Tyellë

From Tolkien Gateway

Tyeller (singular tyellë) is the Quenya word for "grade, order; a step in a stairway, ladder".[1]

In the Tengwar system of writing, the Tyeller were the six "grades" used to indicate modifications to a basic sound in Tengwar and represented six modes of articulation in the mouth.

The Tyeller were signified by the length of the telco and the number of the lúvar (one or two). Some specialized Tengwar modes had eight tyeller instead of six, containing an extended telco both above and below the line.

For example, where the first tyellë referred to the basic patakar, the tengwar known as Tinco, Parma, Calma and Quesse, the following tyeller would typically represent modifications of their basic sounds.

Specifically, in the sequence known as tincotéma, the next tyeller would normally represent the dental sounds like nd, d, th, dh etc, according to the system.[2]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

tyelle obviously derives from PQ *kjellê, from the Root KJEL.[3]

It is also one of the few words ending in -e which forms the plural in -r, instead of -i, hence tyeller instead of **tyelli.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), pp. 122, 157
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Fëanorian Letters"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 157