have a name my mother gave me (my middle name). It is not European. That name I was called by everyone until I was 30 years old. Then I chose to change my name to my first name, which was my father's name for me. Now I use the Elven name "Enerdhil" for UA-cam. I suspect everyone has a story of why they chose the names they chose for social media.
It's super common in Turkey for people to go by their middle name rather than their first name. This caused some mutual confusion when I moved there for a while and had an office door with my name on it, which had erroneously been set up to have just my first initial then followed by my middle and surname. It felt bizarre and wrong to me, particularly given that my middle name is my father's first name, and yet it was still recognisably a version of my name. I also took to pronouncing my actual first name differently when speaking Turkish to Turks, in order (I guess) that they would understand correctly how it was spelt, almost as if people being able to visualise my name was more important to me than saying it in the way my parents had given it to me. Your comment made me connect this experience to how I suppose Tolkien's elves must have felt in working their names across exposure to very different languages through the ages.
@@douglasoglu I met a Turkish man who went by a name that sounded and looked like Barahir. It wasn't that but very close. At least it seemed like Sindarin to me. Maybe you know some Turks with Sindarin-sounding names.
The many different names was the most confusing thing about entering the Silmarillion fandom, on top of having to learn who each character is! xD But I really love this aspect of worldbuilding on Tolkien's part, since it really reflects just how complex naming can be in the real world!
That outro screen is great. Sauron as an electric guitarist is a woefully underutilized image that I've only seen here and in the Tolkien Untangled video on the Finrod-Sauron musical duel.
What of the "true name" that someone has? Tolkien seems to reference this, as a name that should not be given out to others lightly - if at all. It would seem to suggest the true name gives someone power over the individual. I recall mention of this idea from Morgoth's discourse with Hurin and Treebeard's discourse with Merry and Pippin. Note: My inferring the import of one's "true name" comes from an out of Legendarium source, that being the Books of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin (who may herself have derived the concept from Prof. Tolkien??)
'Finduilas? No... already used that one. How about... hm... 'girl.' But, like, an important one.' - JRRT, sweating his torturous way through the rough draft of Book VI
Not quite. It's more a poetic form 'Noble Maiden'. The normal words for 'lady' would be *heryn* , *híril* , or *rodel* all of which more or less mean 'lady, female lord'.
It says a lot about Tokien's intent that elves have up to four names, maybe in more than one language, and no two elves are supposed to share names. He really liked making names.
@@GirlNextGondorSadly, I think his use of Gildor Inglorion was wasted in that tiny little bit with the 3 Hobbits. Not to mention that his “house” was not really the house of Finrod as Finrod had no get. Gildor was later shown to be of the house of Finarfin.
Shout out to the Silmarillion Appendices! A one stop shop for all of your Elven/Dunedain naming needs. Need a noble name? Just start with Ar. Are they bad guys? Add some Mor. Need a name for your dragon riding titans? Valheru will do nicely if your Feisty. Consider this a vote for any language videos. The languages Tolkien created are at the core of the Legendarium. Feel free to touch on Adunic (Egyptian influences?), Khuzdul, or the Black Speech if you wish. What is your favorite on-the-nose name for a Legendarium character? Mine is the, not to be BBG, Herumor. Are we sure this wasn't just a place holder?
Ah-ha, but you left out how he packed a whole novel’s worth of characterisation into Maedhros’ name. Not only he avoid Nelyafinwë for obvious reasons, but unlike his brothers he does not simply Sindarinise his amilessë. No, he combines the root of his amilessë (Maite, well done or beautiful or precious, but also well *hand* crafted) with the root of his epessë (Russandol, basically gingerhead). Note that it was his maternal grandfather, Mahtan, who also had red hair, to give him his epessë. So his name might mean Good (looking) Ginger, or it could mean … red-handed. This is the name he adopts as a reaction to Thingol’s Quenya ban, following the discovery of the Alqualondë… incident. So, Maedhros eschews his father name which is an explicit snub of his uncle (least he could do, but possibly he also found being named to spite his uncle a bit demeaning). He does not take his mother’s name of “Look What A Gorgeous Child I Made”, but he does keep the root and he combines it with another name coming from the non-finwian side. He is a Tolkien creation, and a Noldor, and a son of the greatest Noldor linguists - he knows it’s a dark pun and he knows it means, in context, “I am a murderer and I regret nothing”, with a side order of “Fuck you Thingol”.
