If you do not speak the language of where you are how do you communicate?
By Hanni Harel
@Hannihar (130238)
Israel
January 9, 2019 10:15pm CST
I will explain more and sorry that was long. If you find yourself somewhere that you cannot speak the language of the place and the people cannot speak your language how do you communicate with them?
I remember in the beginning I found some distant relatives here but could not communicate with them and so we smiled a lot at each other. I cannot remember how we talked to each other but it is very hard.
Now, that I can communicate with them I cannot find them with all the searching I did. That is ok. So, how about you out there if you are put in a situation and cannot speak the language where you are how to find a way to talk to them?
7 people like this
7 responses
@thelme55 (76655)
• Germany
10 Jan 19
You reminded me of my first days in Germany. I couldn't speak German and my in laws couldn't speak English. I still spoke to them in English and they in German with the use of hands gesture and dictionary. Sometimes they showed me the things they wanted me to know while explaining to me. It was hard but I tried my best to speak their language. It was ages ago.
2 people like this
@Hannihar (130238)
• Israel
11 Jan 19
@thelme55
I am not good at languages. I learned French in High School and not much Hebrew growing up and could not pronounce words right and still have that problem with some letters in Hebrew but speak it. Some days cannot speak any language and other days speak decent Hebrew and lots of times forget how to spell in English even though that is my mother tongue. Hung out with someone for awhile and it was very sad because she really did not want to speak Hebrew and has been here a very long time. She prefers speaking English even to Hebrew speakers and lives in an areas where she really does not need to use Hebrew. i am the opposite. I like to use Hebrew when I can and if someone speaks to me in English I push the Hebrew. Great that you feel comfortable speaking the language now.
2 people like this
@didinedhia (8470)
• Algeria
11 Jan 19
i don't know that feeling cause i've never moved from my comfort zone i've never moved out!!! but i will
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130238)
• Israel
11 Jan 19
@didinedhia
That is ok. If you are happy where you are then that is good.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130238)
• Israel
11 Jan 19
@didinedhia
I am sorry about that. Is it that you cannot move to where you want to be for a reason is why you are still where you are?
1 person likes this
@mayka123 (16598)
• India
26 Jan 19
When I was young - about 15 yrs old - I had gone to visit some people in another state and stayed there for a week. I did not know their language and they did not know mine. It was very difficult for me to tell them when I was hungry. So if I felt hungry I would go to their garden and eat the fruits from their trees!!!
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
10 Jan 19
i guess hand gestures or interpreter 
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38722)
• Midland, Michigan
14 Jan 19
Many times you can find language dictionaries to help you find the correct words or sayings. Maybe there is nothing like that available for Hebrew? Is that what the people speak over there or maybe I'm way behind the times on that guess.
I know that I have a Polish to English dictionary even though I've never been there. And my kids had a French to English when they went to paris, although it was much easier for them when a family that could speak both languages took them under their wings.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38722)
• Midland, Michigan
14 Jan 19
@Hannihar Did your relatives speak one of the other languages, or did you not have a dictionary with you at the time? I would think that would help somewhat if you had it and that's what they spoke.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130238)
• Israel
14 Jan 19
@MarshaMusselman
When I was little growing up my parents spoke Yiddish, which this will give you a defintion of it. Yiddish is a High German language written in Hebrew characters that is spoken by Jews and descendants of Jews of central and eastern European origin. They spoke it when they did not want us to understand what they were saying.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130238)
• Israel
14 Jan 19
@MarshaMusselman
Yes there are dictionaries in Hebrew and English. I prefer learning from the people but not everyone wants to help someone learn. The language of the country is Hebrew but all over you hear different languages being spoken.
1 person likes this
