Language Barrier of Doom — An Experience at Yongsan Electronics Market

Being bilingual in a foreign country really is a handy thing. But then again, when you’re weaker at your second language, it can be quite troublesome. Language barriers are not something new to me at all. Trying to communicate in Korean with my mum is one of the biggest challenges I face almost on a daily basis. Luckily, she knows that my Korean language skills are weak, so she tones down her vocabulary to my level and uses English once in a while to help me understand. When I go out into the real world in Seoul, though, I am not as lucky.

A couple of days ago, I went to Yongsan Electronics Market to buy a custom-made computer. My friend help me compile a list of specifications I wanted inside the thing. I was plunked in front of a dude who doesn’t know English, and negotiations went under way. It was really a painful but amusing experience that tried my patience.

During most of the process, it wasn’t too difficult to go through. There were two incidents that struck out though. One had to deal with us determining which processor to get. On my list, I had jotted down Intel Dual Core something or another. The guy saw that on my list and tried to tell me that Core 2 Duo would be a faster and better choice. My friend and I didn’t understand what he meant by Core 2 Duo at first, so we insisted on the Intel Dual Core one, but they didn’t stock that, so we just went with the Core 2 Duo.

The most difficult translation problem occurred near the end. He asked us if we wanted them to do something for us. He used a word I wasn’t familiar with, so for the next ten minutes, the poor guy was trying to get my friend and me to understand. He was failing miserably, and I was getting frustrated. Finally, he asked his co-worker how to say whatever word he was using in English. Two minutes later, the co-worker finally said something about “assemble”. That’s when we finally understood that he was asking us if we wanted them to build the computer for us.

*facepalms* I simply do not understand why he didn’t just use a different word. Instead, he kept using the same word — the word I obviously do not have in my vocab! And later I realised why didn’t he just use his computer — which I assume was hooked up to the internet — and go to a Korean-English dictionary website and type that word in! Aigoo chamna! Luckily, though, things fell into place, and now I have a spanking new smexy super computer of some sort in my possession.

. . . But seriously, these language barrier incidents are a pain! I should really invest in one of those portable electronic Korean-English and English-Korean dictionary. Then again, I have one on my cellphone — which I never remember until it’s too late. Yes, I can be an airhead.