Since cm can become cw/qu, laic-ma could seemingly become laiqua again, interestingly. Going back to the root doesn't work: lai-ma is already a word for "plant". My initial thought would be to use cm > nc and thus lainca. The combination aist occurs somewhat regularly, so it would seem that the diphthong followed by a ("short") consonant cluster is at least permissible even if not favored. Laicama/laiquama seem fine, though perhaps less compact with the extra syllable. Malma looks good.
As we began talking about plants, may I discuss a word for potatoes? I like the variant suggested by Laisi Finwen, cembas (earth bread). Another possibility is cemorva(r). But +Łukasz Szkołuda says those words are too human, non-Elvish in mentality. What do you think?
+Ицхак Пензев it's not about elvishness or humane-ness(?), but the fact that potatoes are widely eaten now, by people in specific cultures but I have no memory of potato being a cheap and stomach-filling miracle kind of food in Middle Earth... 😏
+Ицхак Пензев well the two attested Gnomish words for potato (grothorf "earth apple" and podod (clearly an adaptation of potato)) show that Tolkien was not really bothered by that. Nevertheless if anyone comes up for a nice Elvish name for the veg I am all for it.
+Tamas Ferencz how could I miss Gnomish?! Then cemorva seems quite plausible. And yes, I'll be extremely glad if you join the Elvish channel on Discord. https://discord.gg/uw3YBJD
Tamas Ferencz Jan 04, 2018 (00:26)
Tamas Ferencz Jan 04, 2018 (00:28)
James Coish Jan 04, 2018 (01:31)
Or then laicama/laiquama?
Robert Reynolds Jan 04, 2018 (03:59)
Tamas Ferencz Jan 04, 2018 (09:28)
Ицхак Пензев Jan 04, 2018 (11:00)
Ицхак Пензев Jan 04, 2018 (11:09)
Łukasz Szkołuda Jan 04, 2018 (11:39)
Tamas Ferencz Jan 04, 2018 (11:41)
Tamas Ferencz Jan 04, 2018 (12:04)
Ицхак Пензев Jan 04, 2018 (14:39)
And yes, I'll be extremely glad if you join the Elvish channel on Discord. https://discord.gg/uw3YBJD
Tamas Ferencz Jan 04, 2018 (15:11)
James Coish Jan 04, 2018 (16:30)
Tamas Ferencz Jan 04, 2018 (16:31)