Non-verbal Communication,Time Orientation,Communication process is an ongoing stream of events over a period of time. the value or importance the members of a culture place on the passage of time. the heartbeat of culture,Past-oriented Cultures,Previous experiences and events are most important. Primary emphasis on tradition and the wisdom from older generation show a great deal of deference and respect for parents and other elders Events are circular; important patterns perpetually recur in the present tried-and-true methods for overcoming obstacles and problems,Present-oriented Cultures,Current experiences are the most important. emphasis on spontaneity and immediacy and experiencing each moment Participation in events because of the immediate pleasure that activities provide instead of potential future gain belief in unseen and unknown outside forces such as fate or luck Philippines Central and South Americans,Future-oriented Cultures,The moment in the future is most important. Current activities are accomplished and appreciated for the potential future benefits. The fate is in ones own hands and they control the consequences of their actions.,Time Systems,implicit rules to arrange sets of experiences in some meaningful way Technical time systems the precise, scientific measurements of time that are calculated in such units as nanoseconds Formal time systems Informal time systems,Formal time systems,the ways in which members of a culture describe and comprehend units of time Time units vary greatly from culture to culture. Native American cultures Time is segmented by the phases of the moon, the changing seasons, the rise and fall of the tides, or the movements of the sun. European Americans: Time is segmented into seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years.,Times passages may be indicated by reference to significant events. Time intervals may be more arbitrary or based on significant external events such as the length of a day or the phases of the moon. Time sequences are explicitly taught to children and newcomers as an important part of the acculturation process. agreements among the members of a culture on the extent to which time is regarded as valuable and tangible,Informal time systems,the assumptions cultures make about how time should be used or experienced Cultures have unstated expectation about the timing and duration of formal events such as appointments, arrivals to a party. Time expectations differ according to the occasion and relative importance.,Western Cultures: Time is money. I havent got time to be tired. Time is a line. Chinese Culture: Haste makes waste. 欲速则不达。 Time reveals all things. 万事日久自明。,Monochronic & Polychronic Time Orientation,Monochronic Time Orientation: Tangible: save, spend, waste, lose, make up, crawl, kill, run out Time is discrete and segmented into precise, small units and viewed as a commodity. Time can be scheduled, managed, and arranged. Things should be done one at a time.,M-time is like a room with a closed door ensuring privacy. M-time seals off one or two people from the group and intensifies relationships with one other person. Failure to make way by intruding on the time of the next person is not only a sign of extreme egocentrism and narcissism, but also just plain had manners.,Arbitrary and imposedlearned: not inherent in mans biological rhythms or his creative drives Side effects: Influence how people think and perceive the world in segmented compartments convenient in linear operations but disastrous in nonlinear creative tasks Some Americans associate schedules with reality. alienate people from themselves and others by reducing context,European Americans are very time-driven. plan in detail; make lists; keep track of their activities; organize time into a daily routine An event is regarded as separate and distinct from all others and should receive the exclusive focus of attention it deserves. “In fact, social and business life, even ones sex life is commonly schedule-dominated.”,Polychronic Time Orientation: Time is continuous like a never-ending river. work without a strict schedule being involved with many things at once There is no recognized order as to who is to be served next, no queue or numbers to indicate who has been waiting the longest. Spain, Spanish-speaking cultures, Arabic cultures,Relationships are far more important than schedules. Polychronic cultures are oriented to people. Appointments will be quickly broken without guilt or apology when friends or family members require attention. People interact with several people at the same time. Side effects: Bureaucracy,Case Study,An American ambassador arrived in one country and was paid a visit by a local diplomat. The diplomat arrived for his appointment not so early as to be obsequious nor so late as to be disrespectful; he arrived 50 minutes late. The American ambassador was later heard to remark, “How can you depend on these people when they arrive an hour late