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'''-ma''' is a [[Quenya]] nominal (concretizing) ending denoting a thing (usually object) having something to do with the root meaning; either having its properties or being produced by the verbal action in question; or even being a tool used to accomplish it.
'''-ma''' is a [[Quenya]] nominal (concretizing) ending denoting a thing (usually object) having something to do with the root meaning; either having its properties or being produced by the verbal action in question; or even being a tool used to accomplish it.


In general, ''-mâ/-ma'' seem to be stuck to naked [[root]]s or stems to produce the nouns. Eg. [[RIL]] > ''[[rilma]]'' "glittering light"; verb stems ''[[par-]]'' "to learn" > ''[[parma]]'' "book". However, full nouns can be suffixed with ''-ma'' to produce another object: Eg. ''[[líco]]'' "wax" > ''[[lícuma]]'' "candle".
In general, ''-ma'' seem to be stuck to naked [[root]]s or stems to produce the nouns. Eg. [[RIL]] > ''[[rilma]]'' "glittering light"; verb stems ''[[par-]]'' "to learn" > ''[[parma]]'' "book". However, full nouns can be suffixed with ''-ma'' to produce another object: Eg. ''[[líco]]'' "wax" > ''[[lícuma]]'' "candle".
==Etymology==
==Etymology==
''-ma'' derives from [[Primitive Quendian]] ''[[-mâ]]'' frequent in the names of implements.<ref>{{HM|WJ}} p.416</ref> Such PQ nouns have yielded Quenya -ma nouns, for example ''[[tuimâ]]'' > ''[[tuima]]'' or ''[[sjalmâ]]'' > ''[[hyalma]]''.
''-ma'' derives from [[Primitive Quendian]] ''[[-mâ]]'' frequent in the names of implements.<ref>{{HM|WJ}} p.416</ref> Such PQ nouns have yielded Quenya -ma nouns, for example ''[[tuimâ]]'' > ''[[tuima]]'' or ''[[sjalmâ]]'' > ''[[hyalma]]''.
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*([[SYAL]]) ''[[hyalma]]'' "shell, conch"  
*([[SYAL]]) ''[[hyalma]]'' "shell, conch"  
*([[GIL]]) ''[[Ilma]]'' "starlight"
*([[GIL]]) ''[[Ilma]]'' "starlight"
 
*([[SKEL]]) [[helma]] "skin"
*(*SLOY) [[hloima]] "poison"
*([[SKWAR]]) [[hwarma]] "crossbar"
*(*[[LAYAK|LAY]]) [[laima]] "plant"
*([[NAK]]) [[nangwa]] "jaw"
*([[SNEW]]) [[neuma]] "snare"
*([[ÑGWAL]]) [[nwalma]] "pain"
*([[RĪ]]) [[ríma]] "edge, hem, border"
*([[SIL]]) [[silma]] "silver, shining white"
==Inspiration==
''-ma'' is a frequent ending of Greek neutral nouns, such as ''thelema'', ''stigma'', ''enigma'' etc.<ref>"Elvish elements in Proto-Indo-European" ''[[An Introduction to Elvish]]''</ref>
{{DEFAULTSORT:ma}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:ma}}
{{references}}
{{references}}
[[category:Quenya suffixes]]
[[category:Quenya suffixes]]

Revision as of 14:22, 22 June 2011

-ma is a Quenya nominal (concretizing) ending denoting a thing (usually object) having something to do with the root meaning; either having its properties or being produced by the verbal action in question; or even being a tool used to accomplish it.

In general, -ma seem to be stuck to naked roots or stems to produce the nouns. Eg. RIL > rilma "glittering light"; verb stems par- "to learn" > parma "book". However, full nouns can be suffixed with -ma to produce another object: Eg. líco "wax" > lícuma "candle".

Etymology

-ma derives from Primitive Quendian -mâ frequent in the names of implements.[1] Such PQ nouns have yielded Quenya -ma nouns, for example tuimâ > tuima or sjalmâ > hyalma.

In some phonological environments, -ma appears in allomorphs in later Quenya: Nouns in -wa or -ba might conceal a primitive -mâ. For example PQ labmâ > Q lamba (metathesis of bm to mb) or PQ takmâ > Q tangwa (nasalization and strengthening of k before m and velarization of m).[2]

It is obviously related to similar endings like -mo (which indicates a person or doer) or -me (which form a more abstract noun) which behave and operate similarly. For example alma "wealth" vs alme "blessing", carma "tool" vs carme "art"

Examples

Inspiration

-ma is a frequent ending of Greek neutral nouns, such as thelema, stigma, enigma etc.[3]

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels p.416
  2. ↑ Helge Fauskanger, Vicente Velasco (ed.) The Evolution from Primitive Elvish to Quenya
  3. ↑ "Elvish elements in Proto-Indo-European" An Introduction to Elvish
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