We are going to Europe for the first time and will be visiting France, Spain, Greece, Italy and Turkey. I am very excited about this and want to experience & enjoy the culture. I have a few questions. <BR>1. Has any one used the Franklin Euro Interrupter? (It is sold by Magellan's and is a small computer type phrasebook). <BR>2. Or would you suggest using small pocket books? If so which one would you suggest? <BR>3. I have read that if you at least try to speak in their native language people are friendlier. <BR>4. I know I will slaughter their language realllly bad. Will this offend them? <BR>Any advise will be appreciated - thanks <BR> <BR>

I have a translator from Radio Shack that works pretty well (it also has a currency convertor and alarm clock). It translates to the Romance languages and German - no Turkish. I like the little books (mostly, 'cause I like books over electronic gadgets) because they never have dead batteries. <BR>Yes, you will butcher the language; no, they aren't offended (in fact, Greeks seemed to love to hear us try it out; they became very enthusiastic if we got something right...). The French can be a bit uppity, but that's their charm (honestly, I mean that; I love their attitude - no little smiley faces or I's dotted with hearts for THAT group). There are language tapes (check at your library if they have them to borrow) that are great for getting the rhythm and cadence of a language, as well as helping with pronunciation. They usually come with a lesson book. Berlitz produces them; there are other companies that do the same. Eat at a Greek restaurant before you go; tell them you're going to Greece, and I guarantee SOMEone will help you with basic words...

Heed Elvira's advice. If your computer is equipped with audio, you can use the language section of this site for pronounciation practice in the basic traveller's phrases you'll need in the Romance languages. The section is pretty extensive and very helpful. You might also just want to print it out.

Pamela, <BR>My thoughts regarding language guides and tapes are eccentric, perhaps, compared to some of Fodor's well traveled respondents. Consider the following scenario: "Verzeihung!.", he said to the middle aged pedestrian. "Bitte, Ich habe mich verlaufen. Ich suche den Bahnhof". His German was impeccable, the result of hours of listening to tapes and poring over language texts and German-English dictionaries. "Oh", said the pedestrian, in equally impeccable German, "you're quite near. Walk just up the street to the little shop on the corner with blue awnings, turn left, walk past the area where new sewer pipes are being installed, look for the alley on the right with the cobblestone paving. Just past it, at the next intersection (where my brother has a mortuary) turn right again and you'll see the train station just a short hop away." Vielen dank", said he, not having understood two words spoken to him. Why? Probably because all of his studies taught him what to say and how to say it, not how to understand what was said to him in return. His language courses didn't address blue awnings, sewer pipes, cobblestones or mortuaries. <BR>Yes, learn the words and phrases that relate to politeness and courtesy. Dine in a French or German or Italian restaurant here at home and grill the staff on the meanings and makeup of menu items. You'll no doubt butcher the language as you speak it, be immediately identified as a foreigner, probably American, and find that the person to whom you're speaking is fairly fluent in English, polite enough and eager enough to use it or aware of someone nearby who is. <BR>Experiencing foreign culture involves far more than language fluency. It entails an interest in and knowledge of a country's history, its arts and customs. The time invested in gaining that latter knowledge is far more rewarding in the insights and memories gained than are language phrases that quickly slip from the mind and tongue. <BR> <BR>

As usual, Wes is on target. A dozen key phrases can be used as "openers." Don't worry; your shoes give you away first, before you open your mouth. They have you spotted as a foreign person. It's your approach that matters. A soft voice, a little smile, using their language first -- that's often all it takes. Germans, we have found, can't stand to be one-upped. Speak German to them and they will immediately use whatever English they have to show you that they have "kultur" as well as you do. Forget about computers. A small dictionary -- pocket-size -- or phrases typed on 3x5 cards will start you off. More important than anything else is your ability to noodle out road signs (we become more accustomed to them every day in America). I recall years ago in the Balkans trying to figure out what the signs were for the toilets. Finally, I just waited to see which door the men came and went through! Once, in the back country of France and with nobody speaking a French we could understand (we found later they spoke a Catalan dialect), I used high-school Latin on a village priest and so found our way to where we were going! Use your wits!

Check out the Pimsler language tapes they do a good job with basic stuff.