[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Raynor

I wouldn't say so; in Quendi and Eldar, it is said that Lambe Valarinwe, the language of the valar, is mentioned in the old lore of the early days of the eldar in Aman. Furthermore, in the comentary on chapter 3, Of the coming of the elves, Later Quenta Silmarillion, HoME X, it is stated that Orome "'taught [the elves] the language of the gods, from whence afterwards they made the fair Elvish speech".

Just had another look in osanwe-kenta and pulled out the following bits:

This refers to how the use of language has seen a decline in the use of/need for/ability to use sanwe:

tengwesta has also become an impediment [to sanwe. my words]. It is in Incarnates clearer and more precise than their direct reception of thought.

The following refers to Melkor's interest in language, but also hints that it is an inherent skill in Incarnates, not one taught by the Valar:

from the first he was greatly interested in language, that talent that the Eruhini would have by nature;

The following again seems to hint that language is an Incarnate skill, not one of the Ainur's natural abilities. It also suggests that having taken on a hroa and begun to use language, their own inherent skills of sanwe would decline in some small degree. Wouldn't you then, as one of the Ainur, be particularly keen to hang on to that hroa?

The Hroa and tengwesta have inevitably some like effect on the Valar, if they assume bodily raiment. the hroa will to some degree dim in force and precision the sending of the thought...If they have acquired the habit of tengwesta, as some may who have acquired the custom of being arrayed, then this will reduce the practice of osanwe. Bt these effects are far less than in the case of the Incarnate.

This refers again to what the Ainur preferred to use, and how language for some was a 'choice':

...the use of tengwesta or lambe has never become imperative, and only with some has it become a custom and preference.

And then to the nub of what I'm trying to get at. Melkor it seems decided or realised that sanwe would not always work as there was the distinct possibility of people using unwill and closing off their mind, and he really wanted to get at the minds of the good people. So he decided to pursue the use of language, and to use language, you need a body!

Therefore he sought means to circumvent the unat and unwill. And this weapon he found in language. For we speak now of the Eruhini whom he most desired to subjugate...their language, though it comes from the spirit or mind, operates through and with the body;

So, there's my idea. The Ainur, like Melkor and Sauron, wanted a hroa, a body, so that they could use language?