Sorry, I don't speak...

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thetha
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by thetha »

:vie: Vietnamese
Xin lỗi, cháu không biết tiếng Việt. Chú biết tiếng Anh không?
apology 1PERS.FORM NEG know sound Vietnamese | 2PERS.FORM know sound English NEG

-I used the pronouns that would be useful for me in a formal situation (which is what it would be if I was speaking to someone I don't know in Vietnam). cháu means something like 'child', while chú means an older man who's around the age of one's father. I assumed this is the pronoun I would use because an older person would probably be better at helping me than a person my own age.
-The negative particle goes at the end of the second sentence because that is how yes/no questions are formed in Vietnamese.
-The verb biết must be used in this situation because if you used the verb for speak it would sound like "I'm not speaking Vietnamese. Are you speaking English?"
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by míkl »

:hye: Armenian: (Eastern)
Կներեք, ես չեմ խոսում հայերէն. Դու խոսու՞մ ես անգլերեն.
Knerek', yes ch'-yem khos-um hayeren. Du khos-um es angleren.
/knɛɾɛkʰ jɛs tʃʰem χosum hɑjɛɾɛn du χosum ɛs ɑnglɛɾɛn/
Sorry, 1S.NOM NEG-be.1S.PRES speak-PRESP Armenian. 2S.NOM speak-PRESP be.2S.PRES English?
Last edited by míkl on 02 Jan 2012 18:23, edited 2 times in total.
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Xing
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by Xing »

:con:

Wa‘tē:

Xe māna, xe kū kela ā mai Waʻtē. Xe kela ā nō Waʻtēxegelani?
[ʔe̞ maːn̪a ʔe̞ kɯː ke̞l̪a aː mai ɰat̪ːe̞ː ʔe̞ ke̞la aː n̪o̞ː ɰat̪ːe̞ːʔe̞ŋe̞l̪an̪i]
PRST sorry PRST NEG speak ERG 1.SG Watʻē PRST speak ERG 2.SG English.
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Celinceithir
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by Celinceithir »

:con: Celinese -

Heconí ðo celínec né ceonú. Na g-cinfreg polís ceoní?
Grieve.1SG-PRS that Celinese NEG speak.1SG-SJV in soft-mutation/Welsh be-able.2SG-PRS speak-INF
[hɛˈkɔni ðɔ kɛˈlinɛχ ne kɛuˈnu na ˈgønvɾɛç pɔˈlis kɛuˈni/
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by Prinsessa »

As always, offering more options for Swedish.

:swe: Förlåt [mig[, men]]/ursäkta[mig[, men]]/tyvärr[, men][.] Jag talar/snackar/pratar/kan [dess värre/tyvärr*] inte/icke/ej/ingen svenska. Talar/snackar/pratar/kan du engelska?
:swe: Jag är dess värre rädd att jag ingen svenska talar. Talar du engelska?

* If you add this, you may drop out on the first word.
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Chagen
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by Chagen »

Kron:

Ona, Ci vadya kinu Kron. Tek vadya Ingleshvad ro?
[Ona, Ci vadya kinu Kron. Tek vadya Inglesh-vad ro]
[ona tʃi vadja cinu croŋ. t̪ɛk vadja iŋɟlɛʃvad ro]
[Sorry, 1SG speak NEG Kron. 2SG speak English-Language Q]
Nūdenku waga honji ma naku honyasi ne ika-ika ichamase!
female-appearance=despite boy-voice=PAT hold boy-youth=TOP very be.cute-3PL
Honyasi zō honyasi ma naidasu.
boy-youth=AGT boy-youth=PAT love.romantically-3S
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Cseúhro
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by Cseúhro »

:con: Palúnthurn:
See. Cuarettuh palúnthurnun. Cuarenhe eú angluésc.
[sɛɪ. kwaʁɛtʰ:ʊɪ palʊntʰʊʶnʊn. kwaʁɛnhɛ ju aŋ(g)lɪsˠ]
{sorry | say.I.cannot Palúnthurn.ACC | say.you.INT POT-PCT English}
:deu: [:D] | :eng: [:)] | :fra: [¬.¬] | :zho: :rus: :lat: [:'(]
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CMunk
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by CMunk »