I'd like to point out that you do not seem to be a Tolkienian Linguist, or you would realize that 'maite-russa' would simply mean 'skilled with copperwork' if you are looking for a double meaning. Normally, it's just 'shapely red-head'. 'maite-russa' cannot be analyzed as 'red-handed'. a) When 'maite' is used as '-handed' it is the second element in the compound. b) 'maite' is physical, not metaphorical, so 'red-handed' would simply be someone with a red or ruddy hand, not a bloody or guilty hand. and c) 'russa' means 'red, copper, *of hair* '. To make it even close to English 'red-handed' it would need to be 'sercemaite' 'blood-handed' or Sindarin 'seregmaed'.
@@Trigm I am indeed not, but I trust the great Clothonono, where I got the idea: “Maedhros the Tall, Prince Warden of the Eastmarch and Lord of Himring, to Elu Thingol, King of Doriath, greetings. Hail King Thingol! We are gratefully made aware of your Ban upon the high speech of the Calaquendi. Be it far from me to argue with your wisdom. In this time of war against Morgoth the Enemy of the World, I can think of no better use of our energies than to make stern decrees on linguistic matters. In fact, I thank you for the opportunity. I have felt for a long time now that my name was somewhat unfortunate. My mother in her affection named me Handsome-alas, the root she chose was maitë, which in its most literal meaning is Handed; you see the irony, I am sure. Therefore I am delighted to change that name for one more fitting. Henceforth I shall name myself in the tongue of the Sindar Maedhros, so that without discarding my mother's affection altogether I need not be so painfully ill-named. I intend it to be read as Handsome Redhead, which suits me very well. Do disregard any other meanings that may occur to you. Elu Thingol, High King of Beleriand, to Maedhros Red-Handed. I suppose you think yourself witty, boy. Your grandfather would be ashamed of you.”
While I am unsure if I will ever get a good grasp of all the linguistics behind the names and naming conventions Tolkien employed, it is still an obvious measure of the effort and care Tolkien put into the Legendarium that the names have real meanings and history behind them.
Don’t worry about getting a handle on all of Tolkien’s conventions, etc. Just remember that it took him a lifetime to create them and he wasn’t finished when he died.
Have not seen the video yet, but the best Elven name, obviously, must be Teleporno!
I was waiting for this comment 🤣🤣
The name Teleporno explains why Galadriel a Noldor elf born in Valinor -- who eclipsed her husband Celeborn in almost every way possible -- stayed with a lesser Sindar elf.
17:40 "...prone to, uh, Finnishness" 😃 Greetings from Helsinki!
Finwë Junior and his sons Finwë Three, Shouty Finwë, Hunky Finwë, Emo Finwë, Crafty Finwë, Tiny Finwë, and Final Finwë
Or, to go with their mother names: Gorgeous Baby, Loud Baby, Baby Won’t Sleep, Look at His Little Red Face, Daddykins, and These Two Are Both Ginger.
(There is a fiction in which Maedhros says that he prefers Russandol and Maglor reacts like this: “Hello, I am Shouty Baby and these are my brothers, Ginger, Ginger and Ginger.”)
Proving once again that Tolkien really did start with language and build from there. He’s quite possibly the most successful eccentric ever if we measure success by getting one’s eccentricity to be widely spread (if not widely understood) 😂
I swear there's a hill in England whose name translates to "Hill Hill Hill" in three different languages.
Torpenhow Hill
Funny one (and somewhat related): River Avon means ‘River River’
@@peternouwen also Sahara Desert, Kalahari Desert, and Gobi Desert, all meaning 'desert desert'
@@peternouwen Of which there are several, as the same confusion happened multiple times 😂
I know there's a river in Africa that's name is something along the lines of 'River of the River of the River river'
I know I’m commenting two weeks after this video came out but in the hopes you see this, I just wanted to say that you should see the love that fans are giving you over on Reddit, someone discovered your channel so now there’s is a thread of folks talking about how great your videos are, thought you should know.
You’ve very quickly become my favorite Tolkien channel. Excellent work as always!
I think the custom for many fantasy writers is to throw in a silent 'h' at random, perhaps a diacritic, and call it a day. Thus instead of calling the character "Steve", it's "Stëhve". No one, least of all the author, knows how this is meant to be pronounced, but that doesn't matter as long as it seems vaguely mysterious. Not Tolkien though; with him every morpheme had a backstory. I guess that's what happens when a fantasy writer actually knows ancient cultures. I keep thinking that he could have written The Hobbit in Old English if he'd had a mind to; probably the publisher thought it would sell better if it was in Modern English.
That would have been a delightful learning tool if it existed tho.
