How travel language has changed: ‘Do you accept traveller’s cheques?’ and otherphrases we no longer use

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This was published 6 years ago

How travel language has changed: ‘Do you accept traveller’s cheques?’ and otherphrases we no longer use

By Telegraph Travel
Google it: Smart phones have revolutionise the way we travel.

Google it: Smart phones have revolutionise the way we travel.Credit: iStock

As with every other facet of our lives, the internet has revolutionised the way we travel. Whether it has changed things for better or for worse is debatable.

On the one hand the internet has helped usher in a new era of cheap flights and last-minute deals, not to mentioned spawning the sharing economy.

But it has also proved to be a distraction from our destinations and can sometimes strip our trips of spontaneity and interaction with other travellers.

Maps have become a redundant tool of travel for most travellers.

Maps have become a redundant tool of travel for most travellers.Credit: iStock

What we can be certain of is this: as as the way we travel has changed, so too has the language we use.

At least that's according to Tandem, the language specialists, which surveyed its two million users to find out what phrases they learn ahead of travelling.

See also: Things you'd only know if you travelled in the 90s

Using the data they have come up with a list of essential expressions travellers should learn when heading to non English-speaking destinations.

Tandem claims that being able to speak 1000 words of a foreign language is enough to feel comfortable with another language. But if that's a bit of a stretch, it claims learning the following phrases would be enough to help travellers get by.

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Tandem has also come up with a list of phrases that need to be consigned to the history books.

"Everyone loves to tick off a checklist of things to do and phrases to learn before travelling," said Arnd Aschentrup, CEO Tandem.

"However... things like booking accommodation and paying using ApplePay have made some phrases defunct, while we can see that other phrases, particularly to do with smartphones, have become more crucial."

Tandem also gave a list of the top ten languages that travellers are learning on its platform. English and Spanish are the most popular but the list also contains a few surprises.

Must-know modern phrases

  • Can you tell me the wif-fi code please?
  • I have an online booking for a room tonight
  • Do you accept contactless?
  • Where can I charge my phone?
  • Are selfie sticks allowed here?
  • Where can I top up my phone?
  • Do you sell USB cables?
  • Do you offer online discounts or loyalty programmes?
  • I read your reviews online…

Redundant travel phrases

  • Do you have any rooms available?
  • Do you accept travellers cheques?
  • Can I use the phone?
  • I'd like to send a fax please
  • I'd like to make a reservation for dinner
  • Where can I get my photos developed?
  • Can you tell me the way to?
  • Do you sell maps?
  • Would you take a photo?

Top ten languages

  1. English
  2. Spanish
  3. German
  4. Russian
  5. Portuguese
  6. Italian
  7. French
  8. Chinese
  9. Japanese
  10. Korean

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