Brandagamba: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
m (Bot Message: changing link to The Shire)
m (→‎Etymology: linking; formatted for clearer reading)
 
Line 4: Line 4:
It contains the element ''[[branda]]-'' 'borderland' (referring to [[Buckland]] being on the eastern edge of [[the Shire]]), but also evokes ''[[Branda-nîn]]'', 'border-water' (the early [[hobbitish]] name for the [[Brandywine]] river).<ref name="AppF">{{App|F2}}</ref>
It contains the element ''[[branda]]-'' 'borderland' (referring to [[Buckland]] being on the eastern edge of [[the Shire]]), but also evokes ''[[Branda-nîn]]'', 'border-water' (the early [[hobbitish]] name for the [[Brandywine]] river).<ref name="AppF">{{App|F2}}</ref>


The second half of the compound, ''-[[gamba]]'', is a re-occurrence from the older name ''[[Zaragamba]]'', or [[Oldbuck]] in the sense of a male deer or ram.
The second half of the compound, ''-[[gamba]]'', is a re-occurrence from the older name ''[[Zaragamba]]'' (or ''[[Oldbuck Family|Oldbuck]]'' in translation), in the sense of a male deer or ram.


The river Branda-nîn was later jokingly altered to ''[[Bralda-hîm]]'', 'heady ale'. According to Tolkien, "only a very bold hobbit would have ventured to call the [[Master of Buckland]] ''braldagamba'' in his hearing". <ref name="AppF" />
The river Branda-nîn was later jokingly altered to ''[[Bralda-hîm]]'', 'heady ale'. According to Tolkien, "only a very bold hobbit would have ventured to call the [[Master of Buckland]] ''braldagamba'' in his hearing". <ref name="AppF" />

Latest revision as of 00:47, 10 November 2021

Brandagamba is the original Westron version of the hobbit-name translated into English as Brandybuck.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

It contains the element branda- 'borderland' (referring to Buckland being on the eastern edge of the Shire), but also evokes Branda-nîn, 'border-water' (the early hobbitish name for the Brandywine river).[1]

The second half of the compound, -gamba, is a re-occurrence from the older name Zaragamba (or Oldbuck in translation), in the sense of a male deer or ram.

The river Branda-nîn was later jokingly altered to Bralda-hîm, 'heady ale'. According to Tolkien, "only a very bold hobbit would have ventured to call the Master of Buckland braldagamba in his hearing". [1]

Note on translation[edit | edit source]

While "Marchbuck" would be a literal translation of the name, it would lose the traditional connection with Brandywine, apparent in the actual Brandagamba-Branda-nîn. Tolkien rather translated the name as "Brandybuck" in order to retain this connection.[1]

See also[edit | edit source]

References