Thursday, August 11, 2005

Lost in translation

Situation: You are in a country where English is not a common language. Wendors Vendors, bus drivers, taxi drivers, teachers do not speak any language that you know. Most of the sign boards, grocery labels, newspapers are not in the language which you can read.

How will you communicate?

12 comments:

ioiio said...

I wont communicate.. I wud get out of that country in the next available flight

Lol :)

Arvind Srinivasan said...

Wendors = vendors :-)

I don't have to be in a different country, if i cross my state, it is good enough ;)

Learn the language !

TJ said...

Sign language!
I experienced this in Rome. Intially I couldnt get sliced bread, since wasnot able to explain them in signs. All i could get was bread rolls.. :(

later I could get even directions, without knowing a single world in italiano ;)

Arvind Srinivasan said...

Whats with TAMU bloggers today ? all *strike throughs* ;)

Lavanya said...

They are teaching that (striking out text in html) in our university today :0)

Random Access said...

hey i have a feeling u r bringing ur classroom into ur blog :P

Random Access
The search has just begun !!!

Kasthuri said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Lavanya said...

Hi Patrix,
I think Arvind meant 'Bloggers in College Station'. As far as I know there is no College Station blogger's club!

Maayaa said...

romba patience venum apdi oru countryla irukka!!!!

Arvind Srinivasan said...

ha ha Patrix - i was pulling the legs of Lavanya & Kasthuri in one-go with their use of 'strike through' effects.

Since both have TAMU in their profile, i used that to refer ;)

LK,
you still 'think' i referred to Bloggers in college station - too bad :P. Wake up - classes are over ;)

Vivek said...

Do you travel within India or outside India. I faced this problem within India. But its amazing how easy it is to communicate without knowing the language. I wouldn't say the same if I were traveling to a foreign country.

Ravi said...

Lavanya, language is just one mode of communication and English happens to be just one among the many languages. So I don't think language should be that big of a problem in an alien country when you know how to "communicate" (not necessary talk). Infact if you get the feel, its more fun!!