The Tolkien Translation Game!

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Any other questions? Or do we need a hint?

[Jude]

I was gonna ask if it was spoken in the First Age, but yeah, I think we need a hint...

To bring to new page:

I don't like it even though I don't have anything.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

It was in fact spoken in the First Age.

I'll come back and give another hint later.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

What became "I don't like it" originally was a response that the speaker had to the person spoken to (and not that the speaker doesn't like the person spoken to).

[Jude]

Would a more accurate translation of the first half be "I don't like you"? Or "I don't like what you just said"?

[Voronwë the Faithful]

No, closer (but not quite) to the opposite.

[Inanna]

So, “I like what you said”…

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Not exactly, but that is sort in the right direction.

[Jude]

Something along the lines of "I like you", or "I approve of you", or something?

Or, "I like what you did"?

[Voronwë the Faithful]

More like "I would do anything for you."

[Inanna]

(But I won’t do that)

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Yes, though that is not actually covered by the quote.

[Jude]

Were the speaker and the addressee of the same race?

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Indeed they were. They were even of the same family.

[Eldy]

Was that family (some subset of) the House of Finwë?

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Yes! And nice to see you here, Eldy!

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Any other questions?

[Jude]

I’m stumped.

Were they discussing leaving Valinor and heading back across the sea?

[Voronwë the Faithful]

No, but they were discussing leaving somewhere that was not supposed to be left.

[Jude]

Is it something to do with Lúthien leaving Doriath without permission?