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Re: Do you speak english?

From:caeruleancentaur <caeruleancentaur@...>
Date:Monday, March 27, 2006, 15:48
--- 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?