In your language is there a distinction between "dwarf" and "gnome" ? In russian in lotr for example dwarfs are called gnomes , in might&magic too, and so are the picrelated; in some fantasy settings like warcraft they are called with the transliterated non existent word "dwarf" instead of the better suiting word that represents dwarfismAnd what is the purpose of gnomish hats ? You never see them without it . I want gnomes in my setting to be deep forest dwellers and animal whisperers (i can imagine a single such gnome living comfortably with a host of beavers under his command) . why is it still expected that even forest dwelling gnomes shall wear these hats ? what do they represent ? its not that i dont like them , i just cannot find reason for all gnomes to have them
>>94415354In English, dwarf comes from Old English, from a root meaning...dwarf.Gnome comes Medieval Latin, from roots meaning "earth" and "dwelling".
>>94415354>>94416366I was under the impression that "gnome" has the same root as "gnostic", that's why the Noldor were almost called gnomes. Anyway, the hats are supposed to be very tall and brightly colored, so that you can see the gnome. That's why you always see them wearing the hats, if they didn't wear the hats then you wouldn't be able to see them.
>>94417022No, the Noldor were called gnomes because Tolkien considered them the elves most associated with the earth (hence, they make jewellery and weapons). Gnome comes from ge-nomos, ancient Greek for "earth dweller". Gnostic comes from gnosis-tikos, again ancient Greek but for "to know".
>>94419518Interesting that lotr dwarfs in greek are Νάνοι (nani) , in russian belarusian ukrainian they are gnomes , in polish they are "red-people"
>>94417022You have it the wrong way around. >>94419518This anon is also wrong. While the associations with the earth are appropriate, Tolkien purposefully conflated the two words. He used the word "gnomic", a word commonly used in linguistics, as his inspiration for this. Gnomic does come from the same root as gnosis and relates to the knowledge of the Noldor.
>>94415354>dwarvesSmall people>gnomesEarth elementals, counterparts to sylphs, salamanders, and undines
In my language gnome is a synonym for faggot no joke
>>94423988What language?
>>94419518>>94415354gnomes are earth elementals, genomia (γηνομια, γαια + νομος, gaia + nomos as in law) and dwarves are a type of gnome but fantasy has made garden gnomes into a different race and dwarves into another
>>94415354Paracelsus, who invented gnomes, insisted that dwarfs and gnomes are the same thing.
>>94423988no surprise, English does that with word "fairy"
>>94417022>I was under the impression that "gnome" has the same root as "gnostic", that's why the Noldor were almost called gnomes.No, it's a folk etymology by people who heard "gnome" and knew some Greek but didn't read Paracelsus.
>>94423582>This anon is also wrong.No, it seems you're wrong. Tolkien stated twice he was using the Paracelsus aligned definition of gnome, and it was a happy coincidence that it had another meaning to some that was also appropriate.
>>94415354In Fingolia gnomes are their own thing. Usually household spirits, that depiction has not changed. Dwarves and goblins are more or less the same. Maahinen is a earth spirit of sorts. Tonttu or gnome is just short for tonttijumala or yard spirit, sometimes every building has its own gnome. Its also recorded belief among some that the gnome was the first deceased human owner of the lands/buildings.I've read its because gnomes were at one point worshipped through depictions of erect dick. Some type of household virility ancestor cult. Apparently later the dick depiction transformed into small people/creatures with red pointy hat. Not sure is that widely agreed theory is tho.
