How did the different nationals learn one another's languages when there were no translations yet?

Question

Everything has a beginning, and I was just wondering how people from a country, say the Philippines, began to learn the Japanese language. I find it amazing how the first interpreters knew that they were translating correctly. I live in the Philippines. If, for instance, it's Japanese occupation nowadays, how do I understand what the Japanese people are talking about?

Answer 1

How do children learn a brand new language without a translator?
They are immersed in the language, and in a few years they are fluent. What is this? ¿Qué es esto? Una cuchara ( a spoon). ¿Qué es esto? Una mesa ( a table). Little by little the children learn the name of things and how to ask for the things they want. Immersion in the language is the time tested method of learning another language.

Answer 2

They listened to one another. They used gestures, tones and facial expressions to communicate basic things while saying words in their own language. Soon, the words began to make sense. Or, if a person is exposed to a language long enough, he will pick it up the same way he picked up his native language.

For examples in movies, I would suggest "The 13th Warrior" (Antonio Banderas' character learns the language of the northmen he's traveling with by sitting and listening to them talk) and "The New World" (Pocahontas and John Smith learn one another's languages by pointing to things and then giving their words for them.) For real life examples, I have only my own personal experiences. I've met several people who speak little or no English. If both people have a will to learn the other's language and teach their own, then communication is easy. Pantomime and facial expressions go a long way. And once the two find some words in common, it only gets easier.

To understand what the Japanese people are talking about, listen to them and take note of their facial expressions, gestures and body language. If you get a chance to talk to one of them, see if you can find some words that both of you can understand. (Of course, both of you would need to be willing to do this.) Another thing you could do is take advantage of technology. Get some movies that are in Japanese and watch them without the subtitles. If you do that enough, you'll be able to understand it eventually. (That's how one of my friends learned Japanese. She and her husband run an anime shop and that's pretty much all they watch. When their baby was born, he responded to both Japanese and English.)

Answer 3

I imagine they began by comparing names for common things, and words for common actions.. And watch the facial expression, and study the situations the people are in, the context of the speech is always important.