Gothmog: the poll

[the guy who be short]

Originally Posted by Nilp

He couldn't be a Nazgûl, as Gothmog is an Sindarin name, and all of the Nazgûl are either Númenórean or Easterling Men, with names derived from their languages.

Originally Posted by Formendacil

Sindarin was one of those languages of Numenor...

Akallabeth:

So it cames to pass that, beside their own names, all the lords of the Numenoreans had also Eldarin names

"Beside their own names" implies that the Adunaic names were primarily used, with Sindarin names used in records or in communicating with the Eldar, that is, less frequently.

That said, I'm not yet decided, and haven't yet been through all the threads on the matter.

EDIT:

Originally Posted by Nilp

But surely Sauron started recruiting Nazgûl potentials during the years of Anti-Elven Númenor. Those chaps would have Adûnaic names.

Originally Posted by North-Victor

That early on? I dunno for sure...

According to Appendix B, The One Ring was forged in about 1600 S.A. The Nazgul only appear at about 2251 S.A. though, so that should be the latest date of the Nazgul recruitment. About 1800 S.A. The Shadow falls on Numenor.

So yes, it would appear Sauron had started to choose his Nazgul potentials early on, but they would probably still have Adunaic names. So I don't think Gothmog could be a Nazgul.

Originally Posted by Formendacil

And anyway, Sauron himself used Elven letters on the ONE RING, of all things.

What other letters were there to use?

Actually, what if Gothmog was simply the name given by the West to the lieutenant? In that case, he would have a different name in the black speech, and so all this language debate would be pointless...

Sigh. I think my brain might explode. Good job, Fordim.

Originally Posted by Hookbill

I'm also doubting Nazgul as I think all the other Nazgul are named at some point, aren’t they?

Nope.

Originally Posted by Hookbill

But then again, The King of Angmar later became "The Witch King" so Sauron was a name changer.

I'm quite sure these names were given to the W-K by Men, not Sauron.

I prefer the Balrog wings debate...