Communication aids
This item appears on page 29 of the January 2014 issue.
When my wife, Bonnie, and I travel, I take along a Berlitz language phrase book and dictionary. There is one book for each language. It is small, about 4"x5"x½", and is divided into sections, such as Eating Out, Shopping, Making Friends. It has a limited dictionary.
From it, I am able to learn a few of the language basics. The issue is that my pronunciation and accent sound like Greek to the locals.
The nice part about this booklet is that it has phrases and nouns, say, for shopping (“Do you have…”) and then a list of items. When speaking to someone in another country, I point to a phrase and noun and we can communicate.
In addition, I carry the Kwikpoint International Translator (Alexandria, VA; 571/319-0500), a visual language translator with which you simply point to pictures of different things. It is, likewise, divided into sections — Travel, Eating, Key phrases, etc.
Both of these items may be obtained from travel stores.
SKIP CARPENTER
Coronado, CA