Avoid Taking Up a New Vocabulary

I attended the Taiwan Lantern Festival many years ago. The tourism bureau is in charge of hosting this annual event. People around the nation construct massive floats & constructions that resemble enormous lanterns. It’s one of the greatest events of the year, and lantern displays are held all around the nation.

I went there with a Korean man who was residing there long-term, along with my guesthouse owner’s nieces. They generally conversed in Chinese as they traveled. They were talking about one of the nieces’ troubles with boys (teenage angst and romance when you are 16 are universal).

I tried to follow along even though they were speaking a language I couldn’t comprehend. They understood my jokes; I made them, and I laughed. I considered one of the many questions you get about traveling: “How are you different?” while we strolled about.

It’s challenging to provide a response since most changes take place gradually and you hardly ever notice them. It’s simple to look back now, ten years later, and recognize the numerous changes I’ve gone through since I first started backpacking. However, when things are intense, it’s common to lose sight of the bigger picture. At the lantern festival, I did see a significant improvement in my non-verbal effective communication, though.

I was able to infer what individuals around me were saying from their facial expressions and speech tones. I didn’t need to speak Mandarin well. This ability had snuck into my life so gradually and casually that it appeared to have always been there.

According to research, at least 60% of our communication is non-verbal. Our body language, facial emotions, and speech tones all convey messages. Simply put, when you’re at home and speaking your native tongue, you don’t recognize that. But you depend on it when you’re away from home. If you don’t speak the local tongue, you’ll need to gain this talent.

Even though distinct rules, rituals, and gestures are practiced in many parts of the world, most of this non-verbal communication is universal. My extensive travel experiences have given me the ability to communicate nonverbally. I was able to comprehend people without speaking words because of years of perplexed stares, pointing, noises, and miming.

I could probably never study any language again and get by anywhere if I had this ability. They don’t speak English very well in Taipei, but it’s functioning now, and I can get by. I gesticulate, grunt, and manage while pointing.

You may use the ability to communicate without using words as a travel skill in all aspects of your life. It can help you get out of sticky situations, cope with people’s emotions, comprehend people, and pull off great bar tricks. Most significantly, it will enable you to survive while traveling. Even if you don’t speak the same language as someone, you can still comprehend them.

People’s body language and facial expressions are equally as revealing of their emotions as their words. Do not misunderstand me; I like studying languages. Even if I never succeed in mastering them, I’ll keep learning them. I’m starting Chinese courses next week, and this summer, I want to study French. Although you don’t need to learn the language fluently, it’s beneficial to know a few terms. You are not required to have it.

You can manage even if you never learn a single word. You should try to learn the language; I’m not saying never. It will benefit you by helping you learn a bit about the culture and will be greatly appreciated by the people (plus, it can make your trip a little smoother and help you avoid getting ripped off or scammed).

Their responsibility for you is that.

Don’t pick up the language the next time you go. Just keep quiet. Encourage understanding and verbal and nonverbal communication. Whatever it takes: pointing, using facial expressions, pantomiming, acting out what you want, drawing. Simply avoid using words.

Ignore the regional tongue. Don’t try in vain to use a phrasebook to inquire for their name or place an order for meals. Delete the language download for your Google Translate app. Disregard it all. Be courageous and learn a talent that will benefit you in every aspect of your life.

For the rest of your life, understanding non-verbal communication techniques can help you read people and circumstances better and communicate far more effectively in all spheres of your life.