Chronemics is the study of the use of time in nonverbal communication. The way that an individual would perceive and value time, structure our time and react to time is a powerful communication tool, and helps set the stage for the communication process. Across cultures, time perception plays a large role in the nonverbal communication process. Time perceptions include punctuality, willingness to wait, and interactions. The use of time can affect lifestyles, daily agendas, speed of speech, movements and how long people are willing to listen.

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Time Language

Cultural Differences of Time

Reading Material 1

In his publication The Silent Language, Edward Hall said, time talks. It speaks more plainly than words. The message it conveys comes through loud and clear. Because it is manipulated less consciously, it is subject to less distortion than the spoken language. It can shout the truth where words lie.

1. Two time systems

After studying the different ways of organizing time, Edward Hall summarized two time systems: Monochronic Time and Polychoronic Time. People who are living in these two time systems are called monochrons and polychorons respectively.

People of the western world, particularly the Americans, tend to think of time as something fixed in nature. Something around them, and from which they cannot escape. Time is regarded as an ever present part of the environment, just like the air everybody breathes. In the eyes of the Americans, time is just like a road or a ribbon stretching into the future, along which one progresses. The road has segments or compartments which are to be kept discrete. People who cannot schedule time are looked down upon as impractical.

Time is like something concrete, like a material. People can earn it, spend it, save it, and waste it. To the Americans, it is somewhat immoral to have two things going on at the same time.

Most developed countries as those in Northern America, Western and Northern Europe all belong to Monochronic Time.

In Polychronic Time, people are flexible with their time. This time system is less rigid and clock-bound. In Latin America, it is not uncommon for one person to have a number of simultaneous jobs which he or she either carries on from one desk or moves between, a small amount of time spent on each.

Punctuality and promptness are essential to monochrons. In the United States, in regard to being late, there are “mumble something” periods, slight apology periods, mildly insulting periods requiring full apology, rude periods, and downright insulting periods. Promptness is also highly valued in American culture. If people are not prompt, it is an insult to the others or it may indicate that he or she lacks the ability of acting quickly.

2. Three time orientations

There are three time orientations: past orientation, present orientation and future orientation.

American people look ahead and are oriented toward the future. Some cultures are past-oriented. People tend to look back into their long history. Other cultures are present-oriented that they value the present more than the past and the future. 

3. Case study

Case1

In the Middle East, Americans usually have a difficult time with the Arabs. I remember an American agriculturalist who went to Egypt to teach modern agricultural methods to the Egyptian farmers. At one point in his work he asked his interpreter to ask a farmer how much he expected his field to yield that year. The farmer responded by becoming very excited and angry. In an obvious attempt to soften the reply the interpreter said, “He says he doesn’t know.” The Americans realized something had gone wrong, but he had no way of knowing what. 

                                                                                           --- The Silent Language

The Arabs are not as future-oriented as the Americans. They think anyone who tries to look into the future as slightly insane. When asked about the future yield, the Egyptian was highly insulted because in his eyes the American considered him crazy. To the Arab only God knows the future, and it is crazy even to talk about it.

At the end of today’s lecture, I would like to share with you one quotation from TheAnalects: “Knowing others is wisdom; Knowing one’s self is insight. Mastering others requires mighty force; Mastering one’s self demands a strong will.” （知人者智，自知者明。胜人者有力，自胜者强。）When we learn more about other cultures, we are ready for a better communication interculturally. 

Reading Material 2

So far, we have studied time language and learn about two time systems. Are you a monochron or a polychron? Do you always come to class on time or late? How about your homework? Are you a last minute man? What is your orientation of time? Please share your opinions with usDiscussion online.