How do you pronounce the name of the great J.R.R. Tolkien?
Poll to follow.
Despite what my friend says, about how he heard him pronounce his own name on a tape, I pronounce it:
“token” like a game token.
Three syllables, with the emphasis on the first, which wasn’t an option in the poll.
So would that be TOLL-key-in, TALL-key-in, toll-KEY-in, tall-KEY-in, or something else?
The first one.
Edit:
Actually no. TOLL-key-en.
Other: TOLL-kane
I don’t see how you get that. The digraph “ei” is often pronounced like the diphthong ending “day” and “they,” but I can’t think of a single word in which “ie” is pronounced that way.
TOL-kin. Maybe just between that and TOL-keen, but closer to TOL-kin.
I voted “Other” as neither “kin” nor “ken” are correct.
it’s (very approximately)
TOLL - keen
Bah, a three-syllable-but-emphasis-on-the-first was supposed to be one of the examples for that option.
TOLL-key-uhn is how I’ve always heard it, so I voted “other.”
According to this thread on The Tolkien Forum, where the same question is discussed, the prevailing consensus seems to be TOL-kin or TOL-keen (two syllables, not three, with accent on the first). Many of the posters there cite a letter written by Tolkien in which the author himself seems to clarify this. There is also a mention of standard German pronunciation, where “ie” is pronounced like English “ee”
Stressed Tol, but long* kien*. Maybe equal stress sometimes?
Actually, very like “Toll keen” come to think of it, but not separated into different words.
Beats me. Willful mispronunciation? Nah. What’s left of my Philly accent? Probably not. My 9th grade English teacher? Well, that was the first time I heard the name pronounced, so it must be Mr. Redican’s fault. 
And that was?
Throat-Warbler Mangrove. (Come on, you knew someone was going to do it.)
I say TOL-kin, myself.
He said that the professer pronounced his own name “toll-keen”.
But in my 13 year old head he had a silent “L” as in Sherlock Holmes.
And thats the way I likes it.
I’ve always pronounced it Toll-kin, but the Brits I know use Toll-keen. But then again they also say Van Goff for the painter.
TOLL-key-en. This is how it’s usually pronounced in Sweden.
I didn’t know it was a German name.