Comments on: Say What! http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/say-what/ The MBA Graduate Program at Cal Poly Tue, 22 May 2012 21:54:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Michael Harroch http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/say-what/#comment-18185 Michael Harroch Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:25:03 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=2605#comment-18185 Traveling tip from personal experience: As a Franco-American, and having lived in the heart of Paris for 18 years, I can say with confidence that France and the US make some of the world's worst tourists (http://www.examiner.com/x-6500-French-Culture-and-Travel-Examiner~y2009m7d12-The-French-top-the-worst-tourist-listagain). According to the article, the French are "grumpy, stingy, and as the stereotype goes, just plain rude", and make no effort to speak the local language. On the other hand, American tourists are loud, obnoxious, inconsiderate, and like the French, make no effort to speak the local language. While living in Paris, I have noticed the following trend: If an American tourist asks for help, directions etc. in English, expecting the person they are addressing to understand them, they will be much more likely to get a negative response. However, if they try to say just one word in French, they will usually be greeted positively. Thus, I encourage us all to try and learn a few of the phrases that Cat and Jay have translated for us. Who knows, it might make a huge difference in our experience... Traveling tip from personal experience:

As a Franco-American, and having lived in the heart of Paris for 18 years, I can say with confidence that France and the US make some of the world’s worst tourists (http://www.examiner.com/x-6500-French-Culture-and-Travel-Examiner~y2009m7d12-The-French-top-the-worst-tourist-listagain).

According to the article, the French are “grumpy, stingy, and as the stereotype goes, just plain rude”, and make no effort to speak the local language.
On the other hand, American tourists are loud, obnoxious, inconsiderate, and like the French, make no effort to speak the local language.

While living in Paris, I have noticed the following trend: If an American tourist asks for help, directions etc. in English, expecting the person they are addressing to understand them, they will be much more likely to get a negative response. However, if they try to say just one word in French, they will usually be greeted positively.

Thus, I encourage us all to try and learn a few of the phrases that Cat and Jay have translated for us. Who knows, it might make a huge difference in our experience…

]]> By: Jay Ponto http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/say-what/#comment-18164 Jay Ponto Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:32:16 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=2605#comment-18164 Very nice post, Cat. Another valuable phrase we should all remember is "issey Hindi mein kyaa kahtey hain?" That means "What's that called in Hindi?" I think these will also be very useful for me: Kyaa aap issey dohraa saktey hain? Can you say it again? Kyaa aap dheerae baat karengae? Can you speak slowly? Yeh kyaa hai? What is this? Meri Hindi kucch khaas nahi hai. My Hindi is bad. Mujey Hindi ka or abhyaas karnaa hogaa I need to practice my Hindi. Hopefully none of us will have to say Meri Tabiyut kharaab hai (I feel sick) and all of us will say Bharat ek adbhut desh hai (India is a wonderful country). For anyone who does not have the book that you mentioned, check out this website for phrases that I posted, as well as many more that could likely be useful on our adventure! http://www.linguanaut.com/english_hindi.htm. Here is another website with frequently used Hindi words for travelers: http://www.indif.com/india/hindiwordsphrases.asp. Also, this website has a video that can help with the pronunciation of Indian words. Initially it seems a little boring (the music doesn't help one stay awake). However, if you can get passed that, it might be of help to start off learning how Indian words should sound! http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-basic-words-phrases-hindi-179922/. There are more links to other videos on the right side if you want to explore. Very nice post, Cat. Another valuable phrase we should all remember is “issey Hindi mein kyaa kahtey hain?” That means “What’s that called in Hindi?” I think these will also be very useful for me:

Kyaa aap issey dohraa saktey hain?
Can you say it again?

Kyaa aap dheerae baat karengae?
Can you speak slowly?

Yeh kyaa hai?
What is this?

Meri Hindi kucch khaas nahi hai.
My Hindi is bad.

Mujey Hindi ka or abhyaas karnaa hogaa
I need to practice my Hindi.

Hopefully none of us will have to say Meri Tabiyut kharaab hai (I feel sick) and all of us will say Bharat ek adbhut desh hai (India is a wonderful country). For anyone who does not have the book that you mentioned, check out this website for phrases that I posted, as well as many more that could likely be useful on our adventure! http://www.linguanaut.com/english_hindi.htm.

Here is another website with frequently used Hindi words for travelers: http://www.indif.com/india/hindiwordsphrases.asp.

Also, this website has a video that can help with the pronunciation of Indian words. Initially it seems a little boring (the music doesn’t help one stay awake). However, if you can get passed that, it might be of help to start off learning how Indian words should sound! http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-basic-words-phrases-hindi-179922/. There are more links to other videos on the right side if you want to explore.

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