Behaving Brazilian : a comparison of Brazilian and North American social behavior

148 Pages·1983·80.207 MB·English

by  Phyllis A. Harrison

SERIES ON NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR

Leae
Newbury Houseseries on
ONVERBAL
BEHAVIOR
The aim of this new series, under the general editorship of
ThomasA. Sebeok, of Indiana University, is to publish original
monographsandcollections dealing with nonverbal messages
by meansof whichall living beings interact.
The first book compares social behavior in Brazil and the
United States. Subsequent works will include a handbook on
nonverbal communication directed toward teachers of foreign
languages, the purpose of which is to introduce techniquesfor
imparting to students of foreign languages the importance of
appropriate nonverbal responsesfor successful communication
between cultures.
The third volume, a handbook on Japanese nonverbal
communication, will apply these techniquesto daily conductin
Japan. Includedare suchtopicsas posture and bowing, behavior
in a private homeor public place, eye contact, and a selection of
Japanese emblematic gestures. The fourth volumewill examine
the culture of the area surrounding the Gulf of Arabia from the
same viewpoint.
Future directionsthe series will take include an extension of
nonverbal analysesto otherforeign speech communities, notably
China, andto areas of culture contact between different groups
within the United States. A long-range goal is to encourage the
publication ofbasic studies on nonverbal communication by the
foremost authorities now writing in this extremely active field.

t
il, KHAVING
n
a
fl }RAZILIAN
l
A COMPARISONOF BRAZILIAN
AND NORTH AMERICAN
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
Phyllis A. Harrison
Richard Vidutis
Illustrator/Researcher
(ieZs, NEWBURY HOUSE PUBLISHERS, Cambridge
geeeeal) A division of Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc.
X New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington
London, Mexico City, $40 Paulo, Singapore, Sydney
1983
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Harrison-Brose, Phyllis A., 1951-
Behaving Brazilian
(Nonverbal behavior)
Includes bibliographical references.
1. National characteristics, Brazilian. 2. National
characteristics, American. 3. Nonverbal communication--
Brazil. 4. Nonverbal communication--UnitedStates.
5. Interviews--Brazil.. I. Title. II. Series.
F2510.H37 1983 303.4’8281'073 83-13301
ISBN 0-88377-315-5
Coverandinterior book design by Kenneth Wilson
NEWBURY HOUSE PUBLISHERS
A division ofHarper&Row, Publishers,Inc.
Language Science
Language Teaching
Language Learning
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
Copyright © 1983 by Newbury House Publishers, A division of Harper & Row,
Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the Publisher,
First printing: November 1983
P rinted in the U.S.A, 5 4 3 2
63-22655
Grateful acknowledgementis due to the following indivi-
duals whocontributed their time and expertise in the evaluation
ofour manuscript. Their comments, suggestions, and corrections
have greatly improved the accuracy and readability of this text.
Leopoldo M. Bernucci, University of Michigan
Nelson Cerqueira, Indiana University
Antonio Amaro Cirugiao, University of Connecticut
Fred M. Clark, University of North Carolina
Alfred Hower, University of Florida
Kenneth David Jackson, University of Texas
John B. Jensen, Florida International University
Randal Johnson, Rutgers
Dale A. Koike, University of California/Santa Barbara
John W. Martin, University of Arizona
Emilio Moran, Indiana University
Vivian Payne, Cummins Engines Company, Columbus, Indiana
Richard A. Preto-Rodas, University of South Florida
MonicaRector, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio deJaneiro
Karl J. Reinhardt, University of Houston
CandaceSlater, University of Pennsylvania
Jon Tolman, University of New Mexico
Aluizio RamosTrinta, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Luiz F. Valente, Providence College

ONTENTS
Introduction ix
Overview 1
Conversational Concerns 20
Food and Eating 33
Events 43
Behavior in Public 56
Doing Businessin Brazil 72
Family Life 80
Independent Gestures 92
Conclusion 119
To the TeacherofBrazilianPortuguese 120
vil