Skirditaila

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The canonicity of this subject is uncertain. The precise canonical status of this article's subject is unclear. To find out about what is considered "canon" see LOTR:Canon.

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The Skirditaila was a script of runes "used by a Mannish tribe" of Edain, living in Eriador, for the Taliskan language.

History

Many runes were invented by those of the Danians who were originally part of the Ñoldor, the group of Elves possessing a special aptitude for inventing. After the death of their king Denethor, many Danians were incorporated into Doriath. There, Daeron, the minstrel of High King Thingol, invented the Cirth and Angerthas Daeron, the first two runic alphabets. Both Dwarves and Men later reused these runes, adapting them to their respective languages. Beyond the Blue Mountains, an Elvish script related to the Angerthas "was early in use among the eastern branch of the Danians" in Eriador. This script gradually spread to "a Mannish tribe" of Edain dwelling there and became essential to the development of Skirditaila for their Taliskan language.

Etymology

Skirditaila is a Taliskan name meaning "runic series". Christopher Tolkien suggested that its first element might share a meaning with Old Norse skera ("cut, carve"), Old English sceran, and Modern English "shear" from "the Germanic stem sker-". He also suggested that the second element might share a meaning with Old English tœl ("number, reckoning, series"), Old Norse tal, and Modern English "tale, tell".