New Directions

1. Time Talk’s with an Accent
-Robert Levine
Robert Levine, in the narrative essay describes
cultural differences in concepts of time and in the
intercultural misunderstanding that often analyze from
this temporal variations. In order to enhance inter cultural
experience Levine stresses the importance of learning in a
new culture.
Levine this essay means that rules of punctuality are
strongly shaped by a cultural values and beliefs. He also
clarifies the concepts of social time and says that social
time is a cultural temporal orientation reflecting
unconscious values, belief and rules. The component of
social time is the concept of punctuality, pace of life and
orientation to past, present and future. Adjusting to a
foreign concept of time is difficult because it reflects
values , beliefs and rules that are often varies different
from those of the visitor’s culture and that are unwritten
and hidden.
In this piece of writing, the writer maintains that
there is cultural difference concept of time reflecting
diverse values and beliefs, which often leads to
intercultural conflicts and misunderstanding. By learning
about a new cultural pace of life, rules of punctuality and
orientation to past, present, and future a visitor can
minimize problemand facilitate cultural adjustment.
As a child, he thought that a clock measured time but
later in his maturity, he knew that it was measured by the

2. culture. As a visiting Professor, he knew that Brazilians
kept everything for tomorrow. ‘Amanha’ was highly
valued in their culture. He also noticed that the exactness
of time was not possible in Brazil. The people had their
own time and they moved accordingly. The Brazilians did
not have the concept of early and late.
They seem almost indifferent to the value of time.
Not only were the students, the Professors also indifferent
to the value of time. They were fond of making
appointments that never turn up on time. The writer also
noticed that rich people display their value by not being
punctual. He waited for his property owner for more than
two hours but the property owner did not wait for him
even for ten minutes.
In the conclusion, he realized that Brazilian concept
of time was talking. They wasted their time just in talking.
Thus, we should visit different places and have
experiences about new cultures to know their concept of
time, pace of life and orientation towards past, present
and future for avoiding intercultural misunderstanding
and problems.