P-time is practiced by African, Native American, and Mexican cultures. It is characterized by an emphasis on people rather than schedules and a perception of time as holistic and less tangible. Silence send nonverbal cues during a communication situation. Meaning assigned to silence is contingent on such factors as duration, appropriateness, preceding behavior or activity, and relationship between participants. Like other nonverbal behaviors, our use of and reaction to silence is culturally determined.
Many Eastern cultures use silence as a common and preferred form of communication.
Some Western cultures see silence as nonfunctional and prefer continuous verbalization during interaction. Back to SPCM 301 Home Page. Back to Lecture Handouts Page.