Expert: Ken Rapoza Cruz - 10/18/2008

Question
Hi, I'm Harriet an English University student.
As part of my course this year, I have been asked to write a mini report on ‘Intercultural Communication' in Brazil. The report needs to focus on negotiations, rapport building with individuals/groups and general communication do's and dont's. It would be great if you could help me by sharing your first hand knowledge of ‘typical’ Brazilian communication.

Thank you for your time,

Harriet.  

Answer
Well, that all depends on the setting. Lets take an informal one, between two acquaintances. You take the person's hand, and give a cheek to cheek kiss. You put your cheek against the person's cheek and blow a kiss in the air; repeat on other cheek. That's the initial informal greeting.

In a business environment, a man and a woman would do this on one cheek.

People who see each other every day, of course, arent blowing kisses into the air like that each day, however.

Brazil is a latin country, so communication can be heated and expressive. In an informal setting, people typically talk over one another at times. The louder the voice, the more likely you will get the attention and get your point across.  

In professional settings, Brazil is very Western. You dont speak over others. You make eye contact. You dont comment on a person's appearance, even if they look great. This might happen in some informal, professional settings, whereas youre meeting the director of some mom and pop furntiture shop, or youre meeting the punky playboy hedge fund manager in Rio...then that's a personality trait. But generally speaking, you respect one another in professional settings and do not make comments about appearances either way. And you communicate using Western mannerisms, minding just how much time you are dedicating to speaking about yourself, or hogging the floor.

Im not a student of interrational communications in Brazil, so if there is some special theory of inter-Brazilian communication, I certainly dont know about it and you will have to do your homework on the matter.

I translated this book by a well known local authority on public speaking, last name Polito, and I didnt see anything that jumped out at me as being specifically cultural to the Brazilian reality when speaking with people in a professional setting.

Hope this helps.

Ken