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Dear Maxine:
A friend of mine recently reprimanded me for yawning in public without covering my mouth. We were sitting in a small, crowded coffee shop, I was tired, and didn’t really think about it. She argued that it was vulgar and unsightly. I’m surprised; I see people yawning in public without covering their mouths all the time. What’s the big deal?

      --Tired, and Tired of Being Mommed

Dear Tired:
The short answer is, it’s rude. Defined by Merriam-Webster as “to gape, or open the mouth wide and take a deep breath, usually as an involuntary reaction to fatigue or boredom,” yawning is an excellent display to the world of one’s oropharynx. No one but your dentist wants to see your molars (which are hopefully debris-free) that closely.

For another thing, yawning has actually been scientifically proven to be contagious. Maybe all those other people in the coffee shop didn’t appreciate a cascade of yawns sweeping through the place. Think of those around you. It’s also unattractive. Not life or death, but think about how you look when you yawn. Do you want to be seen strolling through the gym with your mouth in a protracted, wide gape, eyes scrunched? Come on now. 

But don’t fret, yawning is normal. Most of us associate yawning with lack of sleep, or with “catching” a yawn from someone else’s. (It’s real; I’m yawning just writing about this.) But chasmology, the study of yawning, shows that most vertebrate animals experience yawning – mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, even fish – and contrary to Merriam-Webster, the actual causes of yawning are poorly understood. Studies show associations with hormones released during yawns that briefly increase the heart rate and alertness, so yawning may help keep the brain awake and stimulate the heart. The contagiousness of yawning suggests it may be a socially empathetic response. Excessive yawning may be a sign of underlying health conditions (in which case you should consult your doctor… if you’ve already tried a nap).

Whatever the case may be, yawning is a fact of life – but yours doesn’t have to be a fact of other peoples’ lives. With a little effort, covering your mouth when yawning will keep you from offending strangers, spraying germs, and possibly proliferating that yawn all the way to North Carolina.   

Maxine is a lifelong Montanan with a background in both language and unsolicited advice-giving. She spends her free time doing field research and writing critiques on American culture, ideologies, psychology, and relationships, and is happy to provide solicited advice to our community’s questions. To submit your question to our advice column, put “MAXINE” in the subject line and send your email to info@bozemanmagazine.com.