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Tolkien & Scandinavian miscellany from ''An Odd Discovery''

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:26 pm
by _Spurven Ten Sing
Manfred wrote:Nehor's post seems to me infinitely more plausible than the OP's blog entry.

And if anyone knows plausibility, it's a Mormling!

Re: An Odd Discovery

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:47 pm
by _Manfred
Spurven Ten Sing wrote:
Manfred wrote:Nehor's post seems to me infinitely more plausible than the OP's blog entry.

And if anyone knows plausibility, it's a Mormling!

I am honored to have been the recipient of your 666th post on Mormon Discussions! Cheers!

;)

Re: An Odd Discovery

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:14 pm
by _Blixa
Manfred wrote:
Spurven Ten Sing wrote:And if anyone knows plausibility, it's a Mormling!

I am honored to have been the recipient of your 666th post on Mormon Discussions! Cheers!

;)


This is the first I've seen the term "Mormling." It's kinda sweet and affectionate, no? With a bit of Tolkien to it? I hope you meant it that way, Spurven. If I use it, that's how I'm gonna mean it: "Moksha is one of my favorite Mormlings."

Re: An Odd Discovery

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:22 pm
by _Spurven Ten Sing
I am happy I now have an excuse for being a dork. Manfred, I have never thought or believed that you were or are deficient in any way. I was just saying something stupid. I apologize.

To make it up to you, may I offer the term as your new Viking name? Manfred the Mormling sounds good to me. What do you think?

Re: An Odd Discovery

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:26 pm
by _KimberlyAnn
Blixa wrote:This is the first I've seen the term "Mormling." It's kinda sweet and affectionate, no? With a bit of Tolkien to it? I hope you meant it that way, Spurven. If I use it, that's how I'm gonna mean it: "Moksha is one of my favorite Mormlings."


Yes, Blixa, it seems affectionate and I like it, as well! "Mormlings" is a wonderful description of my much-loved little neighbor children, who are actually due at my doorstep any minute.

Also, you're spot-on, as usual: Tolkien's hobbits were halflings.

Thanks, Spurven!

KA

Re: An Odd Discovery

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:28 pm
by _Spurven Ten Sing
Tolkien was a lot of things to a lot of people, back in the day when scholars were expected to be fluent in several fields. I am gratified, however, that Scandinavian medieval history was one of his favorite periods. He lifted much of Midgard (also Scandinavian) directly from the region that is our shared passion.

The -ing and -ling suffixes are so common to all six Nordic languages that adding -ling to Morm- was natural to me, not necessarily a copying of Tolkien.

If you or anyone ever has any questions about Scandinavian history or culture of any period, I am the man to see. It is the one perk of studying my way into hyper-specialization. A decade of college must count for something!

ETA: for extra credit, name all six Nordic languages. Old Norse is not included.

Re: An Odd Discovery

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:54 pm
by _Blixa
Spurven Ten Sing wrote:Tolkien was a lot of things to a lot of people, back in the day when scholars were expected to be fluent in several fields. I am gratified, however, that Scandinavian medieval history was one of his favorite periods. He lifted much of Midgard (also Scandinavian) directly from the region that is our shared passion.

The -ing and -ling suffixes are so common to all six Nordic languages that adding -ling to Morm- was natural to me, not necessarily a copying of Tolkien.

If you or anyone ever has any questions about Scandinavian history or culture of any period, I am the man to see. It is the one perk of studying my way into hyper-specialization. A decade of college must count for something!

ETA: for extra credit, name all six Nordic languages. Old Norse is not included.



Damn! I had to sell my 16 vol. set of leather bound illustrated Norse Sagas when I was a starving graduate student! Curses!

Re: An Odd Discovery

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:16 pm
by _Spurven Ten Sing
Despair not, fru professor, all the Sagas, the Elder Eddas, and the normal younger Eddas, are available in many places on line. Exceptional prose and poetry is still exceptional in 1s and 0s. Start with Egil Skalagrimsson.

Re: An Odd Discovery

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 10:31 pm
by _MCB
Damn! I had to sell my 16 vol. set of leather bound illustrated Norse Sagas when I was a starving graduate student! Curses!
Oh!! Blixa--a very sad tale.


STS----
Despair not, fru professor, all the Sagas, the Elder Eddas, and the normal younger Eddas, are available in many places on line. Exceptional prose and poetry is still exceptional in 1s and 0s. Start with Egil Skalagrimsson.
OH NO!! Here I go chasing after more old tails. I'm just one confused kitten. http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/egil/index.htm

Re: An Odd Discovery

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 10:36 pm
by _Spurven Ten Sing
I recommend the Saga of Eirik the Red, Groelandingerssaga, and the Saga of Egil Skallagrimsson. Then read some Eddas, esp the Lay of Atle. Oh, and Landnamssagan.