Quote:
Gurthang doesn't talk. Turin, or rather Tolkien through Turin, is projecting his other, conflicting personal torments: In his despair he justifies his imminent act (of suicide) by focusing on all the ill-things that he had done with ihis sword i.e. accidently killing Beleg, Brandir etc etc. (Turin)
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But as Thingol turned the hilt of Anglachel toward Beleg, Melian looked at the blade; and she said: "There is malice in this sword. The dark heart of the smith still dwells in it. It will not love the hand it serves, neither will it abide with you long."
TS 21
I believe it may have spoken, but not in the way normal people understand "speaking". Near the end of the Third Age the Ring may have spoken to Sam (see link above), although I think it was actually Frodo's voice being used by the Ring. But the Ring, an inanimate object, managed to project its thoughts.
Sure, Gurthang/Anglachel might not be as powerful as the One, but it still has a will. The hate of its maker perhaps flowed to it. Perhaps it even influenced Túrin to cause the downfall of Nargothrond (pure speculation).
If it could do that, surely projecting a "Yes, I will kill you" thought to someone is a piece of cake.
Besides, if Tolkien was just using the sword as an object for Túrin to "blame", why would he make Melian see the innate malice of the sword? Doesn't that add a loose thread to Vairë's (history's) otherwise smooth tapestry?
(NOTE: I begin to see an echo of the "Do Balrogs have wings?" debate.
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