Re: Politeness

 >Since my vampires are a rather proud group, I thought it would make
 >sense that they would tend not to ask direct questions, in the same
 >way that guys don't ask for directions when they're lost.

        A curious analogy.

        The great thing about languages that worry about politeness is
that it really gives you beautiful opportunities to also be
unspeakably rude. :)

        Technically there is no conculture to go with Vaior, but I
can't really create a language in a vacuum, so there are strongs hits
of a culture in it.  The Vaior speaker is very much hemmed in by
matters of politeness.  Directly addressing someone by name is a
little rude, for example, and there are a bunch of honorifics like
"-san" and "-sama" that are necessary.  The full list, from the
grammar on the web page:

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     nath - the catch-all honorific, always used with colleagues,
acquaintances, people you're doing business with and strangers you've
just met. Often used even by friends. This is also appropriate to use
when trying to get someone's attention.

     nathamm - a more honorific form of the previous, used when you
wish to express respect at a particular moment. Using it all the time
is sycophantic: use it once then use just nath subsequently.

     ceirh - incredibly rude, directed at someone you've just written
off as useless or boring. If a speaker uses it with his own name, he's
being either humble or is trying to apologize for something. May even
be found with va in this latter use, though this is rather
over-wrought or humorous in any but the most private setting.

     -aihi - suffixed to any honorific, moderates or softens the tone
of an address.

     ahi - used with close friends or romantic involvements, but may
be suffixed to nath to express profound respect. Lovers may use
nathahi when feeling dramatic, too.

     anhai - used with someone being cared for, usually children but
couples may use it when one of the parners is feeling unwell or if
someone is feeling cutesy. For a doctor or nurse to use this with an
adult would be patronizing.
----------------------------------------

        So, you can't just say, "William, How are you?" but rather "e
L