The Language to Know before you Go

[got seashells?]

First, how many of you decided to learn a new language before you took off and what language did you learn the easiest? Or do you just wing it?

[SimonV]

I speak two language's, English and Australian. The rest we wing it but you do pick some up as you interact with the locals.

[boatman61]

I just winged it.. but I've an ear for languages and pick up the important bits fairly quickly.. mainly coz I don't mind being silly.
However I'd suggest Spanish as that's the next most widely spoken language after English... just allow for variations but you'll generally be understood in many countries.

[belizesailor]

Depends of course on where you plan to cruise, but Spanish is useful in a big chunk of the world now...epecially in places like Texas and Florida! ;-)

[StuM]

French would be better if you are heading into the Pacific

[Hud3]

Originally Posted by StuM

French would be better if you are heading into the Pacific

And if you're headed for the Lesser Antilles.

[senormechanico]

If you can understand Spanish, you can wing a bunch of other languages.
Italian and Portuguese are similar.

[bobconnie]

Connie and I are like Boatie, we pick em up pretty easy, We have found that trying is more important(as long as ya smile!!) then being real good at it !! Heck now a days they must have APPs for this stuff now maybe ?? Seems like we are finding more and more english speaking folks these days then 10 15 yrs ago! At least where we cruise!( belize mexico)

[StuM]

> Heck now a days they must have APPs for this stuff

Android tablet/phone + Google Translate, you can download offline language packs so that you can use it anywhere without an internet connection.

[Tantalus]

There is software for Android phones that allows you speak in english and it will translate and speak back in your choice of about 50 languages.

[Bestathook]

I have been around the world several times.

Spanish is very useful.

Even in countries where thy don't speak Spanish, it is often spoken by people who deal with foreigners.

[markpierce]

I've been able to get by using English, but haven't visited Asia or Africa; nor Australia and New Zealand, but don't expect serious difficulty there. Reminds me, we communicated effectively with an Italian-only-speaking nun in Venice, mostly using physical gestures, discussing procedures for our stay in her nunnery.

[Jammer Six]

1. Pick up a three dollar, bilingual hooker.
2. Give her $50 a day to stay close.

This works best if she cooks.

[chuckr]

we have been out 6 years and done the entire caribbean except venz and the abcs and cuba - but we took spanish lessons in cartagena colombia and it was incredibly useful - except guadulope and martinique english works in the eastern carib -
we crossed the pond this past may and spanish worked great in portugal and spain and the balerics but when we got to sardinia - well it was a bit difficult and now in tunisia where arabic and french are used most we are struggling - the french crusing language book helps a bit but we need tapes to hear how words are pronounced - we showed the book to some of the french cruisers down here and they laughed and shook their heads -
we also have an english arabic book and with the help of the locals we are beginning to learn a bit - english works but you just have to be patient and work with the folks as this is their country and you are just visiting -
someone told us we should have learned the language before we left and we asked which ones - spanish, italian, french, greek, turkish, arabic or you name it -
good luck and part of the wonder of cruising is working out what you want - but the locals really appreciate it if you learn just a bit of their language - it goes a long way

[Gerrycooper56]

English and Australian works well except for some places in the US. First they think your English and when you tell them you're from the Deep South they think it's Alabama.