The whole Finwë name debacle reminds me of how the name Caesar also starts out as a name that just means 'hairy' (probably; I think Caesar is a little disputed, but Finwë isn't to my knowledge). Octavian (the later Caesar Augustus) changes his name to Caesar to strengthen the perception of his ties with his uncle and adoptive father Julius Caesar. Augustus' heir and adoptive son Tiberius also changes his name to (among other things) Caesar. A casual name becomes associated with rulership, and turns into a title of the emperor.
And then there's infighting and decadence and wars and almost everybody dies and the dynasty gets wiped out.
You just described all of human history.
"A name comes first and the story follows" is a deep core concept that belies the beauty and splendor of Tolkien's worldview. We are all, to a degree, spoken into existence, and it is our duty to name the world around us. Much love y'all!
I love when you get into Elven linguistics! It's one of the things that drew me to Tolkien, and the singular beauty of Quenya continues to captivate me.
I also have some limited experience of renaming and its possible importance. I became a Catholic in college, and had grown up in a religious tradition that doesn't have Confirmation; when I converted, I spent some time settling on a patron saint, because I wanted to _use_ my Confirmation name. I eventually settled on St. Gabriel the Archangel, partly for non-linguistic reasons -- e.g. my work has long been in fields he has patronage of, and also it feels kinda kickass to be named after a being that isn't even human. But also, I like the sound, and still more the meaning: "God is my strength." (I tried translating it into Quenya once, and it came out as something like _Erumelco;_ do with _that_ information what you will, I suppose.)
God bless you and your work young lady ❤❤❤ I admire your passion and beautiful passionate narration,respect from Croatia 😇😇😇💙💙💙
I loved it when I learned that "Atarinke" in Elvish meant "little father", or in the vernacular, Junior. That is a name for a guy trying to invoke his dad's level of hardness when he is in fact bitch-made as Beren will attest about Curufinwe Atarinke.
Ok!! First in line today. Howdy, and how's yer Mom an them?! ( that Southern)
I once wanted to play an elf cook named Falafiel, but my GM wouldn't let me.
Your GM is wise, and you are funny.
TROP Sauron: "I have had many names." - Elves: "Us too!"
Thanks lexi a pleasure as always to hear your voice
Thanks Lexi! I've been excited for this!
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ incredible but a little too deep and technical for me. Just like Tolkien himself with his superhuman language abilities. I have a hard enough time with English, my native language! Truly incredible and fascinating. I'm like proto man contemplating the black monolith. 😂❤😉❤
Great essay Lexi. Feel like Tolkien would approve of this vid 🧝♂️
Not the easiest territory for you to navigate through but you did a fine job. Many thanks, as ever.
Weird things can happen when people don’t understand another culture’s naming conventions. In the 1960s, an Englishman named Donald Charles Alfred Crowhurst took part in an around-the-world yacht race. One of the rules was that anyone who stopped on land along the way was disqualified. Crowhurst was not the world’s best sailor, and he ended up having to stop in a small town on the coast of Argentina. The town officials needed to record his arrival, and he gave them all four of his names. They knew only Spanish naming conventions, not English. They assumed “Donald” was the English version of the Spanish title “Don,” his given name was Charles, his father’s family name was Alfred, and his mother’s family name was Crowhurst. It was Charles Alfred who was officially listed as having come ashore in an obscure Argentinian harbor, thereby keeping secret the fact that he broke the rules. It turned out not to matter, because he didn’t survive the race.
I LOVE elven names and naming customs, its one of my favorite parts of Tolkiens world, I've read the shibboleth of Fëanor more times than I can count lol. I would love to see more videos on linguistics!
Really liked the artwork in this one!
One of my favorites from history is the Mughal Emperor Ahmed I, also called Ahmed the Great. Well, Ahmed means "Great," so we English call him "Great the Great."
“Ever more meticulous lore in a uniquely organic way”. Love how u put it Lexi. Such a great video as always 🔥🔥🔥. We love to watch more videos on this area of Middle Earth🧡🧡🧡.
I know that some people were faster to comment, but goddamn, Teleporno is the campiest name in all the Legendarium
No Elfy McElf-face here!
As a would-be writer myself, I can really appreciate the care Tolkien put into determining what a person should be called among his own people. It provides this whole new layer of meaning for every character, giving insight into what they thought important enough to communicate about one another. It really allows characters to really define themselves as a concept.
With a lot of his worldbuilding, names in particular I think Tolkien shows the effort he put into getting out of his own perspective and into that of his characters. It definitely improves the experience!
I followed writing lessons by Brandon Sanderson, most of which you can find registered in videos here on YT, and he seems to repeat each year to just not waste time thinking too much about names. His words, not mine. His point semms to be that Tolkien was doing something he was passionate about while writing but that coherent naming conventions are not a requirement by no means.
