Non-verbal Communication
Non-verbal 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.
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.
Puerto Rican students come from a contact culture. This means they may be more likely to touch those they are speaking with than kids from the states. As is customary in most Latin countries, Puerto Ricans tend to stand close to those with whom they are speaking. This can happen during formal and informal conversations. Moving away from a student or parent during a conversation could be seen as rude or disrespectful. Students born to Puerto Rican families in New York have been shown to develop their sense of personal space at the same rate as those born in Puerto Rico (Pagan & Aiello, 1982).
Puerto Rican students come from a contact culture. This means they may be more likely to touch those they are speaking with than kids from the states. As is customary in most Latin countries, Puerto Ricans tend to stand close to those with whom they are speaking. This can happen during formal and informal conversations. Moving away from a student or parent during a conversation could be seen as rude or disrespectful. Students born to Puerto Rican families in New York have been shown to develop their sense of personal space at the same rate as those born in Puerto Rico (Pagan & Aiello, 1982).
Artifacts are the result of conscious management of general appearance, dress, and physical surroundings.
Chronomics refers to the study of nonverbal communication that relates to attitudes about time management.
Haptics refers to the study of touching during conversation, such as handshakes, embracing, hugging, patting, and kissing.
Kinesics refers to the study of body language and gestures such as head nodding, hand gestures and signals, and eye-to-eye contact.
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.
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- In the Puerto Rican culture, physical appearance and physical surroundings are important and provide visual cues as to the status and tone of conversations. For example, dressing in black is usually a sign of mourning. In the American majority culture, 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.
- In the Puerto Rican culture, there is a relaxed attitude towards time. Tardiness and/or a last minute change of plans are common. (Things will get done.) In the American majority culture, punctuality is very important. (Time is money.)
Haptics refers to the study of touching during conversation, such as handshakes, embracing, hugging, patting, and kissing.
- In Puerto Rican culture, handshaking, kissing, hugging, patting, embracing and holdings hands are common forms of greeting. In American culture, touching is avoided. A firm handshake is the most common form of greeting among non-relatives and kissing is reserved for family and intimacy.
Kinesics refers to the study of body language and gestures such as head nodding, hand gestures and signals, and eye-to-eye contact.
- In Puerto Rican culture, avoiding eye-to-eye contact shows respect, as opposed to American culture where direct direct eye-to-eye contact is a sign of respect.
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.
- In Puerto Rican culture, speaking in turn is not generally the rule; people will interrupt a conversation and even speak simultaneously. Also, it is acceptable to be silent for longer periods when two or more people are together. In American culture, interrupting is considered rude, and most people tend to become uncomfortable when there is a lull in the conversation.
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