When Smartling-a translation software company-recently asked me to share a moment when I was lost in translation, I had to pause and think. There have been plenty of moments when I’ve stared blankly at the person speaking to me, kicking myself for not having gained a basic understanding of the country’s language. As part of Smartling’s new #BreakingtheBarrier blog campaign, I was tasked with choosing a moment in my travels where Smartling’s services and ability to translate websites, mobile apps and documents would have been a huge help. During the course of my travels so far, one ‘lost in translation’ moment stands out where I needed a chalkboard-yes, a chalkboard-to break the language barrier.
I stared back at him blankly, willing myself to understand the string of words that had just come out of his mouth. I remember watching an episode of Heroes in which one of the characters has the ability to learn anything-music, language, snowboarding, chess-by observing it once. Oh, how I wish I had that ability in that one moment as my brain frantically tried to decipher the Russian words this guy just spoke. As the uncomfortable silence stretched on, I kicked myself for having taken no steps towards attempting to learn at least a few phrases of Russian.
Being a teenager at the time, I had foolishly taken more interest in the latest videos on MTV rather than learning some Russian for my upcoming trip to St. Petersburg. Now, there I was-half way across the world and completely inept at communication. I tried to respond in English accompanied by a series of hand gestures but my charades seemed to confuse him even more. I looked around the room and spotted a mini chalkboard and grabbed it along with some stray chalk and began drawing-yes drawing—photographs to depict what I was trying to say. This is how our conversation progressed then, with the passing of a chalkboard and poorly illustrated doodles to communicate whatever basic thoughts or questions we had.
My attempts at conversing in Russian taught me one thing: the importance of gaining a basic understanding of a language before boarding the plane. Although many people do speak English, it is a sign of respect and courtesy to at least attempt to communicate with locals in their native tongue. In my travels, I have often had to overcome language barriers but have learned to take time to prepare myself for whatever destination I am visiting.
In Italy, I knew enough Italian to order pasta at a restaurant, ask for directions and introduce myself. In France, I knew enough French to order raspberry macaroons, ask what time it is and select the smelliest of cheeses. While in Panama, I knew enough Spanish to visit a local Ngobe village and learn the process by which they make chocolate. In the past two years, my travels have taken me throughout Central and South America-each time improving upon my Spanish speaking skills and giving me more confidence in my communication. As I prepare for my upcoming solo trip to Buenos Aires, I have been deferring on my favorite ways to practice language in preparation for my next adventure and not get lost in translation.
On the subway, at the gym, at the office, in my apartment, on the plane I am always doing one thing—listening to music. I am constantly updating my Spotify playlists and losing myself in tunes that suit my mood. When I’m on the brink of a trip, I try to rotate in local music of the destination I am visiting. With a flight to Argentina booked for next Friday, I am listening to Spanish songs so that I pick up Spanish words and accents as I go about my day. Similarly, listening to a local radio station (such as Caracol Radio of Colombia) is a great way to get a feel for the language. While listening to music and local radio stations may seem passive, it is surprising what your mind picks up-even when absentmindedly listening. Another trick I have for practicing language is one of my favorite mobile apps, Duolingo.
Duolingo is an interactive language tool that uses quizzes, games and competition to help people brush up on or learn a new language. Any time I am getting ready for a trip, I try to use Duolingo once a day to practice and learn basic phrases to help me abroad. Of course, the best practice of a new language comes from being immersed in that destination and after two days abroad, I’m often surprised with how quickly I can pick up words and phrases out of necessity and bridge the language gap.
*This post is inspired by Smartling, a translation software company, and their #BreakingtheBarrier blog campaign.
