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Bilingual 1: "When I'm around Anglo-Americans, I find myself awkward and unable to choose my words quickly enough ... When I'm amongst Latinos/Spanish-speakers, I don't feel shy at all. I'm witty, friendly, and ... I become very out-going." Bilingual 2: "In English, my speech is very polite, with a relaxed tone, always saying "please" and "excuse me."

Whether you're networking, new to a job, or at a friend's party, talking to strangers can be a scary, but rewarding, experience. Use the above tips to go beyond empty exchanges and really get to know those you're talking to - without feeling awkward.

People in the workforce are working away from just gender binary pronouns or references. Using more gender-neutral pronouns opens up a safe environment for all people. For example, using the term "they" to describe one person helps you escape awkwardness and stumbling between "he" or "she" pronouns. This is more apparent in workplaces because now, people are not just man or woman, there are many more existing genders.

Because text messaging is a conversation that involves a lot of back-and-forth, people add fillers as a way to mimic spoken language. We see this with the increased use of ellipses, which can invite the recipient to continue the conversation. The period is the opposite of that - a definitive stop that signals, as linguistics professor Mark Liberman has explained, "This is final, this is the end of the discussion." For some, this can appear angry or standoffish--but why? The use of the period is an example of what linguist John Gumperz termed situational code-switching: when we change how we talk depending on where we are, who we're talking to or how we're communicating. Using a period in a text message is perceived as overly formal, making the writer come across as insincere or awkward, just like using formal spoken language in a casual setting, like a bar.

Graduates! It's that time of year again ... when college graduates put on those awkward gowns and head off to commencement, where they sit in the sweltering sun or a stuffy stadium, waiting to grab their diplomas and meet up with their families while half-listening to distinguished speakers dispense timeless wisdom and advice. Check out the "best" of 2016's college commencement speeches.