Mátengwië
Mátengwië refers to the "language of the hands" among the Eldar. It was also known as hwermë, and it was not a sign language of its own like Iglishmêk among the Dwarves (although both shared surprising analogies), but part of the corporal expression of the Eldar, which was the first thing they paid attention to when speaking. Men had similar gestures, but with different or opposite meaning. Elves put great attention to the details, so their gestures could change depending even the fingers. Early loremasters did not give much importance to hwermë, but it is said that Pengolodh collected much material concerning gesture-systems before departing from Middle-earth.
Examples
- "Asking for a gift" = one hand palm upwards (opening all fingers indicates great need).
- "Be at the service or command of someone" = both hand palms upwards.
- "Prohibition, silence, demanding stop, rejection" = one hand palm forwards (opening all fingers indicates more hostility).
- "Greeting or welcome" = one hand palm backwards (waving of the fingers towards the signaller indicates emphasis). In casual greeting, the hand was held edge forward.
- "Peace, completely unarmed" = both arms opened wide below shoulder-level with palms outwards.
- "Receiving guests" = stand up if seated, even if the host is a mighty king.
In making the one-handed gestures, either hand could be used without change in significance. Using both hands was more emphatic, indicating a command from a community or party, or from an authority via a subordinate.
Etymology
Mátengwië is Quenya, being a combination of má ("hand") + tengwië ("language"). At first, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote the term as málambë, but as Patrick H. Wynne explains, lambë refers to "tongue movement", so the term was corrected to a word coming from the TEÑ stem ("indicate, signify").
Referencias
1. Esta ficha se ha importado inicialmente de TolkienGateway.net el día 28/05/2026.
