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.

Puerto Rican Culture	American Majority Culture
Physical appearance and physical surroundings are important and provide visual cues as to status and tone of conversations. For example, dressing in black is usually a sign of mourning.	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 relates to attitudes about time management.

Puerto Rican Culture	American Majority Culture
Relaxed attitude towards time.	Concern over how time is spent.
Tardiness and/or a last minute change of plans are common. (Things will get done.)	Punctuality is very important. (e.g. time is money)

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

Puerto Rican 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 intimacy.
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.

Puerto Rican Culture	American Majority Culture
Eye Contact: Avoiding eye-to-eye contact shows respect.	Eye Contact: Children show respect through direct eye-to-eye contact.
Greetings: Students usually greet teachers, “Hola señor/a.” Young children sometimes address the teacher as “missie.”	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.

Puerto Rican Culture	American Majority Culture
Personal space and physical space are not emphasized. For example, a person will stand less than a foot away from the other when conversing.	Both personal space and physical space are emphasized. (e.g. people stand three feet from each other when conversing.)
It is considered rude if one steps back. Physical closeness as well as occasional bumping 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 speech or conversation.

Puerto Rican Culture	American Majority Culture
Taking turns to speak is not the rule. People will interrupt a conversation and 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 two or more people are together.	People become uncomfortable when there is a lull in the conversation.