Language Barriers in the New World

by shaggydawg

Language helps people who have nothing in common find common grounds with talking. I would like to know of any books about how Columbus and his predecessors went about talking to native tribes who they had no historical language contact with. Was it mostly through hand gestures until educated beings of both sides figured words out?

Searocksandtrees

hi! hopefully someone will drop by with some direct recommendations for you, but it might be worth a skim through this section of the FAQ