R, 270 265 bytes
function(s,`~`=rbind,m=matrix){n=nchar(s)
s=el(strsplit(s,''))
p=m(,2,n^2)
while(T<=n){a=4*F+1
p[,T+1:a-1]=c(F:-F,(-F:F)[-1])~1:a-2*F-1
a=a+2
p[,T+a+1:a-3]=F+1~(b=2*F+1):-b
T=T+2*a-2
F=F+1}
p=p[,1:n]
p=p-min(p)+1
m=m(" ",b<-max(p),b)
m[t(p)]=s
n=apply(m,1,cat,"
")}
Works by constructing the coordinates for each letter, then using this to put the letters into an empty matrix.
Commented:
triangle=
function(s){n=nchar(s) # n is the number of letters
s=el(strsplit(s,'')) # first split the string into individual letters
p=matrix(,2,n^2) # initialize p as a 2-row matrix to hold the coordinates
# (with plenty of columns so that we've enough to go all
# the way round the outermost triangle)
# now, F is the current loop, starting at 0
while(T<=n){ # T is the current letter index
a=4*F+1 # a=the size of the 'arch' (number of letters going up & over)
p[,T+1:a-1]= # set the coordinates for the arch letters...
rbind( # ...(rbind combines rows for y & x coordinates)...
c(F:-F,(-F:F)[-1]), # ...to y = F..-F, and then -F+1..F (so: up & then down again)
1:a-2*F-1) # ...and x = across the arch from -2*F to +2*F
a=a+2 # a=now the width of the base = size of arch + 2
p[,T+a+1:a-3]= # now set the coordinates of the base letters...
rbind( #
F+1, # ... base y = row F+1
(b=2*F+1):-b) # ... and x = goes (backwards) from 2*F+1..-2*F-1
T=T+2*a-2 # update the current letter index
F=F+1} # increment the loop
p=p[,1:n] # delete any excess coordinates
p=p-min(p)+1 # re-zero the coordinates to remove negatives
m=matrix(" ",b<-max(p),b) # create a new matrix filled with " "
m[t(p)]=s # and fill it with the letters at the right positions
n=apply(m,1,cat," # finally, print each row
")}