Re: Do you speak english?

--- In conlang@yahoogroups.com, Remi Villatel <maxilys@...> wrote:

>An easy translation exercise:
>Do you speak [insert your conlang name]?
>Because it's so easy, I demand politeness, deference or formalism
>(you choose) in the question, the pronunciation (CXSAMPA), the IMT
>(Interlinear Morphemic Translations) and/or a very literal
>translation.
The question "Do you speak English" is ambiguous in Senjecas.
Although there is a present progressive form in Senjecas, this
simple question could be understood as "Are you speaking English?"

Obviously one is not asking about physical ability, so "to be able"
is not used.

Senjecas uses "qâla," to know how, to be skilled at.

tusë senjêcam vââta qâlar

/tus@ sen"jekam "Baata "Jal_da4_0/

tu-s-ë                     senjêca-m       vââta    qâl-a-r
2sg.-NOM.-epenthetic vowel senjecas-MOT.sg speak.vn know-
how-IND-interrogative suffix

MOT = motive case
vn = verbnoun

This is the informal form.

There are several formal forms depending on who is speaking to
whom.  Substitute one of the following forms for "tus."  The
epenthetic vowel must be retained to avoid the geminate
consonant "ss."

aasnârïus - non-noble to noble or noble to noble. > ââsna, to
ennoble, + ârïus, lord.

asâmas - younger to older. > âsa, to revere, + âmas, mother.
or asâpas to a man.

cuudsûnus - older to younger. > cûûda, to respect, + sûnus, son.
or cuudðûqus to a woman.

musïârïus - to one's sovereign. > músïo, of me (stative case), +
ârïus, lord.

A sample sentence would be:

asâmasë senjêcam vââta qâlar - Does the revered mother speak
Senjecas?