Our use of the schwa in English is because of vowel reduction. Most, if
not all, languages have vowel reduction to some degree for unstressed vowels,
they just don't all necessarily reduce to a schwa. Often it's a lowering
of the vowel (for instance a back vowel like 'u' might lower to an 'o', etc.)
This happens probably for the exact reason Pukel-man points out: it's more
comfortable; why use the extra energy to say a more difficult vowel, when it's
not really needed to differentiate the word. 'ease of production' it's
called. Schwa is extrememly easy- it's in the middle of the vowel triangle.
My point is that I don't think it's a negative characteristic of English, or
any other language.
What does this have to do with Tolkien? not a clue. I'd guess, though,
that he was aware that every language has vowel reduction and I'm not certain
that he would have entirely believed that even a language as perfect as elvish
would not have vowel reduction.
However, this is not a spoken, naturally occuring language, so he can force
rules that no natural language would/ could conform to.
So, I guess this doesn't help at all.
:)
