1st person singular inversion

Question

From time to time, in literature, I come across forms such as "parlé-je" e.g.
"Pourquoi parlé-je de Victor Hugo?"
Is this interrogative form still in use. Is it ever used in speech (probably not) or is it reserved for literary use?
Tom

Answer

Inversion-type questions are formal and, as you already suspected, mostly used in writing. There are, however, a handful of inverted questions which are used "as-is" in spoken French. For example: Comment vas-tu?

Answer

Hi Chris,
How formal is formal? Are you suggesting a formal interdiction of inverted forms in speech?
I must sound like a pompous idiot when  I habitually say:
"Puis-je avoir quelque chose" or "Combien dois-je" when asking for the bill, usually in the informal setting of a bar.
No one has ever commented on my pomposity. Are they just too polite?
Tom

Answer

It's perfectly ok. One would just notice that you're not a native French speaker, that's all. I guess it's about as "wrong" as saying "Could I trouble you to give me a BicMac, please?" when ordering at a MacDonald's :))))

Answer

Hi Tom,
If I may add, to me someone using 'puis-je' in an informal verbal setting would be equivalent to an English person using, "One does this, and one does that ..." in a royal kind of way.
So it does sound precious unless you are a member of the aristocracy and then it will be expected of you....
;-)