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The Basilisk speaks in Parseltongue that Harry can hear, saying things like "Let me rip you" "let me tear you," " I smell blood," etc. It speaks in full sentences at times.
It isn't just saying "I'm hungry", it's using threats and some creativity, using multiple synonyms (rip, tear, etc.)
There's no way that can be just a rough translation. It seems sophisticated. And yet it is controlled by the Heir? Just how intelligent is it?
When Harry speaks to the boa constrictor in the zoo, the boa constrictor also seems to display extraordinary intelligence. It nods and shakes its head, points to a sign with its tail (a sign it presumably can't read), and seems to understand very complex questions that Harry puts before it (such as whether its ever been to South America). Keep in mind that the boa appears to be just a normal snake in a Muggle zoo.
I think there's a magic to Parseltongue that goes beyond simply understanding what snakes are trying to communicate. Parseltongue seems to enable snakes to go far beyond their own intelligence to give the Parselmouth the information they desire. So it's impossible to say how intelligent the basilisk is based on how sophisticated its language was.
