Linguistic Accessibility in Europe

One of the most poignant differences I have noticed in Italy is that they extend themselves more towards the tourists they host. In juxtaposition to the States, where product packaging has some of the most linguistically diverse text that can be found in daily life, Italian resources have often featured multiple languages for their patrons. Whether this be written throughout museum exhibits, spoken by tour guides, or offered through prerecorded headset tapes, multiple historically significant sites have catered to tourists and non-native speakers. This makes their cities more inhabitable and easier to navigate for people visiting them. Many people, even those not in customer service, speak two or more languages and signs are often complemented by universal diagrams or pictographs to explain their meaning. Where compatible, the infrastructure and implementation of accessible ramps, elevators, and Braille inscriptions is more typical as well.

The significance of this difference may be based on the geographical complexity of Europe as compared to the US. The densely packed European countries and their respective languages could require inhabitants and resources to be understood more easily across language barriers. But to that point, the two nations bordering the States speak other languages that are not taken into consideration for signage, even in larger cities that would host more tourists. A sentiment I have heard expressed is the idea that people should exclusively speak English when in the US as it is our national language and it better suits our needs and abilities. But from the other side of the scenario, the hostility that presents when directed at someone who is already in an unfamiliar place and in an unusual situation is appalling. The prevalence of English speakers and signage in Italy has enabled me to independently experience the country in ways I could not have if they embraced that same sentiment.