Tag Archives: languages

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How To Order A Pizza/Beer/Taxi/Coffee in 15 Different Languages

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No matter where you head for your next holiday, you can be sure there will be no issues communicating with locals.

This is because a lot of countries around the world speak English. In fact, according to Wikipedia, English is the third largest language by number of native speakers in the world. If you take into account non-native speakers, it becomes the second largest.

This is obviously very helpful, especially if you’re travelling to countries very different to where you call home. However, it of course, means that you are very unlikely to make the effort to learn another language.

This lack of effort on the part of British and North American tourists is often interpreted as being rude in certain countries.

The assumption that locals will know English is a reasonable one. However, the expectation is something which understandably can seem rude to those who are already making an effort.

A great example can be seen in this article from the Telegraph. It explains why much of the British Expat community in Spain tends not to bother learning Spanish.

How To Order A Pizza/Beer/Taxi/Coffee in 15 Different Languages

It’s for this reason that before we head off on our next holiday, we should at least learn a few important things.

A great place to start is with common phrases you’re likely to use whilst away. You can find a number of great examples in a new infographic from silverdoorapartments.com.

It’s called ‘How To Order A Beer/Pizza/Taxi/Coffee In 15 Different Languages Around The World’. You can take a look for yourself below this post.

As infographics go, this one really does what it says on the tin. It covers languages from a number of popular destinations including Spanish, Italian and French. On top of this, it offers some for the more adventurous traveller, including Japanese and Russian.

Infographic

9 Weird British Expressions Illustrated

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9 Weird British Expressions Illustrated

One of the beautiful things about travelling is the opportunity to be submerged in another culture’s language. If you’re familiar with a bit of Spanish or French, it is rewarding to battle your way through the occasional shop transaction without just using the international language of ‘louder English’. In bars and on public transport, it can be fun to figure out at least the subject that people are talking about – it doesn’t feel intrusive when you don’t have a clue what they’re actually saying about it.

In more far-flung places with languages that rarely cross the borders, it can be liberating to hear verbal sounds and emphases you’ve never heard before. You really get an idea of how strange and wonderful the very concept of language is when you literally can’t understand a word. And communication becomes about something deeper than words – and hopefully more patient!

But make your way to Great Britain, and it’s a whole new experience again. Of course, we’re all familiar with London accents and at least a smattering of sanitized southern slang that travels around the world smuggled in British film and music. Travel a little further afield, though, and something strange happens. If you can figure out the words that they’re saying in Glasgow, Keighley or Formby, you’ll recognize most of them as familiar English. But the sentences that they are found in seem to be part of a strange code that only people from certain parts of certain counties can understand!

“You’re all bum and parsley,” “you’re peckin’ me ‘ead,” “that’s the badger!” – what on earth are these tea-swilling lunatics talking about? Well, you can turn up prepared to deal with all manner of strange utterances by first taking a peek at this infographic from Sykes Cottages. Britain is going to be a ye olde linguistic adventure like no other – so here’s a guide to some of the odd expressions you’ll hear uttered on those fair isles.

a-guide-to-weird-british-expressions

Europe, Infographic

Saying Hello In Each of Europe’s Many Languages [Infographic]

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When we are planning on heading abroad for a short break or even a couple of months travelling, there are certain essentials that we must not forget.

First of all, it is worth working out whether you’ll need to apply for any kind of visa to enter the country or countries you plan on visiting.

Travel Essentials

Visa HQ is a very helpful site which lists the 123 countries which warrant a visa for any UK visitors which is well worth looking at before booking your flights anywhere.

Next up, you’ll want to consider the currency of the country or countries you’re visiting. If you’re heading to Europe it is easy to assume everyone uses the Euro, however, this is far from the truth. Take a look at this list on the European Union site for the full fun down.

Once you have your currency sorted, there’s lots of smaller things which aren’t vital to your stay, but will no doubt make a difference.

Things like plug adapters, correct clothing, sun cream won’t necessarily destroy your holiday if you forget them, but will certainly make things a lot more frustrating and expensive.

Another thing which we should all feel is important when travelling abroad is accepting the culture we are about to experience.

Travel of all about stepping outside the comfort of your daily norms and embracing another culture, from its food to its art, its music to the languages spoken.

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Far too many English speakers have a sense of entitlement and get a little lazy when heading abroad, relying on the locals to speak a little English.

Despite being the third most popular language in the world, there are plenty of people who don’t speak it. For this reason, we should all perhaps make a little effort to learn a few words or phrases before setting off on holiday.

City Base Apartments have put together a handy infographic to help you on your way. Titled ‘Saying Hello In Each of Europe’s Many Languages’ it lists all of the languages and even gives the correct language for countries which share a common tongue.

Take a look below and get your language crash course started!

Saying Hello In Each Of Europe’s Many Languages