Discussing: Name for a Beorning?
Name for a Beorning?
Message: 48857
15 Oct 06 1:38 PM
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Hi all,
I've been researching the Beornings to learn what language they would have spoken and so what sort of name a Beorning would have, but it's been difficult. As far as I've learned, the language was an ancestor or a variation of Adunaic, but I've found enough leeway or variations in explanations to still wonder. Would it be safe to use an Adunaic name?
thanks,
docmon
Re: Name for a Beorning?
According to POME, p 272, the Beornings are related to the Rohirrim, and that language was specifically separate from the evolution of Adunaic/Westron. However, they spoke Westron in the Third Age, and I wonder how much of their language they retained.
Re: Name for a Beorning?
Well, what have we got for Beorning names? Beorn and his son, Grimbeorn. Beorn is Old English for "warrior," based on a root meaning "bear" (see also Beowulf, "bee-wolf," i.e., bear). Since Tolkien "translated" the language of Rohan as Old English, then you probably want to stick with names based on OE for the Beornings as well.
Google just popped up a nice site with specifically OE names (search terms: Old English names), with translations, which would make it easy to avoid all the Elf-compounds. There's a good run of Beornhelm and so on, too, if you want to stick close to established territory.
Cheers--
