
[quote="Zeonista":158v1tbr]Untrue, Tolkien uses the two words interchangeably in LOTR, so they are meant to be divergent Westron words for the same race.[/quote:158v1tbr]
Let's look at what Tolkien actually had to say on the matter. Incidentally, he uses both phrases in TH as well.
[i:158v1tbr]"[/i:158v1tbr]Orc[i:158v1tbr] is not an English word. It occurs in one or two places but is usually translated [/i:158v1tbr]goblin[i:158v1tbr] ([/i:158v1tbr]hobgoblin[i:158v1tbr] for the larger kinds). [/i:158v1tbr]Orc[i:158v1tbr] is hobbits' form of the name given at that time to these creatures...
[/i:158v1tbr] ~ The Hobbit, Author's Note
[i:158v1tbr]"[/i:158v1tbr]Orc[i:158v1tbr] is the form of the name that other races had for this foul people as it was in the language of Rohan. In Sindarin it was [/i:158v1tbr]orch[i:158v1tbr]."[/i:158v1tbr] ~ TLotR, Appendix F, Orcs and the Black Speech
(This isn't a contradiction, incidentally; traditional Hobbit words and Rohirric words were related. See the Prologue to [i:158v1tbr]TLotR[/i:158v1tbr], Note on the Shire Records.)
[quote:158v1tbr]In Middle-Earth, "orc" is a Westron corruption of the Elvish [i:158v1tbr]yrch[/i:158v1tbr][/quote:158v1tbr]
That may well be how it entered the lexicon of the inhabitants of the Vales of Anduin (i.e., Hobbits and Rohirrim), but I don't see how that's relevant. It does not change the fact that the only difference between the word goblin and the word orc is one of translation, and that they refer to exactly the same people, and do not reflect a size difference.
[quote:158v1tbr]The uruk-hai are explicitly stated to be able to tolerate the Sun[/quote:158v1tbr]
Saruman's Uruk-hai were yes; but my point was that it's possible they were in fact not pure Uruks but a mix of Uruk and Human. If that is the case any statements about them cannot be extrapolated to other Uruks.
I am aware of the history.
[quote:158v1tbr]So he decided to make up uruk-hai on his own, with or without consultation from Mordor.... The orc+man breeding program was ultimately successful in giving him uruk-hai of a useful sort.[/quote:158v1tbr]
Saruman did not "make" Uruk-hai, the Uruks were already in existence. Also, Uruks are not half-orcs, and any half-orcs would be definition not be pure uruks (though they might call themselves that). Saruman's did breed half-orcs, but he merely recruited uruks.
Incidentally (you may or may not know this already), according to Myths Transformed, Text X ([i:158v1tbr]HoME X: Morgoth's Ring[/i:158v1tbr]), Morgoth bred half-orcs too. I've always wondered if Saruman discovered some ancient instructions for how to do it or got the idea based on old legends or if he came up with his program entirely on his own. Tolkien doesn't say one way or another.