How do you say ... ?

E-translators offer help.

When we travel and don't speak the local language, most of us use our hands in a sorry attempt to communicate. We point, pantomime, wave and hope our message is received. Now, thanks to several new translation gadgets, we can use our hands to discover -- and say -- the right words.

The Franklin 12-Language Speaking Global Translator (franklin.com, $229.95) speaks 115,000 words and can translate thousands more onscreen. The device, which is about the size of a BlackBerry, slides open to produce a full keyboard; smart technology suggests words as you type and helps correct any misspellings. The screen shows the word in your primary and target languages (there are 12, including Arabic), and the device can say the word at the push of a button. Phrases fall under categories such as "Conversing," "Health" and "Dining." It runs on a rechargeable battery.

The Nyrius LT12 (nyrius.com, $69.99) also translates to and from a dozen languages. It has a built-in phonebook and runs on two lithium batteries. The voice sounds computerized, and there's no keyboard, but the LT12 is preloaded with phrases for most common travel situations -- and some uncommon ones, such as, "I have been bitten by a dog" or "I've lost my daughter." Of course, in those cases, you very well may be flailing your hands again!

-- Melanie D.G. Kaplan