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Originally Posted by Urwen
Okay. While I think of new one, could you please give other examples of things that 'speak'?
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1. Gurthang is not the only literaly speaking inanimate object. There's also the troll purse in The Hobbit.
2. A metaphorically speaking object could be anything that represents a message (e.g. Red Arrow, Ring of Barahir), or makes a noise (take your pick of horns and trumpets, as well as drums, and Pippin's fool of a Took stone in Moria).
3. Speaking silently is also done through writing.
a) Objects with writing on them, most importantly books/texts but any engravings work (e.g. engraving on Balin's tomb, Book of Mazarbul)
b) Places can also fall under this category given the Moria inscription, "Speak friend and enter"
c) On the topic of places, Legolas can hear the stones of Hollin and Ents and Elves can hear the trees, without any writing necessary
4. Various non-humans who may or may not qualify as characters (the thinking fox in FOTR, the rooster who crows announcing the dawn at Minas Tirith, the various speaking birds - Eagles, Ravens, Thrush). While the Eagles are arguably characters in their own right I am not sure that definition extends to all of these animals simply because they are living creatures.
5. Dreams and visions. While some involve a specific person, others have only an image or a bodiless voice (e.g. Boromir&Faramir's initial vision, Mirror of Galadriel)
I'm sure that if I kept digging I would come up with more examples and possibly even more categories, but this is just off the top of my head. If you don't fixate on a literal meaning you can get a lot of possibilities for non-humanoid communication.
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As for your riddle, the first half makes me think about the Noldor leaving with Feanor, while the last half reminds me of Elves and Dwarves.
How about one of the departed Noldor talking to Finarfin or Ingwe, who stayed?
Edit: you can also add bells to #2, e.g. the one trying to give the alarm that the Corsairs are coming. The list can grow and grow.
Edit 2: heck, the One Ring has an inscription! Yes, the list can definitely grow. Lots and lots of possibilities.