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[[Category:Names]][[Category:Oldbuck]][[Category:Brandybuck]]
'''''Brandagamba''''' is the original [[Westron]] version of the [[Hobbits|hobbit-name]] translated into English as '''[[Brandybuck]]'''.
Within [[Tolkien]]'s history, the [[Hobbits]] of the family known as the [[Brandybucks]] did not actually use that name. Rather, like many other words and names within [[Tolkien]]'s tales, 'Brandybuck' is an anglicised version of a more alien and unusual-sounding original name. In this case, the clan of the [[Masters of Buckland]] in fact belonged to the family known as [[Brandagamba]].  


On the same principle, the river-name '[[Brandywine]]' is adapted from the original '[[Branda-nîn]]', meaning 'border-water', and it is from this name that the branda- element of Brandgamba originates (it means 'borderland', a reference to [[Buckland]] to the extreme east of the [[Shire]]). The -gamba segment is equivalent to 'buck', and is also found in the older form [[Zaragamba]] (which translates into English as 'Oldbuck').
==Etymology==
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 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" />
===Note on translation===
While "[[Marchbuck Family|Marchbuck]]" would be a literal translation of the name, it would lose the traditional connection with Brandywine, apparent in the actual Brandagamba-Branda-nîn. [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] rather translated the name as "[[Brandybuck|'''Brandy'''buck]]" in order to retain this connection.<ref name="AppF" />
 
==See also==
* [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/buck buck] at Wiktionary.
{{references}}
 
[[Category:Hobbitish names]]
[[fi:Brandagamba]]

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

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "On Translation"
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