Contrary to common belief, jesters weren't just a medieval European phenomenon but flourished in other times and cultures. The first reliably recorded jester is thought to be You Shi, of 7th century BCE China. Jesters had unique...

For more than 1,000 years, Khmer dancers in Cambodia have been seen as living bridges between heaven and earth. In this graceful dance-talk hybrid, artist Prumsodun Ok -- founder of Cambodia's first all-male and gay-identified dance...

What we call language is something more specific than communication. Language is about sharing what's in our minds: stories, opinions, questions, the past or future, imagined times or places, ideas. It is fundamentally open-ended, and...

A baby cursed at birth. A fierce battle of good and evil. A true love awoken with a kiss. Since premiering in 1890, “The Sleeping Beauty” has become one of the most frequently staged ballets in history. So what makes this piece so...

As in many parts of the world, Italians usually greet each other with a fairly firm handshake. Men sometimes clutch each other’s arms, embrace, or pat each other on the back. To an Italian, a greeting should have a tone of respectful...

Being well prepared for a meeting is an absolute must in Germany. Initial impressions are very important, and your German business associates will be judging you on your dress, posture, and manners. Learn more key guidelines to prepare...

Germans love to shake hands. Certainly a social or business meeting is cause for a round of firm handshaking. You’ll be expected to shake hands with everyone. The handshake is so important that even when someone leaves during a business...

In France, it's considered inexcusable to be bored—and it’s even worse to be boring. Learn more about cultural do’s and don’ts and making a good local impression. The French take pride in their nation’s intellectual history and enjoy...

When it comes to communication, cultures can be high-context or low-context—and this is one of the key ways that cultures differ. In low-context cultures, people tend to be explicit and direct in their communications. In high-context...

Germans rely very little on body language, although it is still an important part of communication. In general, they consider hand gestures unnecessary. They focus instead on communicating well verbally. Someone who expresses himself or...

In France, what's left unsaid is often more eloquent than what is verbalized. Curious about how to read French body language and interpret gestures such as smiles or eye contact? Learn more about how the French subtly use body language...

One important nonverbal cultural cue is physical proximity to others. For instance, how close do you stand to others? What is your comfort zone? Standing distances shrink and expand across cultures. Learn how people might mark their...

Eye contact is an important form of nonverbal communication. For example, in some cultures, direct eye contact is appreciated, while in other cultures, this type of gaze is disrespectful. Explore how people in different cultures and...

In most cultures, nonverbal behavior can be as impactful as spoken words. How we gesture, twitch, and scrunch up our face represents a guide to our emotions. Being able to suitably read—and broadcast—body language can significantly up...

Power distance and how local cultures view hierarchy are very important. Curious about the meaning of power distance? Power distance refers to how openly a society or culture accepts or does not accept differences between people. Explore...

Where does a culture begin and end? The answer is not always clear-cut. Culture is a complex concept. Some cultures fall within geographic boundaries, while others overlap. In addition to national culture, there are cultures based on...

It’s true—we naturally view behavior through our own cultural shade. We share common values with members in our own culture, and our values often differ from those of our colleagues and counterparts around the world. Each of us is raised...

Many people hear about culture and immediately think about protocol—a list of do’s and don’ts by country. But understanding culture is so much more than learning about proper gestures and acceptable etiquette. One must consider people’s...

When learning about culture, understanding individualism versus collectivism is essential. Individualism can be viewed as the emotional independence of an individual from groups or organizations. In contrast, in collectivist societies,...

There are a number of factors that constitute a culture—manners, mind-set, rituals, laws, ideas, and language, to name a few. External factors that also comprise a culture include religious beliefs, arts, customs, beliefs, ceremonies,...

As in other countries, there are gestures and words that are considered rude or bad manners in Singapore. Pointing or waving with the forefinger, for example, is taboo. Even something seemingly innocuous like standing with your hands on...

The Japanese enjoy socializing as much as other people, but their behavior may seem formal and unfamiliar to someone from another culture. Learn key do's and don'ts to ensure that you behave appropriately in social and business...

Verbal communication covers what we say,, the words we’re saying, whether spoken or signed. So, is body language a language? Short answer: no. Body language is not a standalone language in the linguistic sense, however it is an important...

Howcast - Researchers have found that there are simple things anyone can do to appear more appealing.