What helps?

[gamera 0]

What is most appreicated if conversation does not go ahead due to the language barrier?

[happyhappy 0]

A mixture of all. It is going to depend on the attitudes involved.

[sakebomb 0]

I would have to agree with happyhappy on this one!

[blindlemon 0]

Me too. A(n electronic) dictionary is always useful.

[kintaro 0]

I think body language (hand gestures/facial expressions, etc.) goes further than any of the choices avaliable.

[1 4]

I tend to get frustrated real quick with this situation more and more, the more I am here unfortunately.

[cheeseman 1]

You forgot "Cheese".

 

Not only is it delicious and highly nutritious, but it is also fun for all and a great way to get to know people and become friends.

[brit-gob 9]

Eleccy dictionary is a must.

[rach 1]

That, and a smile goes a very long was as well

[Ocean11 0]

I would have thought the answer "Anyone completely bilingual" would be a winner. An interpreter would certainly make things go more smoothly than looking up key words in a dictionary in that situation...

[sava 0]

waving hands and looking stupid

[soubriquet 0]

You could try the British colonial approach. When the natives are too stupid to understand plain English, just shout very loud.

[oo 1]

...and swear a lot.

[viv&kev 0]

Not having a strong regional accent helps too. Obviously its not something you can change quickly.

[gamera 0]

 Quote:

Originally posted by soubriquet:
You could try the British colonial approach. When the natives are too stupid to understand plain English, just shout very loud.

I think usually people in the colonials where U.K approached didn't understand English which was just natural.

 Quote:

Not having a strong regional accent helps too. Obviously its not something you can change quickly.

totally agree. Even some Japanese strong accent sometimes makes me confused lol

[fukdane 2]

You were in Osaka weren't you gamera? Do you have that Kansai-ben thing going then?

[soubriquet 0]

Sorry Gamera, it was a joke. I was poking fun at a stereotype of arrogant imperialists.

[indosnm 0]

 Quote:

Originally posted by soubriquet:
You could try the British colonial approach. When the natives are too stupid to understand plain English, just shout very loud.

didn't they just shoot them?

[gamera 0]

fukdane - yep, I am originally from Osaka, so when I talk with Osaka people, my Osaka ben is still going but when I talk with people from other regions, I don't speak Osaka ben because it sometimes makes them misunderstand something.

But Osaka ben sounds too friendly sometimes which is a bit rude if it's with my customers even when they are Osaka people.

 

Soubriquet - Ah, I got it. It was just hard for not an English natiave speaker like me to understand it was a joke

[scouser 4]

It's difficult holding back all the time hey gamera? I had a fairly strong northern / light-scouse accent when I came here but the scouse part has almost gone now. It soon comes back when I'm in the UK for a few weeks.

[gamera 0]

Hum... not really scouser.

I guess probably it's harder for me to explain each and every Osaka-ben when I speak it if people around don't understand them.

I think when I am relaxed and have some Osaka people around - e.g. my family members, brothers, old friends etc - I speak Osaka dialect but if not, I don't speak Osaka dialect.

 

As to English, I am still on the way to notice each and every dialects. English is just English for me, can notice some differece -pronounciation, intonation whatever but anyway it's not my mother tongue, hard to say