Using polite form

Est-ce que vous parlez français ? or Parlez-vous français ? Does it matter which phrase you use when speaking or writing.

I didn't think there was, but I'm going through the exercises in Ultimate French Review and Practice grammar book now, and they say there *is* a difference: The <i>est-ce que</i> formation is used in spoken and formal French. The inversion of subject and verb (parlez-vous) is formal French, *especially written*.

Thank you for your answer. Both are formal, but it is better to use Est-ce vous when speaking.

My understanding from my new Swiss french family is inversion is rarely used in conversion today, even formal ones. It is more for wiring.

Does anyone know why inversion is not the preferred method? I was starting to prefer it personally so I am curious. :)

My guess is that it's partly because not all verbs can be inverted in the *je* form, so it's not as versatile as the *Est-ce que je ___* form. It's also considered quite <i>soutenu</i>, so it's not an occasion that usually comes up, unless you're addressing royalty or the parliament or something. By the way, this same grammar book actually says not to do *je* inversions, but I know that it's not necessarily wrong, like "puis-je" or "dois-je".