The Swedish translation captures the feeling of the original books.
When translating J. R. R. Tolkien’s classic fantasy novel, The Lord of the Rings, into English and other languages, including Germanic languages, few have done it as well in Swedish translation. The work of Åke Ohlmarks and Erik Andersson has been praised for their skillful use of English and Elvish, making a literal translation possible without sacrificing Tolkien’s writing’s original emotion and depth.
The Swedish translation project was initiated by Åke Ohlmarks in 1956 and completed by Erik Andersson in 1973. The project resulted in the publication of Sagan om Ringen (The Story of the Ring). When this translation was released, it was met with a mixed reception in Sweden and the rest of Europe but was positively received in Latin America and the United States.
The Swedish translation stands out because it captures the feeling of the English original while remaining true to Tolkien’s work. Ohlmarks and Andersson often had to get creative to capture the story’s nuances while staying true to the target language. This often included creating custom language packs and playing a language game where they would introduce words or phrases in one language and then find an equivalent.
By faithfully translating the feeling behind Tolkien’s words, Ohlmarks and Andersson created a version of The Lord of the Rings accessible to a broader audience. Their work captures the beauty of the landscapes described in the books and their spirit and emotion, making it a successful and correct translation of Tolkien’s masterpiece. Read more about Is Swedish a German language.