Tips to overcome language barriers

What is a language barrier?

According to the Mirriam-Webster dictionary, a language barrier is defined as ‘a difficulty for people because they speak different languages.’ You’ll be no stranger to language barriers if you’re an immigrant experiencing what's commonly known as ‘culture shock’.

But both culture shock and language barriers needn’t be problems with some careful consideration. You can read about how to overcome culture shock here, or read on to find out more about what category of language barrier your typical experience falls into.

Types of language barrier

Not all language barriers are caused by the same issues. Some of the more common barriers you might find as you move to a new country are included here:

Different dialects

Maybe you do speak the local language, but there’s something about the words you just can’t understand. For example, in China, there are nearly 10 different dialects you might run into when travelling in the country.

Accents and pronunciation

For example, English speakers may run into this difficulty when travelling to other countries, as there are many parts of the world who speak with heavy accents. The same goes for Spanish speakers who may find that, in some countries, the speakers have a different pronunciation than they’re used to.

Jargon and slang

Another common form of language barrier is discovering new words that make up the local ‘slang’. This can result in some funny mishaps such as the difference in meaning between American ‘pants’ (trousers) and English ‘pants’ (underwear).

Misunderstanding idioms

Idioms and figurative languages are used when phrases go beyond their literal meaning. Some common idioms in the English language include ‘bite the bullet’ (to do something difficult) or ‘break a leg’ (to give a great performance). In Danish, one example is ‘Klap lige heste’ or literally ‘Pat the horse’. You’d use this expression to mean, ‘relax and take it easy’.

6 tips to overcome language barriers

1. Learn essential words & phrases

Learning essential words and phrases is all part of learning a language. You’ll want to sound at ease when speaking to other people, so trying to integrate these phrases naturally into conversation is key.For example, you may have learned that ‘¿Como estas?’ means ‘How are you?’ in Spanish. But it’s also very common in many Spanish-speaking countries to hear ‘¿Qué tal?’, which means the same thing, but is more informal, like ‘What’s up?’.

2. Write down key phrases

Once you’ve come across a word or helpful phrase that might be useful, write it down! One study showed that handwriting a note is even more powerful than inputting it into your phone but, at a pinch, you can do both. The key is to commit it to memory.

3. Use body language

When in doubt, act it out. The human body is a powerful tool for overcoming language barriers. In fact, Albert Mehrabian, a researcher of body language, found that 55% of communication is non-verbal. The words themselves only make up 7% of our communication, and the other 38% is understood through vocal variations.

4. Be open to learning new things

No matter which language you’re learning to speak, keeping an open mind will be integral to your progress. This may be difficult to do at first because of the difficulties you’ll face when overcoming a language barrier. But, over time, as you expose yourself to the local customs, you’ll develop a whole new vocabulary you can use to express yourself.

5. Practice interacting with locals

One of the quickest ways to learn a language is, unsurprisingly, to practise speaking it! To do this, you can join a language exchange, or a club dedicated to a topic you like and join in the discussions. Even something as simple as going to a restaurant and trying to order in the local language will stretch your brain (which is an English phrase that means ‘help you learn’).

6. If all else fails, use Google Translate

Let’s face it, we live in a technological world. And sometimes that technology can be used as a handy crutch (or aid) to give you the tools you need to learn. Just be aware that online translators like Google Translate aren’t perfect, and they don’t always translate the intended meaning of culturally specific phrases and idioms, as we’ve mentioned before.

WorldRemit makes it easy to send money abroad

You may be reading this blog post because you’re in the middle of a big move, and the language barrier is starting to feel a bit overwhelming – on top of everything else. We know exactly how you feel. At WorldRemit, we help migrants all over the world get their money where it needs to go. But we don’t just help people with moving money abroad on our app (although that’s what we do best!). We’ve also compiled a few helpful blogs on the topic of immigration to help you assimilate into (join in) a culture more easily. So whether you’re sending money back home to mum – or wondering what the difference is between ‘mum’ and ‘mom’ – WorldRemit will help you break down those barriers and start afresh. Starting with our fast, low cost money transfers, every time you need to send.

Send money now

The contents of this blog post do not constitute legal or financial advice and are provided for general information purposes only. If you require specific legal and / or financial advice you should contact a specialist lawyer or financial advisor. Information true at time of publishing.