The Language to Know before you Go

[Snore]

I tend to buy a good guide book to learn common phrases and words-"where is the bathroom" - beef, chicken, red wine, white wine.... You know the essentials.

Only time I have had issues is in Eastern Europe and London. Concierge in the London hotel was very kind in giving me detailed directions in "English", didn't understand. 3/4 of it!

[FSMike]

1) Cerveza por favor.
2) Muchas gracias.
3) Donde esta el bano?

Served me well in several places.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by 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?

If you don't have an affinity for this, I think it's more important to learn the nautical language first, as in "every damn part and direction on this tub has a different word than its shoreside equivalent".

But if you are brushing up on school lessons, like anglo-Canadians who usually know more French than they realize, you could do worse than to learn French and Spanish. While it is clearly dependent on where one is going, enough sunny, sandy and rum-filled destination are French- or Spanish-speaking to make that and English a trifecta of linguistic win.

There's even very useful guides on nautical French and Spanish, if you ever want to pick up local crew.

[GordMay]

Spanish & French for Cruisers (and more)
➥ http : //www . forcruisers . com/

LANGUAGE GUIDES for Boaters who Travel ... : SPANISH FOR CRUISERS and FRENCH FOR CRUISERS

[boatman61]

I remember back in the early 90's when I did a winter as Night Manager in a conference hotel in Poole... the Japaese used to have a little 'gadget' that they'd type their question in and it'd translate it to English.. then they'd stick it under my nose..
Clever folk the Japon's...

[TeddyDiver]

All spoken Nordics except Island and Faroes, English, Germany (not much use except ordering cheaper parts etc), Chicharrones kind of Spanish, some Japanese and now studying French. Maybe Chinese or Arabic next.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Spanish & French for Cruisers (and more)
➥ http : //www . forcruisers . com/

LANGUAGE GUIDES for Boaters who Travel ... : SPANISH FOR CRUISERS and FRENCH FOR CRUISERS

+1

The author Kathy Parsons is one of the nicest and helpful people you will ever meet... Next time you're at a boat show, look her up.... You will gain a new and valuable friend!

[zeehag]

i knew enough spanish to get by before i even bought a boat, and i also had a touch of french and a small droplet of german and some significant words of yiddish.
thanks to some schooling, latin, spanish and french, and the rest thankyou to friends in my past..lol..and work places....i pick languages up fast.

[chuckr]

we have the kathy parsons french book and carry it with us everywhere -- but we have to look up the word and point to it -- we tried speaking the word and the folks just do not understand us - but when we point to the word they say HA and tell us the how to say it --
in french we need to hear some words to learn how the pronouncation goes -
it is actually easier with the arabic book we have

[thinwater]

The touble with a little language is the confusion.

I once had a Spanish-speaking worker in my house that, noticing my daugthers 1.3 meter iguana, asked "What do you feed it?" I answered "salad and vegtables." He nodded knowingly.

His partner, who spoke english, laughed and explained that my spanish was not so good. His friend had asked "if we ate the iguana" and assumed my answer meant "yes, with salad and vegtables."

[MarkJ]

As Thinwaters funny story sugests, you either know a language very well or you can get into trouble.

I can say hello, how are you, how I am, can they speak English, and order beer in French, spannish, german, Indonesian and Malaysian.

Theres cruising translation books where you are meant o be able to say:"Im looking for a block for my main traveler."
Now, whats the answer gunna be. A loooooong paragraph in some incomprehensable language and you will look dumbly on waiting to die...

Forthose who want to learn a language for fun then pick one thats good in your cruising area. Thg. Eastern. Caribbean is great for french. Start with cafe and bar orders and go from there

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by 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.

It is common to find bilingual folks all around the world who will translate for very small wages. Many of them are not hookers but can cook.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by SimonV

I speak two language's, English and Australian.

Me, too. But I am originally from NYC - same deal!

[captain58sailin]

I speak english, bad english, read, write, speak spanish, and enough french to find the bathroom, boat, something to eat. I found once I learned spanish well, I could understand italian, portuguese, and read french. I am confident it won't take long to become conversant in the latin based languages. I once worked with a C/E from portugal who claimed when he got drunk that he could speak french.

[psk125]

Originally Posted by StuM

French would be better if you are heading into the Pacific

Or most of Western & North Africa. Or Vietnam. Or Cambodia.