Topic - 10 - Chronemics

Chronemics

Chronemics is the study of how we use time to communicate. Some of us are preoccupied with time, while others regularly waste it. Some of us are typically early, while others are chronically late. Some of us are early birds, functioning best in the morning, while others, night owls, perform best at night.

Misunderstandings, miscalculations, and disagreements involving time can create communication and relationship problems. What does it mean to be “on time”? How is the concept of punctuality construed?

Status affords us greater power to control both our own time and others’ time. The more status a person has, the longer others with less status will wait to see him or her.

Importance of Time: In professional world, time is valuable commodity.  When you are late for an appointment, people react negatively. If you arrive early, you are considering over eager. As a speaker, your awareness of schedule is a chronemic element.

Our culture influences how we use and think about time. In some cultures people live for today, but in others they are waiting for tomorrow. Thus, even the meaning of the phrase “a long time” is influenced by how a culture’s members conceive of time. There are two dominant time pattern: (1) Monochronic time and, (2) Polychronic time

(1)Monochronic time: A monochronic time system means that things are done one at a time and time is segmented into small units. Under this system time is scheduled, arranged and managed.

·       People in Monochronic time culture pay attention to clock time and do one thing at a time

·      People in Monochronic time usually engage in one activity at a time. They tend to separate task.

·      Time is a tangible commodity

·      Members of individualistic cultures tend to follow the Monochronic time pattern

· Monochronic cultures include Germany, Canada, Switzerland, United States, and Scandinavia.

·      Monochronic committed to the job

·      Monochronic People are concerned about not disturbing others; follow rules of privacy and consideration.

           (2) Polychronic time: A polychronic time system is a system where several things can be             done at once, and a more fluid approach is taken to scheduling time. Unlike Americans and           most northern and western European cultures, Latin American and Arabic cultures use the         polychronic system of time.

·      People in polychronic time pay attention to relational time and may be involved in many simultaneous activities.

·      People in polychronic time tend to engage in multiple activities at the same time

·      Time is a relational issue rather than a clock time issue.

·      Members of collectivistic cultures tend to follow the polychronic time pattern.

·     Polychronic cultures include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Mexico, Philippines, India, and many in Africa.

·      Many polychronic cultures have a past-orientation toward time

·      Polychronic cultures are committed to people and human relationships

·   Polychronic People are more concerned with those who are closely related than with privacy