It's hard not to feel frustrated when you see a language barrier. You can't eat your meal because they don't understand, you can't express your feelings because they don’t speak the same language, and you can't even offer them a handshake in consolation. But this is all normal and should be expected for people who are separated by their language barriers.
Language is an important part of a culture that affects how we interact and relate to each other — but it can also hold us back from making progress. When one person cannot communicate with another person by way of spoken or written words, it's hard for two people to connect on the surface level or on any deeper level at all. But the power of communication can be a game-changer for people from different cultural backgrounds and help them assess each other even if they are not from the same culture.
When we don't connect with someone we see, we tend to talk about and think about that person in a negative way. A new study showed that when people connect with someone through a language barrier, instead of taking the time to solve that barrier, they continue to discuss their experience as though this person was an outsider. One research participant said, “I actually felt angry because I had to repeat myself so much…I just thought she was being rude and wasn't trying hard enough.” Another participant says, “I was doing a lot of hand motions and I know I was tapping, but she didn't really react. I even tried to laugh a little bit to make her feel more comfortable but she just didn't laugh.” In these situations, we fail to see the person in front of us because we’re so focused on solving the language barrier. The participants in the study focused on finding someone who speaks their language rather than finding someone with whom they have a more meaningful connection — and it's hard to blame them because it is not their fault that they cannot communicate.
But there are several ways that people can work together despite language barriers. We may not always be able to communicate the way we want to, but we can still make the best of it. A participant in the study pointed out, “I was trying to think of scenarios where you're stuck and there's no one else around who speaks your language…and I just kind of had my eyes open for that.” We instinctively recognize the importance of communication and are willing to work hard to make it happen. When we come face-to-face with another person with who we are unable to communicate by speaking or writing, we realize that it's more important to make the best of our situation than it is to blame each other. People can be their most authentic selves and get to know each other on a deeper level.
There are numerous ways people can connect despite language barriers, so don't forget the best way: you're not alone! A language barrier only serves as a reminder that your differences are what allows you to connect on such a deep level — for better or worse — and that it's all about accepting your differences and creating meaningful connections for your lives.
Sometimes language barrier creates a far distance to different races, ethnicity, and emotions. But with the help of technology, we have a lot of ways to overcome them.
The Internet has become a common thing for everybody: we use it when we buy products and groceries, when we search for information and learn something new when we contact somebody; even in dating. This is why so many services via the internet are so popular nowadays. You can find anything there: from buying clothes to finding friends or meeting a soulmate and get married to him/her.
It is a great advantage for those who are in need of foreign language speakers for specific purposes because they can easily find their language assistants on the Internet without traveling far away from their home or from their country. People of different races, ethnicity can be easily found and hired for small payments.
Another useful way to overcome language barriers is translation services. Translation services allow people who do not speak the same language to communicate with each other without spending too much time learning the new language. They help people get the information they need quickly and efficiently. People also choose translation services because it is a more convenient way to get information from foreign countries or from their native speakers.
It is really hard to keep up with the language changes in your native country. This is why so many people want to learn a foreign language. The Internet offers people various ways to find the language they need and become more comfortable living in a multicultural society.
