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Why does "merk" mean "meld"? Is it Japanese, Hymmnos, or something else?

According to the EXA_PICO Universe Wiki's
[Grathmeld](https://artonelico.wikia.com/wiki/Grathmeld) article, in the
original Japanese, it's グラスメルク, or "Glassmerk"?

Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel Original Soundtrack Disc 2: Song 24 is
originally titled as [Merk~Tilia](http://www.team-e.co.jp/kdsd-10044/) in
English letters, which makes me think it's Hymmnos. A translation is
[Meld~Tilia](https://artonelico.wikia.com/wiki/Ar_tonelico_Qoga:_Knell_of_Ar_Ciel_Original_Soundtrack).

I haven't seen any "merk" entry in any Hymmnos vocabulary list, so I'm not
sure what language "merk" is from.

Although, I suppose it could be a distortion of "make" or something, if it is
Hymmnos?


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ar-tonelico
Why does "merk" mean "meld"? Is it Japanese, or Hymmnos, or something else?


It comes from the German word Merck, and it's just the shorthand variation for
Glassmerk. So it's just a made-up term that is not in Japanese or any of the
conlangs made for the series.

First, Merk is the official romanization Gust gave to メルク, and the only
relationship there seems to be is the name of a pharmaceutical company and
Gust's liking for German-sounding names. So they just grabbed that as what
they thought most convenient as the name for a synthesis system for their
made-up world.


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