Lost in a foreign city where they don’t speak the language, your character uses a translation app to get around, but constantly runs into problems.

Posted in Adventure on Dec 16, 2022

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✍️ 9 stories

“A PERECT WEEK IN ÇÀÝÁÇ” by Delbert Griffith

Submitted to Contest #177

ÇÀÝÁÇ was the perfect place to vacation, and to forget about one’s troubles back home. Parker Goldring booked his flight to this tropical paradise, as much to relax as to evade his psychotic ex-wife. He understood her acrimony towards him because he was a slob, but he didn’t understand why she wanted him dead. He didn’t think he was that much of a slob. Parker tried to learn as much as he could about the ÇÀÝÁÇ language as he could on the flight there, but it was terribly difficult to understand; even the rudiments of the language were intric...

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“Lost in Translation” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #177

Before arriving in China, the reality of experiencing a significant language difficulty never entered my mind. I truly believed everyone spoke English - if not fluently - enough for the essentials to be understood. Previously I’d worked in a zoo in Malaysia and had experienced no communication difficulties at all. Of course, this was because an English charity had set up my placement in the zoo and an English speaker looked after me. But, taxi drivers in Kuala Lumpur could communicate tolerably well in English, and the vast Sh...

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“The Dead City of Enlightenment” by David Phan

Submitted to Contest #177

The fluorescent dimmed light flickered unbearably in this part of the drop ship. It was so cold in this ship, teardrops and spit could freeze on the spot, just like in the dead of space, there was no warmth nor reprieve from it. But what the men and women can complain about? As the ‘contractors’ had shuddered to themselves in their designated seat, with metallic bars that hindered around their flesh bodies. They sat like nice and silent schoolchildren, roughly 10 or 12 metres away from each other.A expedition of fresh researchers and ex...

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“Chirps and squeaks” by Lex Castanheira

Submitted to Contest #177

His hands clutched on his knees and his breath a bit shorter than usual, Noah was having a harder time recovering from this eight-mile run than he usually would. His half marathon was about two months away and clearly, this wasn’t the best way to prepare for it. He still had plenty of time to get back in shape, but he needed to cut down on his business travels and happy hours, if he wanted to finish the race. The orange and red colored lines on his running app were only adding to his frustration, confirming and reminding him of his painful ...

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“The City of Shadows” by Nisha Ramakrishnan

Submitted to Contest #177

Something sinister infused the air. It oozed out of cracks on the pavement, dispersed from the generic, flickering-tube-light lit shops – Raju Xerox, Prabheem Dry Fruits – and gathered momentum with the rapidly fading light, which cast a gloom over the whole city of Chhayapur, India (noteworthy attractions: non-existent), marking the end of another disillusioning day, indistinguishable from yesterday. The stranger walked on, wearier with each footstep. The road looked just like the one before. A `'Stick No Bills' sign on an empty wal...

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“Isern Amore” by Jack Thomas

Submitted to Contest #177

It was late December, she was boarding a flight to return home. She had spent the last year in France, studying at an international college. She sits in a plastic chair next to a window, scrolling through her phone lazily. A girl about 19 years of age, she has a very slender frame, black hair, shoulder length, and unkempt. She wears a worn down gray softball sweater as well as blue jeans with red and gray sneakers. Not the kind of person to stick out much, especially not in the diverse crowds of an airport. “Pagin...

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“The Language of Help” by Eva F

Submitted to Contest #177

“Chris Lanning! Please come to my office!” said the PA system. ”What did I do?” Chris wondered. He started on his way to the office. Chris was a man with brown hair, big green eyes, and was about average height for a man of 23 just starting in the workforce. He worked at a construction firm that sold materials and funded construction companies. When he finally reached the office, he sighed and knocked on the door. “ Come in!” said a voice in the office. Chris opened the door. “Ah, Chris! Thank you for coming. I hope t...

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“Lost in Barcelona Spain” by Sarah Shaar

Submitted to Contest #177

On a cold Christmas evening, Jane found herself lost in the foreign city of Barcelona, where she didn't speak the language. She had been visiting her aunt and uncle for the holidays and had decided to go for a walk to explore the city. She had been admiring the beautiful Christmas lights and festive decorations that adorned the streets, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. But as the sun began to set, Jane realized that she had gotten turned around and was no longer sure how to get back to her aunt and uncle's apartment. She had been...

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“First Business Trip” by Narelle Bennett-Elliott

Submitted to Contest #177

“How was the flight?” Brad said, I could hear the clattering of dishes and the sizzling of food. It was hard to tell what he was making, he has always been terrible at orienting the camera so that I could see what he was up to. “Long, thankfully I managed to sleep most of the way. I just got to my hotel. I have a few hours before our meeting with our counterparts. I’m thinking of snagging something to eat. I saw a cute cafe on my way in.” Brad’s face pops on screen and with an excited grin he exclaims “Ooo! I’ve heard so much about South Kor...

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Contest #177

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This week's theme: Found in Translation

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Ended on 23:59 - Dec 23, 2022 EST

Won by Laurel Hanson 🏆

Title: Colonel Mustard in the Kitchen Without a Hearing Aid

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Lost in a foreign city where they don’t speak the language, your character uses a translation app to get around, but constantly runs into problems.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 9 stories

“A PERECT WEEK IN ÇÀÝÁÇ” by Delbert Griffith

“Lost in Translation” by Stevie Burges

“The Dead City of Enlightenment” by David Phan

“Chirps and squeaks” by Lex Castanheira

“The City of Shadows” by Nisha Ramakrishnan

“Isern Amore” by Jack Thomas

“The Language of Help” by Eva F

“Lost in Barcelona Spain” by Sarah Shaar

“First Business Trip” by Narelle Bennett-Elliott

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about two or more characters who don't speak each other's language (literally or metaphorically), but still find a way to communicate.

Set your story in a meeting where a professional interpreter takes some liberties, with major consequences.

Write about someone who is slowly forgetting their mother tongue or losing their language.

Write a story about a character who struggles to translate their thoughts and feelings into words and action.

Contest #177

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

150

Contest entries

70

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: