Animals
The great majority of animals in Arda are simple creatures, and learn no language other than their own. However, some animals are intelligent, capable of talking with the mortal races in their own languages. In some cases, these animals can take on the form of a mortal race (usually human, because they are so widespread). Conversely, some of the arcane and mortal races can change into the form of an animal.
Like the arcane and mortal races, the animals are usually ruled by kings and queens. These domains are not limited geographically: instead, all animals of a particular kind have the one ruler, acknowledged throughout Arda. It is rare for an animal king to not be intelligent.
Elementals
In Arda, the natural world is made up of five different elements: air, earth, fire, plant, and water. Every object contains at least one element, and an object changes as the five elements interact. For example, a piece of wood (plant) becomes smoke (air) when added to a campfire (fire), unless there is rain (water) or dirt (earth) is thrown on the campfire. Some objects have souls like living mortal creatures do: the object can vary in size, from a mountain or river to a pebble or rain cloud. Conversely, some souls have bodies composed of one element: those creatures are called elementals.
Most elementals and objects speak their own language, and do not learn the languages of the living creatures. As a natural part of Arda, it is possible for an elemental's soul to leave the Cycle of Arda if the elemental believes in the True Faith.