Traveling provides a unique opportunity to explore new cultures, taste exotic cuisines, witness breathtaking landscapes, and immerse ourselves in an entirely different way of life. However, amidst the excitement of venturing into the unknown, it is crucial to remember that preserving the authenticity of local cultures is an important part of fostering a healthy international travel community. One easy way for a culture to protect its way of life is to make sure that the local language always comes first.
Preserving The Local Language
Language is an integral part of culture, serving as a vessel for traditions, stories, and customs. It gives a window into a community by highlighting many of the things that a culture values. From making words that don’t have a direct translation (like Saudades) to expressions that change meaning in certain situations, language is one of the most exciting parts of truly immersing yourself in another culture.
Naturally, locals will always speak their own local language but all too often they need to accommodate tourists in order to make a living. A common and often overlooked side effect of this hospitality is that it can actually erode the local culture by being a little too accommodating. A common example of this is English spoken by locals as well as English on signs to help attract travelers and tourists to shop in their stores, eat at their restaurants, and stay at their hostels/hotels/AirBnBs, etc. There’s a simple way that locals can both preserve their own culture as well as help travelers to connect with the local way of life.
Make sure that the local language always comes first.
Since English is the lingua franca for many countries around the world and the most widely spoken language in the world, it makes sense that you will see it in just about every country that you visit. This is especially true at international destinations like big international airports, hotels, hostels, and tourist hot spots. If these local communities want to help us travelers to integrate with their culture there is something very simple that they can do and many cultures already do. Make sure that the local language always comes first, biggest, and boldest whenever there is an opportunity. After the local language takes priority, put other languages as translations to help travelers learn what those words mean and even some basic context and grammar.
By making sure that the local language always comes first on signs, we honor the cultural identity of a place. It reflects a commitment to preserving the unique heritage that makes each destination special.
Written word is more than just a means of communication; it’s a reflection of a community’s identity. By placing the local language first and foremost on all signs, we pay homage to the rich history and traditions that define a particular region. This approach serves as a reminder of the cultural heritage that has withstood the test of time, fostering a sense of pride among locals and inviting travelers to delve deeper into the authentic essence of the destination.
Fostering Cultural Understanding
When the local language always comes first in daily life, travelers are encouraged to engage with the linguistic fabric of a community. Beyond mere translation, this approach facilitates a deeper understanding of local customs, fostering meaningful connections between visitors and the people they encounter. Learning a few basic phrases becomes a gateway to a richer travel experience, allowing for more authentic interactions and a greater appreciation of the destination.
The world is home to an astonishing array of languages, each carrying its own unique charm. Prioritizing the local language on signs is a celebration of linguistic diversity, signaling that every language is a valuable part of the global tapestry. By making sure that the local language always comes first, we acknowledge the importance of preserving linguistic traditions and ensuring they thrive for generations to come.
While it’s common for signs to include translations for the convenience of travelers, placing the local language first encourages cultural exchange in a more profound way. Travelers are prompted to engage with the local language, whether by attempting to decipher street signs or striking up conversations with locals. This immersion not only enhances the travel experience but also fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation for the destination’s culture.
Empowering Local Communities
Prioritizing the local language sends a powerful message of support to the local community. It underscores the value of their language and reinforces its importance in the face of globalization.When the local language always comes first, travelers contribute to the sustainability of local and indigenous cultures, helping to preserve linguistic diversity and prevent the erosion of traditional ways of life.
Iceland is one example of this. With only 300,000 citizens, Iceland faces the unfortunate reality that they don’t have many native speakers and those numbers are likely to shrink of Icelanders don’t actively take steps to protect their language. Iceland Air is just one company in Iceland that is actively working to help visitors, travelers, and tourists to learn some of the local language by putting the local language biggest, boldest, and at the top of their business branding. Learning words and phrases is easy to do when people take the time to create an environment to encourage and foster learning.
