Laughter in Four Languages

Monday Musings on This ‘N That

Yesterday while in a fast food restaurant, the noise was at a moderate level. Not enough to annoy. But while eating I tuned into the chatter. I detected four different languages being spoken around me.

I scanned the room to find where the different dialects were located. One of them was among at least a dozen people. In another language I heard about six or eight joining in. A couple was conversing in yet another language. And finally I heard four others speaking in another foreign language.

Now and then in the room the volume of all conversations rose and fell. Among all the talking I heard some laughing. When they finished the laughing they got back to their food but still with smiles toward one another.

Finally, all of the four groups had randomly burst into laughter and shared smiles as they ate.

In all four of the languages, laughter and smiles were the same. I recognized that I had had the privilege to witness universal communication. I was aware that smiles are the same among all people and convey the same message. Laughter is also used and understood by everyone.  Yesterday I had the priceless opportunity to see that we’re not all that different after all: people to people and country to country. This incident reminded me of what I try to do and will now certainly continue to do—smile.


Till next time ... keep on smiling.