Thread: Is speaking more than one language ever helpful to you while cruising?

Have you ever found it helpful while cruising to be able to speak more than one language?

It would be nice to speak another language i still have problems with the english language and i was born here also what language would be the best second one
paul

Good heavens no! we are BRITISH.
Seriously it would be nice, I can struggle through written French on a Menu to a point. Our European friends can speak several languages, we sit a a dinner table after say Crufts Dog show with several nationalities, they all speak English (most anyway) as well as other languages.

Actually, thinking back over our international ports, we got along just fine with English. The Europeans learn more languages than we Americans do!

Originally Posted by Char

Actually, thinking back over our international ports, we got along just fine with English. The Europeans learn more languages than we Americans do!

They do Char, they all have borders with each other AND another reason they all seem to speak English is mostly Music & films are in English, so having learnt basics at school they then get practice in life.We go to shows & judge dogs over there & to see people holding conversations in several languages is surreal.

Heck yes!! I try to learn at least a few phrases for each place we visit - hello, good bye, please, thank you, do you speak English?. I also try to learn the words for Bathroom, man and woman, so that if no one is around, I can find the room I need.

People are always happy that I at least give their language a shot! I think it has been the cause of better service in some cases.

Even if you can't speak a language, it's really good to be able to know how the alphabet is pronounced in different countries. This way when you see someone with a name tag, you will pronounce the name correctly, or at least get close. Since a person's name is their most important possesion, this is a GOOD thing!

For instance, in Hungarian,
Sz is pronounced "S"
S is pronounced "SH"
Cs is pronounced "CH"
C is pronounced "TS"
Gy is pronounced "DG"

2 popular names are Sandor "SHAN-DOR" and Gyorgy "(D)GEOR(D)GE"

Speak slowly & shout is the Btitish way!! Another thing is regional accents, in UK some of us can't understand each other never mind other nationalities.

John, my husband can't understand many British accents and he went to school there, so I understand what you mean. In the US, we have plenty of regional accents as well.

Not everyone is good with languages. If you aren't, and you can travel with someone who can, let them do the talking. Otherwise, consider investing in language flash cards and carry them with you.

Originally Posted by MCcruiser

John, my husband can't understand many British accents and he went to school there, so I understand what you mean. In the US, we have plenty of regional accents as well.

Not everyone is good with languages. If you aren't, and you can travel with someone who can, let them do the talking. Otherwise, consider investing in language flash cards and carry them with you.

We get along just fine thanks... I mentioned that there were regional accents in the Uk because many people see us as a tiny island somewhere in ''yoo-rope'' & would not expect so many regional differences.

We've traveled all over Europe and never had a problem with speaking English, but it would have been nice to know at least one other language, preferably French or German.

But one thing we learned is that while in the U.S. our schools don't really encourage learning another language, in Europe they are taught English early on. And most Europeans know at least two and sometimes three languages. Doesn't speak very well of us ugly Americans. We've always been treated better whenever we at least try to speak the local language, even if we don't speak much of it or speak it very well. They very much appreciate it that we are trying.

Then again, more and more English is becoming the international language. This is prevalent especially in business, but required worldwide for air traffic control.

Pete