A common fear about traveling is coming face-to-face with a unbreakable communication barrier. Not being able to speak the local language can be intimidating but with Point It in your pocket, you can go ahead and start packing your bags.
Jump down to see why we never tire of this useful tool...
Point It isn't a regular language dictionary; it's a picture dictionary. The idea is that whether you are hungry for baked beans or simply want to check out some performance art, all you need to do is point it out in the book and the friendly locals will show you on your way.
Yet we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that Point It is also hilarious. The dated photos and the helpful but random groupings of scenarios and items combine to make this book worthy of a good chuckle.
Point It makes a great gift for someone traveling abroad. They might laugh at first but they'll be glad to have it when they find themselves needing pantyhose, cigarettes, and/or snow chains.
Re-edited from a post originally published 08.16.07. JB
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
This is an excellent idea!
view crewtag.com's profile
It is a good idea. But . . . how can you understand/follow directions in another language if you can't even ask for them?
view Griffin's profile
yeah... i think if you're traveling to another country you should travel with someone who knows the language enough to get by, or you should take at least an introductory course. here in boston they are offered in several languages for a low price at several community education programs.
view closertotheocean's profile
Some of my fondest travel memories are of working toward communication by pointing and gestures plus a sprinkling of language, usually most effective in food places. Usually, people appreciate the attempts and take it with good humor. There's no guarantee that we get exactly what we think we're getting, but that's part of the adventure.
view mycatsownme's profile
closertotheocean, I completely agree about taking an intro language course. However, I think after I learned to say "I would like....." in another language, I could point to the picture of the snow chains. Doncha think?
view nmrobertson's profile
I have this book - I ordered it from MoMa thinking it was going to be funny.. i was disappointed.. you can find it at Urban Outfitter's too..
view karmy's profile
This is most useful in places where English is uncommon and where there are many dialects, e.g., China. I've been to many, many countries and could almost always mime what I wanted, but I had problems in some major tourist locales in China, where this proved helpful. The physical health things would be useful should you get sick.
Disclosure: I've known the author for decades and sent him the post card shown on one of the pages. This self-published book has sold 1.5 million copies and the author has, literally, been everywhere on earth.
view Taureg's profile