:dan:Undskyld (mig), jeg taler (desværre) ikke dansk. Kan du (tale) engelsk?
:dan:[ˈɔnˌsɡ̊ylˀ (mɑj), jɑ tˢælɐ (d̥eˈsʋæɐ̯ɐ) ˈeɡ̊ə ˈd̥ænˀsɡ̊. kʰæ ˈd̥u (tˢælə) ˈɛŋˀl̩sɡ̊?]
Excuse (1sg.ACC), 1sg.NOM speak-PRES (unfortunately) not Danish. Can.PRES 2sg.NOM (speak) English?
Sorry (/excuse me), (unfortunately) I don't speak Danish. Do you know (/speak) English?
Last edited by CMunk on 03 Jan 2012 19:40, edited 1 time in total.
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Chagen
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by Chagen »

Föro:

Dxexm, Foxrosi retxamau. Inglesxsi retxbaii?
[Dxexm, Foxro-si retx-a-mau. Inglesx-si retx-ba-ii?]
[sorry, Foxro-TOP speak-1SG-NEG. English-TOP speak-INFER-2.SG]
/ðɤm, førosi reθamaʊ. ingleʃsi reθbaiː/
Nūdenku waga honji ma naku honyasi ne ika-ika ichamase!
female-appearance=despite boy-voice=PAT hold boy-youth=TOP very be.cute-3PL
Honyasi zō honyasi ma naidasu.
boy-youth=AGT boy-youth=PAT love.romantically-3S
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Ilaeriu
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by Ilaeriu »

:kor: Korean

미안함니다, 한국어 못함니다. 영어 할 수 있슴니다?
mian-ha-mnida han-gug-eo mot-ha-mnida | yeong-eo hal su iss-seumnida
sorry-do-PRES.FORMAL korea-country-language cannot-do-PRES.FORMAL | england-language do way there_is-PRES.FORMAL**

Romanization (for ease of pronunciation):
Mianhaminda, hangugeo* mot-hamnida. yeong-eo hal su iss-sumnida?

*the vowel romanized "eo" represents the ʌ sound, roughly the sound made in "uh."
**The construction "Can do ..." is formed in Korean literally by saying "There is a way to..."
This is written in the high formal level of politeness and formality, which seems appropriate; especially because you are asking for a favor.

:tgl: Tagalog

Pasensiya na po kayo, hindi po ako marunong mag-Tagalog. Marunung ba po kayo mag-Ingles?
patience now HONORIFIC 2P.PL, NEG HONORIFIC 1P.S know.how INF-tagalog | know.how INTERROGATIVE HONORIFIC 2P.PL INF-english

Commonly, to say sorry we say "Please be patient." The plural second person can be used to sound more polite and deferent, similar to the T/V distinction. So even if speaking only to one person, use of the plural second person is suggested.
(Also, I forgot what the glossing abbreviations were for honorific and interrogative LOL.)
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Chagla
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by Chagla »

Váhne:
Teś Iaem, Ìnglìsiers Waerrinem. Dágo Uáhnatres uaerreś?
/tɛθ jæɛm, ɪŋɢlɪɕɛrz wærinɛm. dʌgɔ wʌɴækʰtrɛz wæɛrɛθ/
You-subj(hon) Respect.express-I, English-acc speak.cannot-I. But, Wunhé-acc speak.can-you(hon)?

