The Problem With ‘Do you Speak English?’ (And an Easy Solution)

Travel Channel show host Samantha Brown doled out some travel advice in Sunday’s San Francisco Chronicle, and I thought this simple observation about language barriers was particularly astute: Americans’ tendency to ask “Do you speak English?” with little introduction when they’re overseas, puts distance between them and their hosts.

She told the Chronicle: “When you do that, you’re making someone feel like ‘I’m stupid. I don’t know English.’”

Her tip to avoid that? “All you say is ‘No Spanish. Do you speak English?’ You’ve created a connection. ‘I’m in your country and I don’t expect you to know my language.’”

Of course, the best solution is to learn how to say this in Spanish, or whatever the local language—learning a few simple phrases doesn’t take more than a few minutes and can be good fun, too.

But I’ve encountered plenty of fellow Americans in my travels who just don’t bother to take the time to do this. And for them, Brown’s advice should help.

Related on World Hum:
* Can I Have a Meaningful Travel Experience Abroad if I Don’t Speak the Language?
* Lust in Translation

Related on TravelChannel.com:
* Samantha Brown

Photo by frech via Flickr, (Creative Commons).

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