Tourists say au revoir to the phrasebook

IT WAS once considered a staple of any holiday packing list, on a par with sunscreen, a pack of cards and flip-flops.

But the phrasebook is becoming a thing of the past, its demise hastened by the rise of smartphone translation apps, according to research conducted by the British Council.

More than 60 per cent of 16 to 34year-olds said they had used their smartphones and apps to help understand the local language, with just 39 per cent opting for a phrasebook.

The poll of 2,000 adults found that relying on technology often brought its own perils, with more than one in five of the 16-34 age group reporting that an inaccurate translation on their phone had led to misunderstandings while on holiday.

Vicky Gough, schools adviser at the British Council, said: “It’s fantastic that so many of us are ready to give foreign languages a go to make the most of our holidays, and smartphone technology can be a great first step in getting directions and basic information.

“However, this technology has its limits and can’t replicate the linguistic and cultural nuances of conversation. It can lead to a whole new level of confusion with phrases lost in translation.”

She added that “nobody wants to be staring at their phone screen all holiday”, so it pays to learn a few phrases.

Although the rising generation, aged 16-34, prefers the aid of a smartphone (60 per cent), the rest still use a phrase book on holidays abroad. This is brave. We suspect that phrase books cause as much amusement among foreigners as that unconscious comic classic, English as She Is

Spoke, has done since 1883. “Dress my horse,” the compiler included among useful phrases, and “I have mind to vomit.” Less successfully, visitors to Britain were recommended to ask: “Will you fat or slight?” and “You hear the birds gurgling?” Among “idiotisms” were listed the mysterious “To craunch the marmoset”. In reality, for the British abroad today, the most important thing is politeness. “Good morning” to a shopkeeper before making a demand, and a good supply of “thank yous” go much further than the best new language app.