A linguistic "false friend" is a word which is spelled or pronounced the same way in two or more languages or dialects of a single language, yet which has a unique meaning in each different language. Similarly, cultural "false friends" occur when people from different cultures think they have concepts and mores in common, yet…

Some of the uses of laughter in conversation are examined, specifically as laughter occurs in a second language setting. Although the concepts of humor and laughter are often intertwined, not all laughter is humorous, nor does every humorous event evoke laughter. Furthermore, cross-cultural difference can contribute to misinterpretation of…