So they are not named after prescription medication as I previously assumed
As to that last illustration, quite a band and Lexi on drums.
YES. More Linguistics Georg content, please!
He is an OUTLIER and should not be counted! 😂😂 Glad you enjoyed!
I’m so glad to have found this channel
Sindar royal family = El
Noldor royal family = Fin
El-Fin
Elfin
Elven
Elves!
Squad? Please address us as "Eored."
... Can I borrow a horse, then?
Other fascinating names from Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings: Sam’s real name was Ban, and his father Ham was Ran.
Meriodoc Brandybuck’s name was Kalimac Brandagamba.
I wish John had given us Frodo and Pippin’s names.
What a genius!
I thought Frodo's name was 'Maura' in Kuduk?
Edit: Looks like Pippin's name is 'Razanur', citing The Peoples of Middle-earth, "II. The Appendix on Languages" as the source. I don't remember where I got 'Maura' from.
Sauron on the double neck BC Rich. Nice 🤘
This video gave me much more of a perspective on how rigid elven society is. The story of people getting mad over names and the whole thing of having private names reminded me of Japan.
In my real life, I have a name my mother gave me (my middle name). It is not European. That name I was called by everyone until I was 30 years old. Then I chose to change my name to my first name, which was my father's name for me.
Now I use the Elven name "Enerdhil" for UA-cam.
I suspect everyone has a story of why they chose the names they chose for social media.
My social media name story is extremely intricate and profound.
@@eluthiccgol4715
"Elu" is already a great start.😁👍
It's super common in Turkey for people to go by their middle name rather than their first name. This caused some mutual confusion when I moved there for a while and had an office door with my name on it, which had erroneously been set up to have just my first initial then followed by my middle and surname. It felt bizarre and wrong to me, particularly given that my middle name is my father's first name, and yet it was still recognisably a version of my name. I also took to pronouncing my actual first name differently when speaking Turkish to Turks, in order (I guess) that they would understand correctly how it was spelt, almost as if people being able to visualise my name was more important to me than saying it in the way my parents had given it to me. Your comment made me connect this experience to how I suppose Tolkien's elves must have felt in working their names across exposure to very different languages through the ages.
@@douglasoglu
This is a great story. I think the Good Professor would have enjoyed hearing this.😁👍
@@douglasoglu
I met a Turkish man who went by a name that sounded and looked like Barahir. It wasn't that but very close. At least it seemed like Sindarin to me. Maybe you know some Turks with Sindarin-sounding names.
The many different names was the most confusing thing about entering the Silmarillion fandom, on top of having to learn who each character is! xD But I really love this aspect of worldbuilding on Tolkien's part, since it really reflects just how complex naming can be in the real world!
Do you do collabs? I can't think of a single LotR content creator that wouldn't be enhanced by knowing you.
That outro screen is great. Sauron as an electric guitarist is a woefully underutilized image that I've only seen here and in the Tolkien Untangled video on the Finrod-Sauron musical duel.
Nice work thanks
Which Elvis? Presley or Billingham?
Byah!
Fantastic!
Still easily one of the channels on this plattform with the highest level of quality.
Also - great Username!
Fascinating, very ahh, technically evolved, and thank you.
I really enjoyed the whole episode. But I particularly reacted to the outro. Cool and fun.
What of the "true name" that someone has? Tolkien seems to reference this, as a name that should not be given out to others lightly - if at all. It would seem to suggest the true name gives someone power over the individual. I recall mention of this idea from Morgoth's discourse with Hurin and Treebeard's discourse with Merry and Pippin.
Note: My inferring the import of one's "true name" comes from an out of Legendarium source, that being the Books of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin (who may herself have derived the concept from Prof. Tolkien??)
Love this stuff
Arwen just means Lady. 🤣
'Finduilas? No... already used that one. How about... hm... 'girl.' But, like, an important one.'
- JRRT, sweating his torturous way through the rough draft of Book VI
Not quite. It's more a poetic form 'Noble Maiden'. The normal words for 'lady' would be *heryn* , *híril* , or *rodel* all of which more or less mean 'lady, female lord'.
A drop in the ocean of Professo Tolkien's passion for language. What an excellent video friend.!!!
17:47 sth "Finnishness" ... intended pun on some Oxonian's part?
You know, that Kalevala fan ???
It says a lot about Tokien's intent that elves have up to four names, maybe in more than one language, and no two elves are supposed to share names. He really liked making names.
And he hated letting a good name go to waste!
@@GirlNextGondorSadly, I think his use of Gildor Inglorion was wasted in that tiny little bit with the 3 Hobbits.
