Mobile Etiquette and the Global LOL

Cheezburger Network's Ben Huh says, "'LOL' is a part of everyday life. It's a polite way of acknowledging someone."

They say that laughter is the best medicine, but do you know how it is done via text, email or tweet around the world? 

Believe it or not, LOL is now considered a word, according to the Oxford English Dictionary's principal editor for new words. Cheezburger Network's Ben Huh says, "'LOL' is a part of everyday life. It's a polite way of acknowledging someone."

Listed below you'll find a few ways in which LOL is written in other countries and languages:

"MDR" is the French language version, from "mort de rire". Roughly translated "dying of laughter."

And "חחח/ההה" is the Hebrew LOL language version. "ח" is pronounced 'kh' & "ה" is pronounced 'h'. Putting them together makes "khakhakha."

555 is the Thai language variation of LOL. "5" in Thai is pronounced "ha", so three of them are "hahaha."

"ASG" is the Swedish language's LOL. It is an abbreviation of the term Asgarv, meaning "intense laughter."

"MKM" is the Afghan language's LOL. An abbreviation of the Dari phrase "ma khanda mikonom", which means "I am laughing."
   

It's not polite to talk on your mobile in the cinema, in any language, and some mobile apps will remind you of this fact, as you learn a new language.

Which dating mistakes do YOU make? From using the word LOL to sending too many kisses, a new study reveals the biggest tech turn offs

• Using the wrong amount of kisses in a text was named the top turn off
• Answering the phone at dinner or in the cinema also made the list
• People in the south west of the UK were found to be the neediest partners
• While the Welsh were the most patient or 'hard to get' in the early stages

Using the wrong amount of kisses in a text message has been revealed as the top turn off in romantic phone etiquette.

Using the wrong amount of kisses in a text message has been revealed as the top turn off in romantic phone etiquette.

Whether it’s a new romance or a long-term relationship, sending fewer kisses in a text than a partner is considered impolite and a brush off.

Answering the phone at dinner, and having it switched on in the cinema were also included in the list, alongside texting after 11pm, resending the same text if no response is received, and emailing pointless small talk.

Using the wrong amount of kisses in a text message has been revealed as the top turn off in romantic phone etiquette. Answering the phone at dinner and using it in the cinema also made the list

The study, compiled by TalkTalk Mobile, found that over half of British men believe it is acceptable to end a relationship over text, whereas 62 per cent of women think that only face-to-face break ups are acceptable.

EXPERT TIPS FOR PHONE DATING

Do

• Keep flirting to text - don’t try and pull it off on a call.
• Turn off your phone when you’re out for a meal or at the cinema and give dates your full attention.
• Give your friend your phone when tempted to drunk call or text.
• Reply to texts within a couple of hours.
• Text a partner good morning and goodnight.

Don’t

• Finish a relationship by text.
• Resend the same text if you haven’t had a response yet.
• Text unnecessary small talk, like ‘Hey howz u’ or more than two texts without a reply – it looks needy.
• Use acronyms like LOL, K, G2G.
• Put more or fewer kisses than the other person.

The findings were uncovered as part of a study of 1,000 Britons.

Overuse of acronyms, such as LOL, were cited as one of the most common reasons a partner may lose interest, as they make the sender seem overly keen or too needy.

Good text etiquette was found to include texting a lover good night, replying to messages within two hours and asking questions to stimulate conversation.

While over three quarters of people believe they have good mobile relationship manners, four in ten people have completely misinterpreted a poorly written text - and sarcasm is the most common pitfall.

Overuse of acronyms such as LOL were cited as one of the most common reasons that a partner may lose interest, as they make the sender seem overly keen or too needy. Resending the same text if no response is received, or pestering for a response (pictured) were also deemed annoying

Dan Meader of TalkTalk Mobile, told MailOnline: ‘[Our] work with Debretts means that we’re able to go one step further towards helping out Britain’s daters mind their manners.'

‘Nearly 70 per cent of us know someone with bad phone manners - although only a fifth of us thought our own phone manners may be in need of improvement - so our top tips aim to help people weave their way through the web that is modern phone etiquette.’

Jo Bryant, etiquette expert at Debretts, added: ‘Mobile phones allow us to communicate instantly, with ease and spontaneity, but as the TalkTalk Mobile survey results show, consideration for others is essential for good mobile phone manners.’

An update since this was posted ~ After I tweeted about this article, I received this tweet below, in response  

Thanks again to @ChetnaImage for bringing us "kheekhee"

A former etiquette class assistant, Kelsey, read the post and tells us her relatives in Mexico text "jajaja" instead of "LOL" We're adding that to the list. Thanks, Kelsey!

Main article by Sarah Griffiths, Jun 2014 for Daily Mail