A character who doesn't speak common shopping with NPCs

[Hoihe]

How plausible would it be to say they used hand signals, and very basic common like "gold" "pay" "want" "buy" *points*, with the occassional mimicked sentence to purchase certain items from Maltz, Talbazzar and Aello?

Actually, what languages do the merchants in BG speak? Do they speak other races' languages[ or understand them at the trade level at least]?

Character in question learned bits and bits of common, but can mostly only mimic, not actually speak the language. But is fluent in elven and sylvan, and despite the lack of human linguistics thanks to tribal background, acts as civilized as a bard/ranger can.

[Nomster]

Tourists do this all the time in other countries. Works quite well irl so I can not see why it should not IG.

[blue_penguin]

In mechanical terms... I suppose you could express his difficulty through 0 points in Appraise.

That's all I have

[Simian]

http://bgtscc.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Languages <- Check there.

Chondathan, Illusk. (Since Baldur's Gate is literally on the edge of both Sword Coast and Western Heartlands. Cormanthan might not be far fetched, if the family originates from there.

[Ichabod]

Having visited China and knowing very little Chinese, I can speak from experience - it's not that hard. My friend, who was with me on the trip, summed it up pretty well for me when I expressed my nervousness to him - 'Someone in a shoe store probably wants to buy shoes.' Interpreting mime and finger-numbers through the lens of the type of good you are buying makes language pretty much unnecessary for transactions in economies where vendors are still specialized. As long as Wal-mart doesn't open in Baldur's Gate, not speaking common probably isn't an issue because most of the vendors sell specialized goods - weapons here, armor there, spells down the road and to the left, etc.

Hope that helps your RPing =)

[Hawke]

Non verbal communication is by far the easiest form of communication. I have been to over a dozen different countries and before or while I learn the language and culture, gestures and facial expressions help convey your intent.

Now I am sure most elves mostly RP in this manner since they are obnoxious and rude and have a superiority complex where they won't speak anything but their native language. Damn snobbish elves.

[Normandy]

Characters who don't know Common may know Chondathan which is the native language in this part of Faerun.

[Hawke]

Well by the rules, everyone understands common. Just like (except for an alternate class option for barbarian) everyone is literate. Even the Gray Orcs