Britons avoid local language while abroad
24th August 2010
Britons take measures to avoid embarrassment on holiday by shying away from the local language, a survey has found, while others may reach for the largest note of their travel money to avoid coming up short.
More than half (61%) of 1,246 people surveyed by Hotels.com said they do not attempt foreign languages for fear of embarrassment. Three-quarters of those surveyed believe "hello" and "thank you" are the phrases most needed while abroad.
However, the majority of those posed with the word hello in a number of languages were unable to recognise the word. People from the South West of England were found to be the most likely to try a language while abroad, but Londoners were the least likely to make the effort.
Of all the age groups, those aged 18 to 21 were found to be the least likely to try a foreign language while abroad. The study also found more than three in five Britons feel happier trying their own navigating in a car than admitting they are lost and asking a local for directions.
Hotels.com communications director Alison Couper said: "People have become more adventurous in where they travel in recent years, but it seems the language skills have yet to catch up.
"Our survey shows that while we're prepared to travel to more exotic destinations, we're not so comfortable trying less familiar languages."
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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