electronic french translator

phillippe, I think many of us here struggle with French, but if you learn a few of the common words (ie: please, thank you, where's the bathroom, etc.), you should be able to manage just fine. A Phrase book can help with that, and the Rick Steves language books are great. You'll probably find that many of the people that deal with tourists will be able to function in English to some extent. If you'd prefer to also take an electronic translator, one of the best that I know of is Jibbigo which works off-line, so can be used with an iPod Touch (but be sure to buy as much memory as you can afford). It allows users to speak a short phrase in English, and it then translates and speaks the same phrase in French (or other languages). I've tested it with native French and German speakers, and they've told me that "it's close and gets the meaning across, but it's not grammatically perfect". It also lists the words on the screen in both languages, so that also allows a visual translation. I've always had the attitude that the "best translator in the world" is the one sitting on top of my shoulders, so prefer to learn as much as possible so that I can at least function a bit in the local language. You could also try the Pimsleur language courses prior to your trip, as that will help with pronunciation and common words and phrases. Happy travels!

Have you considered a phrase book or an iPod Touch? We have traveled to a number of countries and generally know only English. Just a few words can get you by. I don't think electronic translators are very popular amongst tourist. I might be wrong, but I can't remember seeing one in use any where. I could be that they are like RFID protection, just a way to separte you from your money. The Touch has several translating capabilities and we have only used our's where there was WiFi. In one instance my wife was able to tell a waitress she was allergic to shrimp when our shrimp draped pizza arrived. The language we used that time was Ukranian. Maybe some more astute travelers can give other advice.

I own a Franklin electronic translator. I bought it because I was, and still am, studying Spanish; but I take it on most trips. It has little cards that you clip into a slot on the back to change the language. I have the French, Italian and German cards, but you can get any of them as the main language. They also have some that come with multiple languages. Very small - - 3"x5" - - so easy to carry, and battery powered. Go to the Franklin.com website to see what they offer.

Here on the Helpline, most of us don't bother with electronic translators and don't recommend them. Do you really want to try typing out a question while the other person waits for you to finish? Would you understand the answer that you got? It might be helpful for menu items or reading signs, but a phrase book can do that at much less cost.

I own a Franklin translator also. I use it for the big words.

I've never used one of those things and I really doubt that they are practical to be honest. Most Europeans under the age of 50 have learned to speak some English, even if they are slow to admit it. However we favor the Queen's English over other forms so you need to learn to adjust: - Speak slowly and clearly
- Avoid slang - Use English words rather that American - Use basic grammer and simply constructed sentences Dining out - prepare a little card with the local names of the foods so you will have some idea of what is on offer If you have some special diet issues then prepare a little card in the local language that explains this too. Get someone to check this one for you. The other thing is to always do the small talk thing at the start! It is considered very rude over here not to and puts people off helping you. It is amazing how many people decide that they don't speak English if they consider you to be rude!

I have gone to Europe every summer for over 10 years now and have never felt lost without a RS Guide Boor or a Phrase Book for whatever country I am in. I speak no European languages and only rely on the phrases I have learned from those two books. Having been in almost every country in Europe, I always seem to find someone who at least understands English including Turkey and Eastern Europe.

There are many ways to learn the basic phrases in French, or any other language. Youtube has native speakers slowly pronouncing basic phrases, travlang.com, foreign languages for travelers, has 105 languages pronounced for you, BBC.com has French and other languages, Slowtravel.com has the same as does Fodors. No need for expensive lessons that teach you how to conjugate verbs and ask such basics as "Is the pencil red?" :-). Listen to the basic phrases over and over and you will become adept in any language. I have navigated using these sites in Swahili, Turkish, Hungarian, Afrikaans, and French, all with a Kansas accent. Understanding the Brits is still a problem! The locals will adore you when you start off politely greeting them in their native language. Works every time.