The Fascinating Ways People Learned Each Other’s Languages Without Translation Sources

Language is an incredible tool for communication, and throughout history, people from vastly different backgrounds have found ways to learn each other's languages, communication techniques that often involved no translation sources. This article explores these fascinating methods, from trading children to using non-verbal communication and language exchanges.

Trading Children: A Historical Practice for Language Acquisition

A notable historical method for language acquisition involved the trading of children. Around the 8th or 9th year of age, children from one culture would be taken on voyages and ‘traded’ with children from another culture. After about three months, the children would have become fluent in the other language and would return home. From that point, these children often acted as translators for their respective cultures. This practice was widespread and rarely questioned, as evident in various historical records.

One such instance is highlighted in a recent personal encounter. Over the past six months, I've been conversing with a native Korean speaker who has limited English. During these interactions, I've picked up a few words just by listening, often due to context. Examples include the food terms: 'let’s go there to eat a lot of pretty delicious' and 'thank you'. Such instances showcase the potential of context and environment in language acquisition.

Non-Verbal Communication and Cultural Exchange

Language learning isn't solely dependent on verbal interaction. Non-verbal communication, such as hand gestures and miming, can serve as a rudimentary basis for understanding. When it becomes clear what the communication is about, each party can begin by calling out the name of the concept in their own language. This process can evolve over time, with each participant contributing to the vocabulary of the other. Drawing pictures in the dirt with a stick is another genuine historical method. One side would draw a picture and say the word that conveys what the picture is, and the other side would then say their word for it, thus facilitating a mutual understanding and language acquisition.

Language Exchange through Cultural Contact

Historically, cultural exchanges, such as those facilitated by missionaries and traders, have led to the acquisition of new languages. For instance, in James Clavell’s novel "Shogun", the protagonist, Blackthorn, learns basic Japanese vocabulary, such as 'wakarimasu ka' (Do you understand), 'wakarimasu' (I understand), and 'wakarimasen' (I don’t understand). The progress of his language learning is aided by the fact that one Japanese individual had previously learned Latin from missionaries, a language he had also studied in school.

Missionaries were particularly eager to teach European languages and to learn native languages to gain converts. Native Americans who were curious about these new people began to learn their languages. In some cases, individuals voluntarily went to Europe and stayed for a period of time before returning. For example, in 1493, Columbus took people back with him from the Americas to Europe. The first Native Americans to voluntarily go to England were Manteo and Wanchese. These historical cases demonstrate how language exchange can start with objects and simple ideas, building up over time.

Even in modern times, the same principles apply. One can learn a new language by immersing oneself in a situation where the target language is commonly spoken. In my own experience, by conversing with a native Korean speaker who has limited English, I have been able to pick up some words and phrases based on context, such as 'let’s go there' and 'thank you'.

Overall, the methods for learning each other's languages have varied across cultures and time periods. Whether through trading children, non-verbal communication, cultural exchange, or simple immersion, the human ability to learn new languages remains a testament to our adaptive and interconnected nature.