Language barrier: understanding each other around the ring

Taking part in a show abroad can be daunting when you don't speak the language. Yet a few prepared words, written information and a request for clarification can make the day easier.

Here are three tips by level to build your confidence.

Beginner: preparing the essential exchanges

1. Keep a few phrases handy

Prepare a little cheat sheet in English or in the language of the country:

These phrasings are practical aids. English can be useful, but check which language lets you communicate with the person you are speaking to.

1. Show the information that is hard to pronounce

Save your dog's official name, his breed, his class and your exhibitor number.

To ask for your ring, showing an entry confirmation can be more effective than trying to pronounce a breed name you have only just discovered.

Prepare a version you can open offline: the hall's network may have a surprise of its own in store for you!

1. Simply say that you understand little of the language

Before your class starts, use a quiet moment to let the ring steward know.

A short sentence is enough: "I speak little English. Could you show me if necessary?"

You can ask for this help without assuming an interpreter will be available. The FCI rules provide that the assistants speak a working language chosen by the judge; this does not guarantee support in each exhibitor's language. [1]

Intermediate: understanding instructions in the ring

1. Recognise a few handling words

Here are some English expressions you may come across:

This vocabulary does not prescribe any pattern: the instruction given by the judge remains your reference. If anything is ambiguous, ask them to indicate the direction or the movement expected.

1. Watch to get your bearings, then listen for your instruction

Watching the earlier runs helps you understand the set-up: where to stand, where to start the gaits and how to leave the ring.

But the judge may ask something different of your dog. Stay alert for the moment they address you.

If you are unsure, a brief request for clarification will be more use than setting off in a rush in the wrong direction.

1. Take organisational questions to the steward

To find out when to go in, where to wait or whether you need to come back, the steward is a handy person to ask.

Under the FCI framework, the steward's duties include gathering the dogs by class and organising the ring's administrative work. [1]

Keep your questions short and show your number if necessary. This makes the exchange easier without needlessly interrupting the judging.

Advanced: anticipating more complex exchanges

1. Check the important words before entering

A machine translation can help you understand a form. To choose a class or interpret a requirement, though, compare the translation with the original text.

If in doubt, write to the show secretary before the closing date with a precise question: date of birth, class under consideration and the supporting document you have.

The Royal Kennel Club points out that the class definitions appear in the show's official schedule. [2] That document therefore deserves a careful read, even when its vocabulary seems familiar.

1. Have the comments translated after your run

If a judge's report is handed out, keep it in its original version and have the technical terms explained once you have left the ring.

Under the FCI framework, when translation of the reports is necessary, the rules provide for it to be done outside the ring, in an area set aside for the purpose. [1]

Avoid drawing a conclusion from a single translated word: a remark takes its meaning from the full sentence.

1. Keep your usual cues with your dog

The judge may speak another language; you can keep using the words your dog knows to guide him.

In training, ask someone to give you a few instructions in a foreign language while you handle. That lets you work on your understanding without changing all of the dog's habits.

On the day, take a second to understand, then give your usual signal calmly.

The habit to remember

Prepare a few phrases and ask for clarification when you need it. You don't have to understand every announcement to take part, but you must be able to identify your turn and follow the instructions that concern you.

The phrases and tips in this article are practical recommendations. They do not constitute a right to a translation or an interpreter.

Sources

• FCI: Dog Show Regulations (PDF, in French)
• The Royal Kennel Club: attending your first dog show