- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
http://halosm.bungie.org/tipsntricks/display.html?collection= xbill.elitespeak
to hear how the Elite speech is done
http://halosn.bungie.org/misc/dialogue.html
to hear other speech, including more Elites
http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/stuntmutt/l337name/
hear to make up your own Elite name
In answer to your question the Grunts don't speak English, Grunts actually sound like dogs in their native tounge with growls and barks, kind of, its the best descriptor.
The reason we understand almost everything what they say is because they are the most encountered Covenant. Therefore we have more Grunt POW's than any other Covenant race and we have had more time to understand them and be able to translate their language. Because of this translation software in Spartans helmet allows you to understand what they are saying because we know how to translate it. As for the other races, the UNSC have translated some of it but we have had less encounters with the other castes and therefore have translated much less of their languages for us to understand.
Hope this answers your question