G+ LoME Archive
Post 9EFFK9Xe7HA
James Coish, Rubén Rodríguez, Poetry, Jim Coish, Tamas Ferencz, translations

Tamas Ferencz Nov 06, 2014 (13:56)

Christmas is not that far away now, so in preparation for the festivities here is my Middle Earth version of the Christmas carol Twelve Days Of Christmas in Quenya. It is not a direct translation, rather a reimagining. It is singable - the booze and the paper crown you need to provide yourself.
Challenge: someone write a Sindarin version.

Hristoresse minya
Melda nin mentane
Lapatte lepettasse

Hristoresse tatya
Melda nin mentane
Cucú' atta
Ta lapatte lepettasse

Hristoresse nelya
Melda nin mentane
Holyer hróve nelde
Cucú' atta
Ta lapatte lepettasse

Hristoresse cantea
Melda nin mentane
Aiwi cinte canta
Holyer hróve nelde
Cucú' atta
Ta lapatte lepettasse

Hristoresse lempea
Melda nin mentane
Cormar lempe

Aiwi cinte canta
Holyer hróve nelde
Cucú' atta
Ta lapatte lepettasse

Hristoresse enquea
Melda nin mentane
Váni vilie enque
Cormar lempe

Aiwi cinte canta
Holyer hróve nelde
Cucú' atta
Ta lapatte lepettasse

Hristoresse otsea
Melda nin mentane
Alquar arte otso
Váni vilie enque
Cormar lempe

Aiwi cinte canta
Holyer hróve nelde
Cucú' atta
Ta lapatte lepettasse

Hristoresse toltea
Melda nin mentane
Vendi virye tolto
Alquar arte otso
Váni vilie enque
Cormar lempe

Aiwi cinte canta
Holyer hróve nelde
Cucú' atta
Ta lapatte lepettasse

Hristoresse nertea
Melda nin mentane
Nissi ninde nerte
Vendi virye tolto
Alquar arte otso
Váni vilie enque
Cormar lempe

Aiwi cinte canta
Holyer hróve nelde
Cucú' atta
Ta lapatte lepettasse

Hristoresse quainea
Melda nin mentane
Cundor canye quean
Nissi ninde nerte
Vendi virye tolto
Alquar arte otso
Váni vilie enque
Cormar lempe

Aiwi cinte canta
Holyer hróve nelde
Cucú' atta
Ta lapatte lepettasse

Hristoresse minquea
Melda nin mentane
Simpetari minque
Cundor canye quean
Nissi ninde nerte
Vendi virye tolto
Alquar arte otso
Váni vilie enque
Cormar lempe

Aiwi cinte canta
Holyer hróve nelde
Cucú' atta
Ta lapatte lepettassse

Hristoresse yunquea
Melda nin mentane
Yauli yarra yunque
Simpetari minque
Cundor canye quean
Nissi ninde nerte
Vendi virye tolto
Alquar arte otso
Váni vilie enque
Cormar lempe

Aiwi cinte canta
Holyer hróve nelde
Cucú' atta
Ta lapatte lepettassse

P.S. I know lapatte lepettasse is nonsense - that's the point:)
12 Days of Christmas - Christmas Carol
"12 Days of Christmas" is a popular Christmas carol. Lyrics: On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me A partridge in a pear tree. On the second...

Tamas Ferencz Nov 06, 2014 (14:43)

For *holye see http://middangeard.org.uk/vqp/doku.php/nq:holye

Jim Coish Nov 11, 2014 (04:40)

I love this. Question, would yarra and vilie be yarrar and vilier?

Tamas Ferencz Nov 11, 2014 (09:47)

+Jim Coish
I was using them in an adverbial/participal sense (geese flying, cats growling), that's why I didn't pluralise them

James Coish Nov 11, 2014 (19:45)

Ah, right. I see it clearly now. Thanks.

Rubén Rodríguez Nov 22, 2014 (14:23)

I have a question... why did you translate "Christmas" as "Hristoresse"? I always translate it as "birth of Christ" so I thought the word for birth is "nosta" and well for Christ is Hristo so I always translate it as "Hristonosta" ... thank you

Tamas Ferencz Nov 22, 2014 (14:55)

+Rubén Rodríguez my compound is Hrísto + ré "Christ-day"

Tamas Ferencz Nov 22, 2014 (14:56)

Of course Hristonosta is also a possibility (but it would be too long for the rhythm here), but as the song is specifically about the twelve days of Christmas until 6th January, I thought Christ-day would be fitting

Rubén Rodríguez Nov 22, 2014 (15:34)

Oh! Thank you! It makes sense :D