I hope not..

It depends on the people
you must of been in a situation that nobody spoke the same lingo before
It can be one of the funnist things or the most frustrating you will ever do
You will have those times that you feel like a pet or token foreginer
but by now you must have leaned some words . just basic things like please and thank you go alone way.
life is too short
enjoy the ride and hope they never learn english

My mother-in-law has lived with my wife and I for about 5 years now.  She doesn't speak a word of English and I don't speak hardly any Mandarin.  Even if I could speak it well, she is mostly deaf, but that is another issue.

The main thing is that we get along great.  Sign language goes a long way towards keeping each other informed.  The only static we have is when she insists on putting the kids in 3 layers of clothes when only 1 is needed.

Communication is more than just verbal. Try not to be so uncomfortable around them, learn a little chinese, let them giggle at your mistakes. Teach them some english, smile at their mistakes. Offer to help mom with a meal. Food is always a good ice breaker. Your gf can translate and help, no?

And Phil is right... how have you gotten along in China? Or start off there? You don't have to speak the same language to forge a relationship.  

I can communicate with my boyfriend's family but I still don't call them, only when he hands me the phone. It's just not my personality to call my boyfriend's parents for a "chat" plus I hate talking on the phone anyway. My gut feeling tells me I should be more communitive, even if it's just an act to show that I "care".  In your case, since you can't speak Chinese, make sure you tell your girlfriend to tell them you were asking for them and wondering how they're doing/whether they're in good health etc. They'll appreciate the gesture.
But out of interest, does your girlfriend call your parents regularly? My boyfriend doesn't, so I kinda think, why should I?

It depends on the in-laws, but for me, even if I speak Chinese, we never really get along together since we have our child.
Before, I would just shut my mouth and keep things for myself, and let them do how the hell they want to do things, but since the child is born, it's been like absolute mutism between us. They come to visit us, I say hi, they say hi, and nothing for one week until they leave, and I say goodbye....
I also try that my wife takes some days off, so that she can stay with them.....otherwise I become "shenjingbing".
So don't worry about communication. Keep the way you want it....

The answer - in my opinion, is yes with a maybe, and no with a but.

You are right that Chinese value family above all else. Chinese girls are also expected from their parents to bring their future husband home, and for the new future husband to stay in frequent if not constant contact with the family, and to go home and visit them on several holidays per year.

And *even if* you speak excellent Chinese, there is a very good chance that your wife or girlfriend's family won't! They will probably speak some wacky dialect that is impossible for you to deciper. I happen to speak pretty advanced mandarin, but all this does is hurt me because then the girlfriend will expect me to understand everyone and everything, which of course I don't.

So yes, you can make it work if your girlfriend is very unusually accepting of our culture and is willing to not force you to communicate when you can't. And no, it won't work because these cultural expectations of communication with her parents have been established for thousands of years and aren't going out the window just because a handsome foreigner strolled into a girls life.

My wife's family speaks some weird ass dialect, so I can't speak to them at all and her Dad and I got drunk and had a great time when I met him. I wouldn't worry about it. 

Off Course it works, or let me say that, the communication gap between you and  in- Laws is advantageous.

1) The less interference in your matrimonial affairs.

2)  No communication no demand.

3) I am not offending but Chines by nature are very talkative people so if they can’t communicate with you the life will be more tranquil.

4) They can’t force you to do something, for example eating food which you do not like and  the consumption of cheap alcohol etc.

It is better that you are not speaking Chinese, let your girlfriend or wife be a communication bridge between you and in- laws.

Defiantly your Love relation will survive without communicating with in Laws.

Believe me I am serious the communication gap will pay you.

Best of luck in your life.

First, I think it depends on weather or not they are supportive of your gf being with a laowai in the first place. If its a problem for them, they will make the communication problem bigger than it is. If they are comfortable with it, or at least willing to accept it, things will be fine.
I have had only 2 chinese gfs, one where I couldnt speak any chinese, and it was ok. The parents wanted to speak to me, tried to teach a little, just be yourself. they can see a warm person without language. If they have small children in the family, play with them. Little things help to show yourself.

My current gf is cantonese so maybe her parents are more open then other areas, but there mandarin is super poor, so I mostly communicate with her brother and he puts in a good word for me with the parents, but  overall  I really havent had a problem with it.

If its really a concern, talk to your gf, not us.. Shell know what you can do to make things smoother, just find something that works for your particular situation. But it definatly can work, so dont be discouraged.

I've been married  for 8 years now, and I have absolutely zero verbal communication with her family. Ok we lived in the UK for the first 6 years of our marriage but they speak Guangdonghua and I have only recently started learning Putonghua so even when I get to a level we still won't be able to speak.

My father-in-law speaks Putonghua so I hope to eventually be able to speak to him, but the mother-in-law who now lives with us, speaks a local Nanning dialect (we call Nanninghua) and no Putonghua at all.

However, they are supportive of us and even though we don't speak we get on well, so while verbal communication is an obvious desire, it is NOT an essential to a good marriage so long as your wife and yourself don't allow it to become a barrier.

Can you not get your gf to translate your nice comments?

If you are worried then you should study Chinese.