Uáhne = World.sound/One.sound/Ocean-Sky.sound
Uáhn - Universe,World.Egg,Oneness,Void-Light,Ocean-Sky,Empty-Swelling, etc, etc...
(This word is literally non translatable and not even describable in any language. It is a sound that represents the transcension of duality into infinity/emptiness, or Satori.)
e/he - speech,speak,express)

In English: I apologize, I cannot speak English. But, can you speak Wunhé?
thetha
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by thetha »

:usa: Navajo
Shaa nídiníʼaah, Diné bizaad doo diistsʼį́į́h da. Bilagáana bizaadísh diitsʼį́į́h?
1S.BEN THEME-INCH.2S.SUB-lift | Navajo language NEG INCH.1S-hear.IMP NEG.IMP | white.person language-INTER INCH.2S-hear.IMP

In Navajo, there's not really a non-idiomatic way to say "I apologize". That first clause means something to the effect of "lift it off for me", kind of like 'taking a load off one's shoulders'.
To say you can hear a language in Navajo, the proper phrase would be "I hear it (the language)". I suppose you could also say Chʼééh diistsʼį́į́h for "I don't understand..." where chʼééh is a thematic prefix used to convey an action as being in vain or unsuccessful. Either one makes sense.
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Avjunza
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by Avjunza »

Ax*!, sti ɟeþyzdukuþ Iŋliçno.
Sti ceþyzdu Ðalɟaŋadu?

_*, Pres.Stative 1.(Witness-Evidential).speak.NEG English.Acc.Neu.S.
Pres.Stative 2.(Guess.Evidential).speak Ðalɟaŋadu?


Shit*, I can’t speak English. Do you speak Ðalɟaŋadu?
*Close enough translation; it's a discourse particle used in frustration or anger (the Ðalɟaŋ don't have a concept of apology, and it's considered good practice to show your emotions.)
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anacharis
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by anacharis »

Image Oasitê

ImageImageImageImageImage ImageImage ImageImage ImageImageImage ImageImage ImageImage ImageImage ImageImageImageImage ImageImageImage ImageImageImageImageImage ImageImageImage ImageImageImageImageImage
Woita ngêno muya ʻai muya mepe waya iyuu. Wewi Ingawisi nuo muya mao-waya?
[woˈi.ta ˈŋɨ.nɤ ˈmu.ja ˈʔai̯ ˈmu.ja ˈme.pe ˈwa.ja iˈjɯ̌.ɯ̂ ˈwe.wi i.ŋaˈwisː ˈnɯ.ɤ ˈmu.ja mɐˈɰa.ja]
2p [1] speak 1s>3s speak NEG POT [2]. So(CONJ) English 2s>3s speak INT-POT[/code]

[1] ngêno: a subordinative particle indicating possession due to habitual use.
[2] iyuu: a modal indicating the speaker's dislike of, or regret for, the state of affairs indicated in the sentence. Not quite an apology, but functionally equivalent to one in this context.

"Unfortunately, I can't speak your language, so can you speak English?"
Last edited by anacharis on 12 Jan 2012 17:15, edited 2 times in total.
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Chagen
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by Chagen »

(This word is literally non translatable and not even describable in any language. It is a sound that represents the transcension of duality into infinity/emptiness, or Satori.)
Except you just DID describe it and translate it.

I'm really tired of this "MY LANGWIJ IS SUPER-SPECIAL CAUSE IT HAS WORDS THAT CAN'T BE TRANSLATED". Every language can describe any thing. Just because a lang has a concise word for something doesn't mean it isn't translatable.
Nūdenku waga honji ma naku honyasi ne ika-ika ichamase!
female-appearance=despite boy-voice=PAT hold boy-youth=TOP very be.cute-3PL
Honyasi zō honyasi ma naidasu.
boy-youth=AGT boy-youth=PAT love.romantically-3S
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DanH34
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by DanH34 »

Sorry, I can't speak English. Can you speak Zidhgebzhail?

