One of the
reasons why many westerners hesitate on traveling to Asia is because of
language barriers. Indeed, Asia is a home for thousands of different tongues on
top of hundreds of cultures. Communication may be a problem, relaying the
message you want may be a daunting challenge and surviving may be questionable.
Or, it may not be an existing problem at all.
According to
English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) and International English Language Testing
System (IELTS), Asian countries are not altogether illiterate in speaking and
understanding the universal language. If so, there are countries which can even
speak English as fluent as any native can. Surprise surprise! They also have
educational system which teaches English language and international affairs
where English language is being used to properly communicate. Business
districts in many capitals like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Jakarta, Indonesia use English in a day to
day basis. You may even be surprised to
meet a young child who has not gone to school or mingled with foreigners but
can speak and understand English. So for those who are just finding some dumb
excuse to visiting Asia and its wonders, your complaints are invalid.
But if you must, you can learn
simple tips to overcome language barriers.
1. Learn simple phrases
beforehand
It does no harm to review new
language as it does not mean that you will totally abandon your own mother
tongue. Simple greetings like thank you, good morning or excuse me can be a
good start. To get by, you can learn basic conversational phrases revolving
around things like restrooms, food and directions. Simply perfecting “how do
you say this” or “what this is” can be simple ways of learning bits of the
language.
2. Pay attention to
non-verbal languages
90% of human communication comes
from non-verbal languages. Gestures are of a global scale and it can be
understood by anyone regardless of culture or tradition. Smiles and nods can
reach a long way to foreigners and locals alike while touching and eye contact
can vary depending on customs. In Republic of Korea and Vietnam, it is rude to
offer or receive with only one hand. Gifts should be given or accepted with
both hands and a bow.
3. Bring a notebook
Although you have a sharp mind,
you cannot always trust it. Jotting down the simple phrases you have learned
can help you in dealing with the same situation later on. You can also use your
smartphones to avoid hassle. Just make sure you hold your gadgets tight as
there are a lot of fraudsters in Asian streets.
