Glamhoth

From Tolkien Gateway

Glamhoth is a Sindarin word for Orcs. Literally, it means "the dinhorde, the yelling horde", and is a descriptive term referring to the loud and barbarous speech of the Orcs.[1]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The first part, glam, means "barbaric speech", and is an expansion of lam ("tongue, language"). An individual within the group is referred to as a glamog. The second element, hoth is a common suffix to denote a collection of people, usually used negatively.[2]

Examples[edit | edit source]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

This word has a long history in Tolkien's mind, but always had evil connotations. In its earliest appearances, it meant "fierce hate",[3] but later, its meaning became "shouting, confused noise", and became (poetically) associated with Orcs.

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

Throughout history, populations have always considered the languages of other peoples inferior, or uncouth to the ears. The term "Barbarian" originally meant "brabbler". Similarly, Germany is called "Land of the Mute", "land of those who do not speak our tongue" in some Slavic countries. A similar pattern is found in Adûnaic, where the word for "shout" (rûkh) is related to the words for "Orc", uruk.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin", p. 39
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Sí Qente Feanor and Other Elvish Writings", in Parma Eldalamberon XV (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), "Namelist to The Fall of Gondolin", page 25