I am sure they are trained, in fact we saw Ariel do sign language a few weeks ago but we never saw somebody try to speak to a character in another language.
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How do Face Charcters communicate with a person who does not speak English?
- Thread starter Princess Kaylee
- Start date
CAPTAIN HOOK
Well-Known Member
I'm guessing here (as I've never been to DLP) but the character will speak English as a second language with, for example, French as a first language while the characters assistant will speak a different first language ??
DisneyFanaticUK
Active Member
Good questionThis is particularly a problem at Disneyland Paris where visitors come from all over Europe so characters are faced with guests speaking French, English, German, Spanish, Italian.. I don't know how they cope.
English is a near universal second language in mainland Europe, at the very least, most Western Europeans can communicate in some sort of fashion using it. I've never had a problem when visiting DLP, from my own experience I assume most cast members who deal with the public are proficient in at least French, English and can basically communicate in German.
Personally, the amazing multi-lingual nature of urban European areas is a real life saviour when visiting the mainland, my accent usually ends up butchering any attempt to communicate in French, and my German is quite sub-par.
EOD K9
Well-Known Member
J'ai eté à Paris trois fois pour voir Le Tour de France et Je suis visité DLP une fois. I've found that most people in France speak English fairly well. The further you get from major cities, the less they speak. In DLP most of the CMs speak English. I'd like to think, the face characters at least speak English. Je suis un cycliste donc Je voudrais apprendre le Francais. Je pense que tout le monde devrait essayer d'apprendre la langue du pays où ils veulent visiter.
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At Disneyland Paris the face characters are only required to speak French or English, not both. Most face characters in Tokyo and Hong Kong cannot speak Japanese or Chinese fluently.
As far as I know there isn't really any official way to handle this. Most guests will probably understand hello, say it back, pose for a photo and leave.
As far as I know there isn't really any official way to handle this. Most guests will probably understand hello, say it back, pose for a photo and leave.
RandomPrincess
Keep Moving Forward
My cousin's best friend just transferred to Hong Kong to be a princess. She is not fluent in Chinese. She has some basic phrases she needed to know.
DisneyChik17
Well-Known Member
A friend of mine, who was previously friends with Belle, said they aren't supposed to speak other languages in WDW, only English. Mostly for consistency, because what would happen if a sweet little birthday girl met a princess, spoke Spanish with her, then went back at another time and couldn't do it? A lot of attendants are bilingual or multilingual, and can assist, because they are just regular people.
mergatroid
Well-Known Member
I always find that shouting at foreigners works best, it must do as I see lots of people doing it abroad.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
I've been to DLP and seen the same face characters speak both English and French. It's impressive to see them go from one guest or table to the next and change languages at the drop of a hat. It also adds some authenticity to characters like Belle.
BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
It helps if you shout more slowly as well. For example, "WHERE... ARE... THE... RESTROOMS?"
mergatroid
Well-Known Member
If they're Italian the key is to just add 'ay' to the end of the words whilst shouting
"WHEREAY AREAY THE RESTROOMSAY?"
I am sure this becomes an issue in Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Paris...
mergatroid
Well-Known Member
EOD K9
Well-Known Member
Well Snow White should speak German then.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
In theory it wouldn't be that hard to find a CM who could in Europe.