Two options, firstly, turning the nouns 'English' and Zidhgebzhail' into verbs with a rough meaning of 'can speak [language]':

brevaz, vy joibzIngingkebzhailunops. dy klIzidhgebzhailunops?
brevaz, v-y joibz-Ø-Ing-ing-keb-zhail-u-n-o-ps. kl-Ø-I-zidh-geb-zhail-u-n-o-ps d-y hyn?
Sorry 1SG-ABS.MASC NEGATION-PRES-VERBALISER-English-folk-language-VERBALISER-SIMPLE-IND-can. 2SG-ABS.MASC QUESTION-PRES-VERBALISER-Zidh-folk-language-SIMPLE-IND-CAN

Or, more recognisably (certainly to an English speaker, anyway) and with a demonstration of Zidhgebzhail's method of verb-topicalisation:

brevaz, vil Ingkebzhailef joibzAizhlonops. klAizhlonops dil Zidhgebzhailef hyn?
brevaz, v-il Ing-keb-zhail-ef joibz-Ø-Aizhlo-n-o-ps. kl-Ø-Aizhlo-n-o-ps d-il Zidh-geb-zhail-ef hyn?
Sorry 1SG-ERG.MASC English-folk-language-SG.ACC NEGATION-PRES-speak-SIMPLE-IND-can. QUESTION-PRES-speak-SIMPLE-IND-CAN 2SG-ERG.MASC Zidh-folk-language-SG.ACC dummy.verb.
Loosely 'Sorry, as for me (I) can't speak English, as for speak[ing], can you [speak] Zidhgebzhail?

Dan
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Zidhgebzhail Orthography
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vampireshark
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by vampireshark »

Telèmor
Ve prie çe vua me grasire per s'angoluo nè savare. Ditre-vua se telèmor?
[vɛ prjɛ t͡ʃɛ vwa mɛ graˈsi.rɛ pɛr sanˈgo.lwo nə saˈva.rɛ | ˈdi.trɛ vwa sɛ ˈtel.ə.mǒr]
2.ACC.FOR ask.1.SG.PRES that 2.NOM.FOR 1.ACC excuse/pardon.2.SUBJ for DEF-English NEG know.INF | speak.2.FOR.PRES-2.NOM.FOR DEF Telèmor

·This is extremely polite language and, of course, would be most likely employed in situations where such apologies had to be made. Use of impolite language would probably get a very cold response.
·Adjectives in masculine singular forms are used to name languages.
·Word order requires infinitives and participles proceed to the end of the clause.
·Rising tone is used in questions.
·Except for the 2nd person formal, subject pronouns can be dropped as the verb inflects for person, number, mood, and tense. Dropping a second-person formal pronoun is an invitation to be beaten to a pulp, as doing so is seen as incredibly arrogant and condescending.
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The hyacinth wild on my shoulder,
My mouth on the dew of your thigh...

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AlphaOnOne
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by AlphaOnOne »

:con: Weika
Ojuai, Weikau na hirehan. Anguresu na hireheh ja?

OJUAI(Plural form of ojuau: apology), WEIKAU(The Weika) NA(Direct object particle) HIREHAN(Present tense negative self conjugation; To speak). ANGURESU(English) NA(Direct object particle) HIREHEH(Present tense singular other conjugation; HIREH: to speak) JA(Question Marker)

lit: Apologies, I don't speak the Weika. Do you speak the English?
Native: :eng:
Fluent: :esp:
Bit Shaky: :jpn:
A Lot Shaky: :rus: :deu: :fin:

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míkl
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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by míkl »

:con: Zbedi
Egå nå parlå ängelska. Parlatt zbedi?
[eːɣɔ nɔ parlɔ əŋɛlska parlatː zʷeːdi]
1S.NOM NEG speak-1S english. speak-2S.QUE zbedi?
:eng: [:D] | :esp: [:)] | :fra: [:'(] | :zaf: [O.o]

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Re: Sorry, I don't speak...

Post by Prinsessa »

míkl wrote::con: Zbedi
Egå nå parlå ängelska. Parlatt zbedi?
[eːɣɔ nɔ parlɔ əŋɛlska parlatː zʷeːdi]
1S.NOM NEG speak-1S english. speak-2S.QUE zbedi?
This is so cute. :'D
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