This is just the vague bullshit artistry of stylometry. It's like phrenology or "psychic detectives" standing in as a form of pseudoscience, for those moments when we lack a means to describe true methodologies, and need an alternative form of evidence fabrication to service parallel construction's objective.
In this case, scholars enjoy and admire Tolkien, and it's fun for them to validate his ideas and steal a headline or two. Thus post-hoc rationalization leads them to negotiate a codified reasoning behind Tolkien's linguistic gut instincts.
Viola, now they earn geek credibility and we all can cite their pseudoscience as precedent for our own purposes.
In this case, scholars enjoy and admire Tolkien, and it's fun for them to validate his ideas and steal a headline or two. Thus post-hoc rationalization leads them to negotiate a codified reasoning behind Tolkien's linguistic gut instincts.
Viola, now they earn geek credibility and we all can cite their pseudoscience as precedent for our own purposes.