Re: Do you speak english?

Remi Villatel wrote:
>
> An easy translation exercise:
>
> Do you speak [insert your conlang name]?
>
OK, not much to say about Kash...

The absolutely neutral and correct way to ask:
aka hasende kaç? ['aka xa'sEnde 'kaS] (with rising intonation)
aka ha-sende kaç
Q   2s-speak ...

colloq. and somewhat fast speech:
ak' kasende kaç? ['a?ka'sEndi'kaS]

slightly less formal/correct (in descending order)
hasendeka kaç? [xa'sEndek@ 'kaS]
ha-sende-ka
2s=speak-Q

sendeka kaç? ['sEndek@ 'kaS] rising inton.

sendeti kaç [sEn'deti 'kaS] rising inton. --quite colloq. sende-ti =
speak-2s/poss, also = language-your

All these colloq.forms could shift the /-e/ of _sende_ to [i], quite frowned
upon.

Very formal: to nobility, insert the title or honorific, and vb. in 3d pers.
aka .... yasende kaç
Q  ...   3s-speak kash

Insert: calengi [tSa'lEngi] 'excellency', karun ['karun] 'duke;ruler',
karuñe [karu'Je] if female;
mesa, rona, sina, prana ['mesa, 'rona, 'sina, 'prana] children of nobility,
by birth order-- one would use these terms throughout.

prasimbi, pralumbi M/F resp. 'm'lord, sir; m'lady, ma'am' to high
govt.officials and/or spouses, titled or not-- once formalities were out of
the way, one could dispense with the honorific and revert to the 2s pfx ha-

One would use the professional title for doctors, judges, senior professors,
elderly priests and abbots, etc.

Obsequious clerk in a fancy store, to presumably well-heeled customer: aka
simbi/lumbi hasende kaç
Does Sir/Madam speak Kash?
==========================================

Completely OT:
My own weird experience-- I needed a fine-mesh strainer, fast, in order to
sift some sawdust (don't ask why); rather than go 1-1/2 miles to the local
supermkt, I went just a few blocks downtown to the fancy kitchen-supply
store. All they had was a German import, $8.00--
As I was about to hand over the money, I asked the clerk-- gay, according to
my gaydar-- Isn't there anything cheaper? to which he replied, Only you,
dear.  (Evidently his gaydar was working too; and fortunately I have a sense
of humor... but it was a jolt for a moment.  Perhaps I didn't look
well-heeled enough.)

The strainer has served me well for many years.