This is not meant for a discussion about the textures, if you want to discuss lore apsects please raise it in the TGD-thread instead; but for those interested I none the less sketch out my reasonings leading to my definition of the so called lingustic mapping.
- English is used by Tolkien to translate Westron, also known as the Common Speech, in Middle-earth. This means that many names in Tolkien's mythology actually are only anglicized translations. Easy examples are our dear Hobbits: Frodo Baggin's actual, in-world name is Maura Labingi, Peregrin Took is Razanur Tûk and Meriadoc Brandybuck is Kalimac Brandagamba.
- Westron partly emereged from the older language of the Eotheod and their desendants, the Rohirrim. Tolkien therefore translated their tongue into Old English/Anglo-Saxons, with names like Eorl, Eomer or Theodén [while Theoden's name is Tûrac in Rohirrim's actual language].
- The forefathers of the Eotheod in turn were the easter Northmen in Rhovanion, so Tolkien based their names on Gothic, with names like Vidugavia and Marhari. This he do as Gothic is an ancient Germanic language of the same family tree as Anglo-Saxon and English, thus creating the phontic impression of a timeline.
- On their side, Dwarves have Old Norse names (Durin, Bombur, Thorin etc), another old Germanic language, which Tolkien describes the Dwarves got from the northern Northmen (cousins of the eastern Northmen).
- First Age Easterlings are not related to the folks whoms languages are translated with Germanic languages in later Ages, yet their names resemble those.
Perhaps fitting the "germanic barbarians"-mold we are accustomed to from Antiquity? Would fit the internal perception of time, with the high civilization of Beleriand mirroring the theme of late Antiquity.
Brodda for example is Old Norse for 'spike/thorn', and Ulfang is a -f- away from being straight up 'wolf-catch' in Old Norse. Perhaps coinsidence, but I'm open-minded.
- Third Age Easterlings have one named land, 'Khand' which I argues provides a simple eastern references to legendary Samarkand, if not further sites over into India.
But more interesting is Variags. Which of course is a version of the name of the Vikings in Byzantium service. To an Englishman this make sense, Vikings also came individng form the east and the varangian reference enhance the sense of eastern civlization. And JRR did only write for an English audience - this we must not forget!
We do however know that many Easterling tongues are related to Dwarves own language, that in turn is based on the Semitic language family.
- The natives of Eriador and Dunland have a traditonal language unrelated to the Northmens or Dunedain. JRR uses Celtic to translate it (see Bree for example) - but again, their actual languages are not Celtic.
Now, Tolkien's methodology makes the world sound right to an English ear (and apperently his written directions to translators as a rule did hit home, hehe).
My conclusion is that we can find some guidelines helping us setting better rather than worse languages to use in our own "translations" of Middle-earth:
- Real languages are used, outside of JJR's own creations
- Old languages have pre-eminence
- Consider the impression provided
- Avoid known, immersion-brekaing names, such as of prominent historical individuals, or legendary persons (many Rohirrim names may come from Beowulf, but no character is named Beowulf, for example).
So from all this follows... | 
Resource: Harad & Rhûn names
https://youtu.be/5NKlr0vRX34?t=405
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Originally Posted by Deathshade
