Nonverbal communication and culture. Identity, stereotypes and prejudices, страница 11

Our reaction to punctuality is rooted in our cultural experiences. In the United States, the boss can arrive late for a meeting without anyone raising an eyebrow; if the secretary is late, he or she may receive a reprimand in the form of a stern glance. A rock star or a doctor can keep people waiting for long periods of time, but the warm-up band and the nurse had better be on time. In Latin America, one is expected to arrive late to appointments as a sign of respect. And in Africa people often "show up late for appointments, meetings, and social engagements. In Germany promptness is taken for granted.

We can ascertain a culture's attitude toward time by examining the pace at which members of that culture perform specific acts and respond to certain events. Americans, because of the pace of life in the United States, always seem to be in a hurry — for them, there is always one more thing to do. Conveniences — from fast-food restaurants, to one-stop gas stations, to microwave ovens — help most of you get things done quickly. Americans are constantly seeking faster computers and cars. They grow up hearing people say, "Don't waste so much time." The Japanese, Arab, and Chinese cultures, for example, treat time in ways that are often contrary to American goals. The Chinese, for example, have a proverb that states, "He who hurries cannot walk with dignity."

Past, Present, and Future. Past-oriented cultures such as the British place much emphasis on tradition and are often perceived as resisting change. A statement one often hears in England when people ask about the monarchy is "We have always done it this way." The Chinese, with their tradition of ancestor worship and strong pride in their culture's persistence for thousands of years, are another culture that uses the past as a guide to how to live in the present. As a Chinese proverb advises, "Consider the past and you will know the present." Native Americans also value tradition and look to the past for guidance when confronting new situations. These cultures — like the Greek, Japanese, French, Chinese, and the Arab — have histories that date back thousands of years, so they find it normal to take a long-range view of events and are less likely to be rushed when they face decisions. Cultures that value the past are also more likely to respect and venerate the elderly than are cultures that value the future.

Filipinos and Latin Americans are present oriented and emphasize living in the moment. These cultures tend to be more impulsive and spontaneous than others and have a casual, relaxed lifestyle. The Irish, even with their historical problems with England, have much the same view of life and time. It can be summarized in the Irish proverb that states "Life is a dance not a race." This somewhat cavalier approach to life is often confusing to Westerners, who frequently misinterpret a concern with the present as a sign of indolence and inefficiency.

The third orientation, which puts great faith in the future, is the one most Americans have. As a people, Americans are constantly planning for the future, and their children play with toys (dolls, cars, guns, and so on) that prepare them for adulthood. Having an eye to the future often produces a very low tolerance for extensions and postponements. What they want, they want now, so you can dispose of this moment and move on to the next.

Monochronic (M-time) and Polychronic (P-time) Classifications. Anthropologist Hall  advanced another classification of time as a form of communication. Hall (1983) proposed that cultures organize time in one of two ways: either monochronic (M-time) or polychronic (P-time). Although he did not intend these as either/or categories, they do represent two distinct approaches to time.

M-time is characteristic of people from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and America. People of the Western world, particularly Americans, tend to think of time as something fixed in nature, something around us and from which we cannot escape; an ever-present part of the environment, just like the air we breathe. As the word monochrome implies, this approach sees time as lineal, segmented, and manageable. Time is something you must not waste; you must be doing something or feel guilty. The English naturalist Charles Darwin echoed this view when he wrote, "A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life." Appointments and schedules are very important to members of monochrome cultures.