How did people who speak different languages communicate in the past if language barrier is a thing even now?
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During the crusades the different Christian factions used clerics as interpreters as they all spoke latin as well as their own languages
During the crusades the different Christian factions used clerics as interpreters as they all spoke latin as well as their own languages
Not exactly what you’re looking for, but the game [Chants of Sennaar](https://youtu.be/PeDNuITuJPA?t=25) is a wonderful example of how someone can slowly learn a language (or five).
Trade language was a common thing everywhere there was sea trade or large island groups. Pidgin, “Lingua franca”, chinook,russenorsk etc are all examples of trade languages.
Simplify the grammar (“Good pork, 5 dolla”), steal words liberally from each other, make sure that you can say basic sentences like “I need food and water”, “I’m willing to trade [stuff I think you want] for [stuff I want]”, “Your goods are substandard crap”, “How do I find [place], “I’m looking for [sex/drugs/rock’n’roll] and you’ve got yourself a basic trade language.
Not exactly what you’re looking for, but the game [Chants of Sennaar](https://youtu.be/PeDNuITuJPA?t=25) is a wonderful example of how someone can slowly learn a language (or five).
People in ancient times would speak more languages far more often than we do now. So a Greek would speak Aramaic. and Egyptian. So if you met someone who did not speak your native tongue you would find a common language and converse. Then as time went on you would educate someone in your language and vice versa. Or simply continue in one single language, which is why we have dead languages.
Trade language was a common thing everywhere there was sea trade or large island groups. Pidgin, “Lingua franca”, chinook,russenorsk etc are all examples of trade languages.
Simplify the grammar (“Good pork, 5 dolla”), steal words liberally from each other, make sure that you can say basic sentences like “I need food and water”, “I’m willing to trade [stuff I think you want] for [stuff I want]”, “Your goods are substandard crap”, “How do I find [place], “I’m looking for [sex/drugs/rock’n’roll] and you’ve got yourself a basic trade language.
People in ancient times would speak more languages far more often than we do now. So a Greek would speak Aramaic. and Egyptian. So if you met someone who did not speak your native tongue you would find a common language and converse. Then as time went on you would educate someone in your language and vice versa. Or simply continue in one single language, which is why we have dead languages.
Several people are talking about body language and gestures, and this is definitely a major part of it. But keep in mind there are always border areas. There are always people who learned both (or multiple) languages. In a lot of cases, these people were valuable, and wealthy people might pay them to come along on trips – as translators.
Several people are talking about body language and gestures, and this is definitely a major part of it. But keep in mind there are always border areas. There are always people who learned both (or multiple) languages. In a lot of cases, these people were valuable, and wealthy people might pay them to come along on trips – as translators.
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