Etiquette & Languages
Etiquette and Languages observes how people relate to each other through behaviors and speech. Find information on topics like tipping, sign language, good manners and slang.
Inside LA's Forest Lawn, Where the Biggest Celebrities Rest in Peace
Is Human Composting the Greenest Burial Option?
What's With Germany's Strict Burial Regulations?
Try a Tattoo Without the Commitment
Ways to Keep Your Old Tattoos Looking Fresh and New
The Nose Knows: 5 Questions to Ask Before a Septum Piercing
What in the World Is a 'Shoey'?
Did You Know It's 2015 in Ethiopia Right Now?
What Are the 10 Largest Cities in the World by Population?
What's the Science Behind Mood Rings?
10 Things We Love to Hate About the '70s and '80s
Celebratory Yard Signs Are Having a Major Moment
5 Family Traditions for New Babies
5 Family Anniversary Traditions
5 Family Traditions for Daughters
Bad Luck Comes in Threes: Separating Superstition from Reality
The Fascinating World of Full Moon Superstitions
The Power of Eye Contact When Toasting: Unveiling the Fascinating Customs
What Are the Most and Least Popular Birthdays in the U.S.?
The Firm vs. the Family: How Does the British Monarchy Really Work?
What's the Difference Between a Duke and an Earl?
How the Millennial Generation Works
Millennials Are Making Birthday Cards a Thing Again
Nope, Boomers and Xers Don’t Work Harder Than Millennials
The Bloody Origins of the Phrase 'Caught Red-Handed'
60 Cheeky British Slang Words and Phrases
How the Word 'Hack' Became So Hacked
What Does the Poinsettia Have to Do with Christmas?
The Joy of the Holiday Poinsettia
Celebrate Galentine's Day, Leslie Knope Style
West Point's 'Goat' Isn't the Greatest, It's the Last in Class
Can You Get in Trouble for Not Flying the U.S. Flag at Half-staff?
What Are the Most Common Last Names in the World?
Who Keeps the Ring if the Engagement Ends in a Breakup?
Is Sleeping in Separate Beds a Relationship Buster?
There's More Than One Way to Be Monogamous
Calculate Your Life Path Number and What It Means
Chaldean Numerology: Unlocking the Secrets of Personal Destiny
Harnessing the Power of the Master Numbers
Check Out the Human Library, Where the Books Are People
Reading the Rails: What Was the Hobo Code?
Afrofuturism: Where Technology, Culture and the Black Experience Meet
Quiz: Finish That Jingle!
How One Woman Unexpectedly Became the Voice of Siri
There's a Healthier Way to Consume Your Media
Learn More / Page 4
Who's the worst in the restroom? The person who drips on the seat, talks on the phone or hogs the mirror? We put all three – and some others – on our list of annoyances.
By Chris Opfer
For the rule-loving (and germaphobic) people among us, IKEA can be a nightmare: Huge crowds, long lines and loud kids can make things seem chaotic. Help bring order to the madness by following our etiquette outline.
By Jeff Harder
To make the best out of your next 30-second trip in vertical transportation horror, follow our 10 weird (but indispensable!) rules of elevator etiquette.
By Dave Roos
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Will the grammar police really arrest you if you start a sentence with a conjunction or end one with a preposition? There's only one way to find out.
G. Gordon Liddy once observed that the trouble with conspiracies is people can't keep their mouths shut. He should know: He was part of one of the most notorious cover-ups in history. Which was it and what were the other nine?
Responding to invitations promptly is part of proper etiquette. Learn about what common R.S.V.P. etiquette entails from this article.
"You can't hide your lyin' eyes," cautioned the Eagles, and they're right. We like to think that words count, but do they communicate as clearly as body language?
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You're scanning your friend's baby shower registry and find all the usual suspects: diapers, onesies, rattles and pacifiers. But what's with the Spanish language DVDs and Mandarin vocabulary flash cards? When is the perfect time to start learning another language?
A required language class in high school or college has been the academic downfall of many a student. But for students who have a so-called "ear for languages" and pick them up easily, German 101 is a piece of cake. What accounts for the difference?
Let's say that you're traveling to a country where you don't speak the language. You didn't have time to pick up a dictionary, so you'll have to get around using only hand gestures. The problem? Every hand gesture you do offends someone. What gives?
When you're struggling through intro to Latin or intermediate German, at some point it's likely that you'll shut your book and wonder why we can't all just speak the same language. How did we end up with so many? And why can't we just pick one and put an end to the confusion?
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Try saying "toy boat" three times fast. By the time you're done, the words will be all distorted. It's a classic tongue twister, but is it your tongue or your brain that's really tangled up?
By Josh Clark
It's dreary outside, and you remark on the beautiful weather. An incompetent co-worker is promoted, and you say she'll do a great job. It's not Opposite Day -- it's sarcasm.
What may elicit a thumbs up from Miss Manners in the U.S. may not elsewhere in the world. Some cultures do things very different from the way Americans are used to. Learn 13 examples of good and bad manners around the world.
Popular slang terms come and go — and sometimes come back again. Here are some of the most popular slang words of the last 100 years, decade by decade.
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Much to our amusement, politicians sometimes get tongue-tied. See our list of 9 political slips of the tongue by presidents and other leaders, including slips by Ronald Reagan and Al Gore.
People will remember a life well-lived, but a well-written epitaph will render that person unforgettable. Here are 20 of the wittiest and most memorable epitaphs ever written.
By Stephanie Watson & the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.
American Sign Language (ASL) is one of the fastest growing languages of study in the United States. Learn about the history of ASL, how it's used and how it differs from other sign languages in the United States and around the world.
A concierge's work is more varied than ever as they take care of all the things most of us struggle to find time to do. Let this article change your mind about how you think the job of a concierge works.
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In spite of being so easy to overlook, Braille is amazing. Learn how Braille gives blind people an efficient method for communication and learning.
A hybrid of English and Spanish known as Spanglish can be heard in many predominantly Hispanic areas as well as on TV and in movies. Learn where it came from and how it works.
Many of us offer a blessing when someone sneezes, and we don't even know why. Why does a sneeze get a "bless you" when a cough goes unanswered?"
You've probably heard the story about Catherine the Great and the horse. Although this false piece of gossip is more than 200 years old, it's still being spread as fact. Learn about the different types of gossip and find out why gossip is so ubiquitous.
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In this article, we'll explore what makes words into swearwords, why most Americans use them and how society responds to swearing. We'll also look at one of its most fascinating aspects -- the way it affects your brain.
Did you know that servers, guides, drivers, concierges and others who help us dine and travel sometimes aren't paid even minimum wage by their employers? They depend on customer gratuities. Want to know what to tip and when?