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About peasant cooking |
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Page 7 of 7
It would be nice to know how to speak the local tongue in each region of the world, but since there are five thousand ethnic groups with populations of at least one million that have their own dialects, there is no way for anyone to master all of them. Although I speak English (the best all around language for international travel) and "survival" French, German, and Spanish, I'm still literally at a loss for words in many parts of the world. Even if I mastered Mandarin, I still would not be able to converse with the majority of the people in China - they speak different dialects.
Obviously the best solution - short of learning the dialect - is to bring along someone who can translate for you. If that is not possible, tote along a good dictionary and phrase book, complete with a pronunciation guide. Also carry with you various letters of introduction that explain in the local dialect your goals and motives.
You'll also have to rely on body language, the means of communication that has been used since the days of Herodotus, Marco Polo, and other early explorers. The more you travel to exotic lands, the more adept you become at this nonverbal skill. I'm always amazed at how much a seasoned traveler can say with simple gestures and heartfelt smiles. Howard Hillman
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I this web page on peasant cooking is useful to you ©2008 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications
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The
language barrier
