How did the language barrier affect travelers exploring new lands in ancient times?

279 viewsOther

While I can now visit Vietnam and communicate with some locals in English, what dangers faced someone who got lost in a foreign country? When did it start to be common that people speak other languages as well?

In: Other

4 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Dont quote me on this, but i looked it up a few months ago and from what I remember its two things:

1) In case you are travelling by land (basically in euroafroasia), the change in language a gradient. So you basically make people from the region between the two places youre travelling between either teach your men the language or act as interpreters themselves

2) A lot of pointing and gestures and people on both sides learning each others languages to act as interpreters

You are viewing 1 out of 4 answers, click here to view all answers.