Transcribing Runes
What's the difference between "translating" and "transcribing"?
I am frequently asked about writing in runes. People want to represent their names in runes, write secret or
cryptic messages, create runic inscriptions or spells, and a dozen other reasons. One of the big misconceptions is
that runes are a language and one has to translate modern English (or indeed any other modern language) into runes
before writing. But that is not the case.
The runes are not in any language. They are simply a system of writing, so you can write any word you can say using
runes instead of the letters of the modern alphabet that we use to write English. Just think of the runes as an
alternative ancient alphabet called the Futhark of 24 runes instead of the alphabet of 26 letters.
There is no need to "translate" anything as it will sound the same whatever writing system you use. Just as the
letters we call English are not in any language because they are used
by scores of languages.
The original rune users did have their own different languages - Scythian, Etruscan, Teutonic, Saxon, Danish, Norse, and
eventually old English or Anglo-Saxon. So there is no reason you can't use runes for any language you like,
including modern English.
The main thing to remember is that the runes are phonetic, in other words you write things they way they sound,
not the way they are spelled. Because runes do not follow English spelling.
Why should they? Runes were in use for hundreds of years
before today's crazy spelling conventions arose. I mean, why
would a runecarver write THROUGH for a word that
sounded like THRU? He wouldn't. He would write it the way he
heard it and so should anyone wanting to represent modern
words in an authentic runic transcription.
This is where those online rune translator programs slip up. They are called "write your name in runes" or
"runic translator" etc, I expect you've seen them in search engine results. But these scripts can't tell how
things are pronounced. They put double Ls and double Ts etc. in where they aren't needed, most of them don't know
that NG or TH are just one rune and not two letters, they are unable to tell whether a letter is silent or voiced.
Nor can they tell whether an A is pronounced AY as in FATE or A as in FAT. I have even seen a couple of these
so-called "translators" using incorrectly drawn runes - Jera written backwards is a common mistake.
So far I haven't found one of these programs that knows how
to transcribe diphthongs like CH and SH, or how to deal with
a Q or an X. There are
dozens more examples of this sort of thing.
So how do you go on then? Well, if you want some names, words, phrases or even whole sentences correctly transcribed into runes, but you don't have the
time to learn all the ins and outs to do it yourself, this service is for you.
The act of changing written English
words into written runic words is called "transcribing" and the process is known as "transcription".
Runic Transcription Service
RM111 Up to 8 words - US$8.95
9-16 words - US$14.95
17-25 words - US$22.95
RM110 Longer transcription prices on request
Just fill in the form below and click the order button. Your runic transcription will be supplied as a graphic image delivered by email, usually within a few days. The lettering will be in 36 point
Runemaster font - approx. ½ in. (12 mm) high.
PLEASE NOTE: The price is per WORD not per LETTER. So for example "thank you for
buying my transcription service" might be 39 letters, but it's only 7
words so it only costs US$8.95.
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