Pocket dictionaries

I never leave home without the appropriate Rick Steves, or other pocket dictionary. Months before my trip I study the language via CD courses, and this has been more than adequate, but it's good to have the backup of a dictionary, you never know what might come up. Get a small one that fits in your pocket and it will be no hassle to bring everywhere.

It's not a bad idea, but if you visit a few countries and want to pack light, it might be a bit inconvenient. I wonder if those small electronic dictionaries would be worth it.

Electronic dictionaries have been discussed here before. I think the overall consensus was that they don't work well enough to bother with.

I carried the Italian book with me in Rome for the first few days. Then I decided it was unnecessary weight, so I would review certain phrases I thought would come in handy and tried to remember them. If you have certain phrases that are essential "I am allergic to..." you might consider writing them on an index card, carry that, and wing the rest of it.

I think that using a phrase book to speak a language is like (sorry) learning to make love from a book. There is no substitute for the real thing. The problem with phrase books is they teach you how to ask a question, but they don't tell you how to understand the answer. People who are fluent in the language can answer your question so many way - there is no way to cover them all in a phrase book.

My suggestion is, don't go to a country unless you have some knowledge of the language. If you want to go somewhere, study the language for at least a year.

"study the language for at least a year" before one travels abroad???? Life is too short for that! Ricks says it best "anywhere you travel, if someone wants your money/business they will speak English". I never let language barriers limit me when I choose my next destination. This is what guidebooks were invented for!

I've never taken one with me - I'm fluent in Spanish, and I've found that I can get by fairly easily in France and Italy with that background. I know very basic French (enough to order food and shop), and I can ask for directions in Italian (although I can't really understand what they tell me back!).

I don't speak a lick of Greek or German, and never had any problems in either country. Even in the tiniest Greek towns, I still found a way to communicate - hand motions mostly.

I try to learn at least a few helpful phrases and vocab before I go to a country, but I'm finding German to be nearly impossible - probably because it's nothing like Spanish. So many languages, so little time.

The most culturally rich experiences I have ever had have been in places where they did not want my money/business, and therefore did not speak English. Even in Germany, which has the largest proportion of English speakers for a major language, only about half of all people speak English, but they are not evenly distributed. I have been able to go to many less frequented areas where almost no one spoke English.

Small pocket dictionary has been helpful to me when were traveling off the regular tourist track. I carry a small - for example "English to French and French to English" one. You don't need anything too elaborate. When were were in a small town in France and wanted to find a bakery in the morning, I pointed to the word in English and the person read the French and pointed us in the right direction. In another place no on spoke English where we were having dinner. I looked up the special of the day and found out it was a horse steak, which I did not order. It helped me show a pharmcist what I needed after I tried for "act it out". We did know the word for what I wanted, but the pharmacist did not understand our pronunciation, so the dictionary helped.

The only time I have carried a phrasebook was when I was in China. There was no way that I would have been able to even decipher signs if I were to become separated from the group, so I carried one in case I needed help from someone. Never got it out of my bag.

I have found the benefit of trying to learn a few basics of the language of the country I am traveling in is that when I make the effort, I almost always get an answer in English, unless they truly don't speak English. It's more that you made the effort instead of that you just assume they can speak English.

"don't go to a country unless you have some knowledge of the language".
Sorry Lee, but I find this ridiculous. If people, especially us Americans would go by this rule,we will never be able to travel.
One can get by anywhere with English, if not use the "hand language". I did that once in Bulgaria where no one spoke any foreign language and we got what we wanted.
Yes, using a phrase book will nor give you much knowledge about a language and you will never be able to speak that language fluently, but it will help up to a certain point. It depends of your goal. If you just want to be able to ask a few questions to get by, get a phrase book, if you want to be able to communicate, then you need to study that language.

You will get more out of your trip if you have some basic language. Basic history and geography are also good and can be learned relatively quickly.

Assuming you won't be fluent before visiting. A pocket dictionary works well. A dictionary helped in Mexico within limits. When I asked, "Donde esta Cajero Autimatico?" They looked at me funny. Turns out an ATM is Caja Permanente. I then proudly asked, "Donde esta Caja Permanente?" and they look at me funny because it's right behind me (true story).

I tried a translator rather than a dictionary in Italy (a gift from my wife). It didn't work at all. Whenever I tried to use it, it either gave me nothing or something I knew was wrong. I had studied some language before my trip and had to rely on that.

I always try to pick up a smattering of "tourist talk" in the countries I visit--enough to check in and out of a hotel, take a cab, inquire about bus or train tickets, order meals and drinks, ask for directions, etc. For reinforcing that level of minimal competence, a phrasebook is a space-efficient way to help me practice during train trips, in the evening before bed, waiting in lines at museums where you can't book in advance, etc.

For me, being able to communicate a little in the local language adds to my enjoyment of the trip. (Try ordering your apertif in Catalan in Barcelona and see how your interaction with your waiter changes!) I also find that planning my trip long in advance is also an important part of the fun of traveling, so working on my "new" language is part of the pre-trip anticipation.

If you google "XXX phrasebook" you can find dozens of tourist-oriented phrasebooks online in Wikipedia, including those in less common languages.

My husband and I were in a small small town in Bavaria and we went to eat. When we were being seated we noticed they were seating us at a table with another couple. We thought we misunderstood. In English the hostess said, here you go, seating for 2. So we sat down and relized that both couples were fluent in 2 languages, us in English and Spanish and the other couple in German and Russian. 4 languages 2 couples but no language in common. Our RS dictionary was out in the car so hubby ran out and got it. We had a pleasent dinner, met an interesting couple and actually understood much of the conversation. I never in my life thought they would seat us with another couple.

I ordered a French-English dictionary (pocket size), and also a language CD for basic French. Learning a few greetings and being able to read signs, posters or understanding headline news on a newspaper is about all I need. I speak Spanish fluently, and that helped to some extent.

We are also trying to do the same for Italian. I want to know the foods, ingredients (grocery shopping), meals and again, basic signs in the language. It's fun for us.

Also, in both countries we will be staying away from the touristy areas (living), so basic greetings would be nice for the locals to hear I am sure.

When I was in Italy I made friends who didn't speak English or Spanish. Being that Italian is so so close to Spanish I had no problem. The only time it was alittle bit of a problem was on the phone. They would have to slow way down. If you speak to them in Spanish they will understand about 80% and likewise for you.

I took the RS French, Italian and German book with me. I used it abit in Paris, not at all in Rome and alot in Germany.

Cristina, that is not so uncommon in Europe, sitting with strangers. In fact, I would say that is one of the charms. But I have never had "a hostess" seat me. There is never a hostess around. I just find a table with some empty seats. Nobody expects to have a private table. Last year, in October, I was sitting alone at a table in the Hofbräuhaus in Munich, when some other people sat down with me. Several were German - they also spoke English - several were Spanish, but they spoke English. A couple were Irish - they kind of spoke English. We all had a good time.

Interesting. I, as an American, was the only non-German there who spoke German. Who would have thunk it? But it was a good illustration of how English is the common language of Europe.

Also an illustration of why its unnecessary to spend a year to study the local language; as you suggest.

Sure, Michael, as long as you only go to the Hofbräuhaus.