There are or were dedicated translator devices. They're not very good but if you need to get your point across it's quicker than a pocket dictionary and more coverage than a phrase book. Saying 1 or 2 words isn't likely to help much tho. Sometimes you just have to eat what they give you, take things with a grain of salt and be ready for miscommunications. I would like or I want are probably some of the things i used most often and then you need the noun or verb to put after them. I want chicken, i want to go here.

A problem in South east Asia is that the letters are different too so reading signs is more than just knowing some words. Also many of the people may not even be able to read in their own language. You can have someone local write down destinations but doesn't help if the taxi driver can't read. The electric translator is nice because it will say the word. Dircetions will be the hardest part and i'd suggest gps or very good maps and very good orienteering skills.