Uglúk u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman-glob búbhosh skai

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Uglúk u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman-glob búb-hosh skai is a phrase in Black Speech, spoken by an unidentified Uruk of Mordor, possibly Grishnákh. It was a phrase used to express a certain contempt in the handling of the prisoners Merry and Pippin, aimed at Uglúk and the Orcs of Isengard.[1]

Translation

The phrase is not translated in the text, and in Appendix F it is only identified as "the more debased form [of Black Speech] used by the soldiers of the Dark Tower".[2] However, there exist three translations of this sentence.

First translation

This translation appeared in the draft of Appendix F, published in The Peoples of Middle-earth. Here, it is translated as "Uglúk to the cesspool, sha! the dungfilth; the great Saruman-fool, skai!"[3]

Second translation

In a second translation, published in an article by Carl F. Hostetter in Vinyar Tengwar 26, the phrase reads "Uglúk u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman-glob – búb-hosh skai!", and the translation "Uglúk to the dung-pit with stinking Saruman-filth - pig-guts, gah!". Hostetter identifies the speaker as Grishnákh.[4]

Third translation

Yet another translation, published in Parma Eldalamberon 17, is from the late 1950s, and as far as is known, Tolkien's last word on the subject. Here, the sentence is divided into one long sentence and one shorter - only expressing more contempt.[5]

"[Ugluk] u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman-glob.
búbhosh - skai!"

Which is translated as:

"Uglúk to torture (chamber) with stinking Saruman-filth.
Dung-heap. Skai!".

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Uruk-hai"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of Other Races"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "II. The Appendix on Languages", note 6
  4. Carl F. Hostetter, "Uglúk to the Dung-pit", in Vinyar Tengwar 26, p. 16
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 78