[Raynor]

Thanks lmp, that is one of the nicest compliments I ever received .

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:

I would say that a skill being "natural" or not to the valar or incarnates is something very relative; on the one hand, the valar are capable of pretty much any created being can do; in the notes on the language of the valar, Pengolodh notes that no lambe is alien to the self-incarnate; on the other, I guess that no incarnate can perform a high-level skill like language unless taught by peers (or others).

The Ainur, like Melkor and Sauron, wanted a hroa, a body, so that they could use language?

I think that language use was not among their first things they had in mind when chosing bodies;the choosing of bodies by the valar had more to do with their love of creation and Children's Eru:

Originally Posted by Ainulindale, Silmarillion

But when the Ainur had beheld this habitation in a vision and had seen the Children of Iluvatar arise therein, then many of the most mighty among them bent all their thought and their desire towards that place

Originally Posted by Letter #212

It was because of their love of Ea, and because of the pan they had played in its making, that they wished to, and could, incarnate themselves in visible physical forms, though these were comparable to our clothes (in so far as our clothes are a personal expression) not to our bodies. ... the 'habitual' shapes of the Valar, when visible or clothed, were anthropomorphic, because of their intense concern with Elves and Men.

[Also, from the same text from Quendi and Eldar I quoted previously that the valar "would inevitably during their long sojourn in Arda have made a lambe for themselves" - emphasis added; the use of language, although noted as a pleasure for them, seems more like coming with the teritory of being incarnate, rather than a purpose in itself.]

On the other hand, I guess that the chosing of a body by Melkor had to do, firstly, with "the control of the phisical matter of Arda",( as quoted in post #3), a control in which he expended a great part of his power, to his demise; indeed, the marring of Arda seems to be the most important, longest lasting, undefeatable save by Eru, act of the fallen vala.