malta is a noun meaning the metal "gold" in Quenya.[1]
Malta is also the name in Quenya of the eighteenth letter of the Tengwar alphabet.[1] It is the second letter of the fifth grade or Tyellë, which contains "nasal" consonants and it is the fifth letter in the labial or p-series of consonants, the Parmatéma. In most modes this letter represents M.[2] However, in the Mode of Beleriand, Malta represents MM, a common occurrence in Sindarin.[3] The Westron name for this letter is Mí.[4]
Etymology
The word derives from the Primitive Quendian root SMAL.[5]
See also
- Quenya Corpus Wordlist edited by Helge Fauskanger
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Fëanorian Letters", Note, The names of the letters
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Fëanorian Letters"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Fëanorian Letters", footnote 2
- ↑ See Alphabet of Fëanor: Numenian, or Westron, Mode
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", SMAL-