NonVerbal Communication

Nonverbal Communication is a language without words, sometimes called body language. It comprises a diversity of culturally derived behavioral displays such as artifacts, chronomics, haptics, kinesics, proxemics, and silence/time.

Artifacts are the result of conscious management of general appearance, dress and physical surroundings.

Portuguese Culture	American Majority Culture
Physical appearance and physical surroundings are important and provide visual cues as to status and tone of conversations. For example, formal as opposed to informal occasions will require different attire and types of venues. Note: The Portuguese Culture is generally more formal in dress and appearance (e.g. children may be expected to observe a period of mourning evidenced by wearing black for several months)	Physical appearance and physical surroundings are important and provide visual cues as to status and tone of conversations. For example, formal as opposed to informal occasions will require different attire and types of venues.

Chronomics refers to the study of nonverbal communication that relate to attitudes about time management.

Portuguese Culture	American Majority Culture
Relaxed attitude towards time. (This does not reflect a relaxed attitude towards achievement).	Concern over how time is spent.
Tardiness and/or a last minute change of plans are acceptable. (e.g. things will get done in good time)	Punctuality is very important. (e.g. time is money)

Haptics refers to the study of touch such as handshakes, embracing, hugging, patting and kissing.

Portuguese Culture	American Majority Culture
Touching is common. Kissing on both cheeks is common among family members, relatives, friends and acquaintances.	Touching is avoided. Kissing is reserved for family and intimates.
Handshaking, kissing, hugging, patting, embracing and holdings hands are common forms of greeting.	A firm handshake is the most common form of greeting among non-relatives.

Kinesics refers to the study of body language and gestures such as head nodding, hand gestures and signals, and eye-to-eye contact.

Portuguese Culture	American Majority Culture
Eye Contact: Direct eye-to-eye contact by children is generally considered disrespectful.	Eye Contact: Children show respect through direct eye-to-eye contact.
Greetings: Students usually greet teachers at the preschool and elementary level with a kiss on both cheeks. Young children may address the teacher as Senhor/a Professor/a (Teacher! Teacher!). This is considered respectful. At the secondary level, they call the teacher /stoura/ (phonetic spelling)	Greetings: Students greet teachers informally by saying, “Hi….” or more formally as Ms.___, Mrs.___, or Mr.___.

Proxemics refers to the study of personal and physical space. Personal space refers to the distance people allow between themselves and others in order to feel comfortable. Physical space refers to how people will arrange furniture and other artifacts as a way of reinforcing personal space.

Portuguese Culture	American Majority Culture
Personal space and physical space are not emphasized. (e.g. a person will stand less than a foot away from the other when conversing. It is considered rude if one steps back)	Both personal space and physical space are emphasized. (e.g. people stand three feet from each other when conversing.)
Physical closeness as well as occasional touching of another person is common.	Americans expect a large personal space ‘bubble’ and regard infringement of one’s personal space as rude or threatening.

Silence and time refers to the study of nonverbal communication cues relating to the waiting time people will allow between utterances in a speech act.

Portuguese Culture	American Majority Culture
Taking turns to speak is not the rule. People will interrupt a conversation and many people will speak simultaneously.	Taking turns to speak is the rule. People will not interrupt or speak while others are speaking.
It is acceptable to be silent for longer periods when one or more people are together.	People become uncomfortable when there is a lull in the conversation.