By prioritizing the local language on their flights and branding, they transform travel into a unique opportunity for language learning and preserving their national heritage. Travelers are encouraged to step out of their linguistic comfort zones, embarking on a journey to understand and communicate in the local tongue. This not only enriches the travel experience but also leaves visitors with a valuable skill that extends beyond their time in a particular destination.
You’re absolutely going to sound like a fool at first but the locals will appreciate your effort. If you don’t ever give up, then it’s only a matter of time before one of them takes notice and tries to help you improve your pronunciation, grammar, tone, and even teach you some more colloquial terms and expressions.
Encouraging Language Learning
While translation apps are some of the best travel tools to help facilitate communication for travelers, making sure that the local language always comes first encourages linguistic curiosity. Travelers, intrigued by the unfamiliar script and sounds, may feel inspired to delve into language learning. This not only enhances the travel experience but also equips individuals with a valuable skill that can be applied in various aspects of life.
If the local language always comes first on important signage, it helps travelers to learn what those words or symbols mean and stimulates new understanding. Knowing only a few words can help you to learn others. It can also help to reshape your mind when you take a deeper dive into a language and you have already been exposed to some of the more common terms that you see out in daily life.
Some common things that are important to know are entrance, exit, toilets, and how to ask for something politely. When you see these sorts of words in the local language and they are prioritized above some other translations, it helps to encourage learning the local language. After you have been exposed to the most common words in a language, you begin to recognize patterns and notice how they are used in different contexts. For example, thank you in Portuguese is different when a man says it (Obrigado) and when a woman says it (Obrigada). After you spend some time immersed in another culture, you begin to notice these sorts of nuances.
Promoting Responsible Tourism
Prioritizing the local language on signs aligns with the principles of responsible tourism. It encourages travelers to approach their journeys with sensitivity and respect for the local culture. As a result, the impact of tourism becomes a positive force, supporting communities rather than overwhelming them with a homogenized version of globalized tourism.
Obviously there are countless cultures and communities that rely heavily on tourism. In order to accommodate as many customers as possible, many restaurants offer menus in multiple languages. While this can absolutely make your dining experience much easier, it can result in the erosion of the local culture by removing your exposure to the local language. Some restaurants offer menus that have both the local language as well as some other translations alongside or underneath the local language.
When the local language always comes first on menus, it provides travelers with the opportunity to learn new words, grammar, and even connect with the local culture on a deeper level. By embracing and respecting local cultures, travelers contribute to the preservation of communities and their way of life without eroding the local values, customs, or traditions. This approach fosters a sense of responsibility among tourists, encouraging them to be mindful of their impact and engage in responsible travel practices.
Practical Benefits for Travelers
From a practical standpoint, when the local language always comes first on signs, it has several advantages for both the locals and travelers. It simplifies navigation for travelers who may not be fluent in widely spoken international languages. Some symbols are internationally recognized such as the airplane logo which means “airport” but without the local word written alongside of the image, travelers are less likely to learn how to actually say airport in the local language.
Additionally, putting the local language first and foremost promotes a sense of inclusion, as locals appreciate the effort made by visitors to engage with their language. Only putting the local language doesn’t help travelers to learn what those words mean. Prioritizing English above the local language makes travelers lazy, complacent, and creates a sense of entitlement amongst anglophones.
When the local language always comes first, it creates a sense of local pride while also fostering a sense of inclusion and help amongst travelers.
Final Thoughts
In an era of global connectivity, making sure that the local language always comes first wherever possible is a simple yet powerful way to preserve cultural identity and encourage travelers to engage more meaningfully with the communities they visit. It is a small yet powerful step that fosters connections between travelers and local communities, creating a more enriching and authentic travel experience. So, let’s embrace linguistic diversity, celebrate the uniqueness of each destination, and make a conscious effort to make sure that the local language always comes first. Whenever we do this, we contribute to a more enriching and sustainable form of tourism that benefits both us travelers and the host community.