Not to mention that his “house” was not really the house of Finrod as Finrod had no get. Gildor was later shown to be of the house of Finarfin.
9:53 Perhaps Teleporno was also a prophetic name, and he became the first person in the Undying Lands to have an OnlyFans account.
Shout out to the Silmarillion Appendices! A one stop shop for all of your Elven/Dunedain naming needs. Need a noble name? Just start with Ar. Are they bad guys? Add some Mor. Need a name for your dragon riding titans? Valheru will do nicely if your Feisty.
Consider this a vote for any language videos. The languages Tolkien created are at the core of the Legendarium. Feel free to touch on Adunic (Egyptian influences?), Khuzdul, or the Black Speech if you wish. What is your favorite on-the-nose name for a Legendarium character? Mine is the, not to be BBG, Herumor. Are we sure this wasn't just a place holder?
Extremely fascinating!!!! \o/
Ah-ha, but you left out how he packed a whole novel’s worth of characterisation into Maedhros’ name. Not only he avoid Nelyafinwë for obvious reasons, but unlike his brothers he does not simply Sindarinise his amilessë. No, he combines the root of his amilessë (Maite, well done or beautiful or precious, but also well *hand* crafted) with the root of his epessë (Russandol, basically gingerhead). Note that it was his maternal grandfather, Mahtan, who also had red hair, to give him his epessë. So his name might mean Good (looking) Ginger, or it could mean … red-handed. This is the name he adopts as a reaction to Thingol’s Quenya ban, following the discovery of the Alqualondë… incident.
So, Maedhros eschews his father name which is an explicit snub of his uncle (least he could do, but possibly he also found being named to spite his uncle a bit demeaning). He does not take his mother’s name of “Look What A Gorgeous Child I Made”, but he does keep the root and he combines it with another name coming from the non-finwian side. He is a Tolkien creation, and a Noldor, and a son of the greatest Noldor linguists - he knows it’s a dark pun and he knows it means, in context, “I am a murderer and I regret nothing”, with a side order of “Fuck you Thingol”.
I'd like to point out that you do not seem to be a Tolkienian Linguist, or you would realize that 'maite-russa' would simply mean 'skilled with copperwork' if you are looking for a double meaning. Normally, it's just 'shapely red-head'.
'maite-russa' cannot be analyzed as 'red-handed'. a) When 'maite' is used as '-handed' it is the second element in the compound. b) 'maite' is physical, not metaphorical, so 'red-handed' would simply be someone with a red or ruddy hand, not a bloody or guilty hand. and c) 'russa' means 'red, copper, *of hair* '.
To make it even close to English 'red-handed' it would need to be 'sercemaite' 'blood-handed' or Sindarin 'seregmaed'.
@@Trigm I am indeed not, but I trust the great Clothonono, where I got the idea:
“Maedhros the Tall, Prince Warden of the Eastmarch and Lord of Himring, to Elu Thingol, King of Doriath, greetings.
Hail King Thingol! We are gratefully made aware of your Ban upon the high speech of the Calaquendi. Be it far from me to argue with your wisdom. In this time of war against Morgoth the Enemy of the World, I can think of no better use of our energies than to make stern decrees on linguistic matters.
In fact, I thank you for the opportunity. I have felt for a long time now that my name was somewhat unfortunate. My mother in her affection named me Handsome-alas, the root she chose was maitë, which in its most literal meaning is Handed; you see the irony, I am sure. Therefore I am delighted to change that name for one more fitting. Henceforth I shall name myself in the tongue of the Sindar Maedhros, so that without discarding my mother's affection altogether I need not be so painfully ill-named. I intend it to be read as Handsome Redhead, which suits me very well. Do disregard any other meanings that may occur to you.
Elu Thingol, High King of Beleriand, to Maedhros Red-Handed.
I suppose you think yourself witty, boy. Your grandfather would be ashamed of you.”
When a mommy elf and a daddy elf love eachother very much, they have a baby elf. And they name that baby.
Thanks!
Thank you so much Rico! I had fun with this video. 🙂
While I am unsure if I will ever get a good grasp of all the linguistics behind the names and naming conventions Tolkien employed, it is still an obvious measure of the effort and care Tolkien put into the Legendarium that the names have real meanings and history behind them.
Don’t worry about getting a handle on all of Tolkien’s conventions, etc. Just remember that it took him a lifetime to create them and he wasn’t finished when he died.
more silm!
This is one of my biggest questions until I realized.. it doesn't matter
Lol
@@GirlNextGondor poor Billy Bob#33 in the army of Millions.
Perhaps Legolas liked to drink a lot