Visiting other countries often means dealing with other languages. While English is widely spoken around much of the world, you can’t expect everyone to be fluent. In fact, in many parts of East Asia, South American and rural Europe, finding someone who speaks English well can be quite rare.
This means having to get creative when overcoming language barriers. This is a lot easier nowadays thanks to digital technology, however there are still some old tricks that work too. In this post, we’ll detail a few handy tips to avoid getting lost in translation when travelling.
Knowing how to speak and read a few common words could be very useful – especially if you’re travelling somewhere long-term. Focus on everyday essentials like ‘hello’, ‘thank you’, ‘how much…’ and ‘where is…’. Many phrasebooks and websites have pronunciation guides that can help you to learn exactly how to say these words. Audio and videos can be particularly useful in hearing how words are said so that you can repeat them. Locals will appreciate you learning these phrases, even if your accent is a bit shaky, and they may be enough to get by (you don’t need to take a crash course in a language unless you’re planning on living abroad).
There are a lot of digital translation tools that you can use to translate text or even audio:
While accuracy of these tools can vary, the translation quality is definitely better than it was several years ago. Many of these tools may require you to have an internet connection, however some apps can be used offline.
Even when using tech to translate, you may still have to rely on gestures to get people to look at your phone or at a sign. Smiling, waving and pointing are simple gestures you can use (but be wary that in some cultures certain gestures may be seen as rude). Body language can also be important for conveying emotions – in some cultures, people may give you the information you want to hear as to not disappoint, but their expression or demeanour may be a give away that a ‘maybe’ is actually a ‘no’.
If you or someone you are travelling with has hearing difficulties, planning becomes even more important. Looking up tips on travel safety with hearing loss can help you prepare: this could include requesting written confirmations, having key phrases saved on your phone and even linking up translation apps or public hearing loops with your hearing aid if possible.
Breaking down language barriers involves both getting creative and also not being afraid to approach people. There will be awkward situations where people don’t understand you or completely misinterpret you, but these can make for funny travel memories. Most people are willing to help if you are friendly and respectful. Try to be patient and choose the right people to approach (a train station staff member is a better choice than a commuter who is clearly rushing to catch a train).
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