Ork versus Orc

Kon Darkwind · Post by **Kon Darkwind** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 4:15 am

I've not played yet so call me ignorant, but how did you come about the decision to name the orks 'orks'? In almost every other tolkienesque fantasy, they're called 'orc's. When they're spelled 'ork's it has an eerie effect on me, immidiatelly relating my mind to seelife as Tolkien pointed out in one of his prefaces in "The Hobbit."

Kindof a dumb suggestion, but I don't know. At least think about how you spell it if you haven't already made up your mind

Gro'bul · Post by **Gro'bul** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 5:40 am

I beleive it's because orc wouldn't sound like "ork" in german, notice they are prenounced the same. Many things like this exist, moos ground = moss ground. Little typos like this exist around illarion. But most people just type ork to avoid confusion with german players.

Kon Darkwind · Post by **Kon Darkwind** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 6:23 am

Oh. Very good reason. Well, I'll just shut up then.

Uh... while I'm off the subject, is this site based in a German or English nation? Which language is it primarilly affiliated with it? I just want to know before I make any unexpected blunders.

Gro'bul · Post by **Gro'bul** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 7:40 am

The server is in Germany, the gamemasters and devs are German. So German.

Caranthir the great · Post by **Caranthir the great** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 8:43 am

I've never thought of the feelings of the German players by typing 'Ork' instead of 'Orc' .. And to be honest, I doubt I will either. If they are unable to get a grasp of what I mean with it, we probably shouldn't be talking in the first place.

You can use both, or then as compromise we can all start using the Finnish word for orc/k.

Aragon · Post by **Aragon** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 9:58 am

I think, the reason are the translations of Tolkiens books. In german, they are translated as "Ork". So all people in german only know the term ork (what doesn't mean, that they don't understand orc).
As used in the translation of Tolkiens books, it was also used in other fantasy books or games here in the same way.

The Returner · Post by **The Returner** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 2:48 pm

Illarion isent a tolkien book

ILLARION IS NOT LORD OF THE RINGS, NOR WILL IT BE.

Grant Herion · Post by **Grant Herion** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 5:02 pm

Nice spam there...

I am with Caranthir on this and I am pretty sure a lot of other english speaking players with admit, when we are talking to German speaking players we don't even realize 'what if our pronounciation isn't making sense for this other person'.
Hm, perhaps I'll change this.

Kon Darkwind · Post by **Kon Darkwind** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 10:29 pm

Since this is a primarilly german game, and it's formalised whithin the game's structure and webpage, it's only rational to use the term 'ork'. I was just checking the reason. Most of english fantasy uses 'orc' so I just wanted to make sure. I have my answer, so I'll quit bitching.

Aragon · Post by **Aragon** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 8:04 am

The Returner wrote:Illarion isent a tolkien book

ILLARION IS NOT LORD OF THE RINGS, NOR WILL IT BE.

What has this to do with this topic?
It is a fact, that Tolkien was the one, who created first in his books beings as orcs and elves. This creation made by him has influenced the fantasy literature and many authors after him have used his terms for their novells.
Sure, they have filled this terms with other background, with new ideas, with other racedescriptions, but let the name and the structure be the same as by Tolkien.
If Illarion is totally not LotR and won't be, the races has to become another name, cause the names are from Tolkien.
But the description of the races are not the ones by Tolkien, instead the ones on moonsilver, which are the background of Illarion.
Nethertheless there may be same ideas as by Tolkien.