Most feel embarrassed about their lack of language skills when travelling abroad but there’s one key phrase they make sure to learn beforehand.
The only foreign phrase that half of Brits have truly mastered is how to order a drink when they are abroad on holiday. A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that 30 per cent are likely to invent a word in another language when attempting to communicate with locals whilst on holiday.
If this strategy fails, many resort to other methods such as frantically pointing at menus, a tactic favoured by over half of holidaymakers. Nearly a quarter will depend on exaggerated hand gestures to convey their message or opt to speak very slowly in English in the hope of being understood.
Despite their best attempts, this lack of communication often poses problems as one fifth have found themselves spending far longer than necessary trying to sort out something simple.
One in ten admitted they have hopped on the wrong train or bus due to a misunderstanding, or have mistakenly ordered the wrong food or drink as a result.
It appears navigating menus is a particular source of anxiety, with four in ten entering full panic mode if an English version is not available.
The study was commissioned by Samsung to celebrate the launch of its Galaxy Z Flip7, which boasts an AI-powered Live Translate and Interpreter feature.
The feature is designed to assist users in translating phone calls in real time and overcoming awkward language hurdles when travelling.
The research revealed that the majority of Brits feel a sense of embarrassment over their lack of foreign language proficiency when overseas.
To navigate this, a third have resorted to smiling and nodding in conversations, pretending they have understood when they have no clue.
Moreover, one in five have made an effort to converse in the local language, only to be met with a fluent English response from the other person, leading to further embarrassment.
10 WAYS BRITS HAVE TRIED TO CHAT WITH LOCALS:
- Pointed at items on a menu
- Asked locals if they “speak English?” before anything else
- Said English words very slowly
- Used dramatic hand gestures
- Tried to mime what I was trying to say
- Butchered basic phrases
- Used translate apps
- Mixed multiple languages together
- Repeated the same phrase multiple times in different tones
- Tried speaking louder in English, hoping it would help