Every Share Helps!

Today's post is courtesy of Ben Smith--thanks so much, Ben!

A few weeks ago I posted an article about volunteering in England. To go to a place where the English language originated is one thing but what if – as is most likely – you come to an area where a different language (or two, or three) is spoken? How can you make yourself understood and concentrate on understanding?

Fellow blogger Stephanie has posted some great tips on how to learn foreign languages quickly and easily here but if you haven’t got the time to learn, or you will not be in a foreign country long enough to make it worth the investment, keep these things in mind to transcend the often troublesome medium of words:

Don’t clam up

We have a tendency to assume that the people we are speaking with do not understand what we are saying, but increased globalization and education mean that languages can spread into pretty unlikely places. The people you speak with may know some of your language, or know someone near who does; perhaps, too, there may be words that are shared in your main languages that can help get the point across. We can interpret speech on subconscious levels as well, just as the skull and crossbones on a bottle of rat poison conveys what the bottle contains.

Speak normally

Unfortunately, for many tourists, the solution to crossing language barriers is apparently to yell more and more loudly until communication is achieved (and then to gripe about their own language needing to be instituted as the world language). But just as you would communicate with a friend or family member, treat the other person with respect and dignity, instead of patronizing them or suggesting that the tone of your voice means anger. A key difference between understandable speech and regular speech is that slang, inflections, and whispers will not often get the job done. Be clear, be assertive, be straightforward – in short, pretend as if you were talking with someone you’d never met because, well, you probably haven’t!

Unleash your inner actor

Photo from Flickr user dionhinchcliffe
Gestures and nods and waving your hands around may feel pretty awkward at first – and you will have to be mindful of being polite with these (pick up a guidebook if necessary to be sensitive to age, religion, etc.) but simple actions such as pointing to your head will be a better way of finding aspirin than anything else you could try. If you weren’t great at charades before, you will be soon!

Be humble

You will run into problems, you will make a faux pas (French for false step; there is my minute contribution to your language education) or several, and your intentions and goals may be misunderstood entirely despite your best efforts. Don’t worry, and don’t get discouraged. It took a tremendous amount of courage to speak to someone in the first place and you will only get better at knowing what helps you communicate and what does not.

Image: Creative Commons attribution, mroach.