Time Talks with an Accent - Robert Levine

 Time Talks with an Accent - Robert Levine

          In his essay Robert Levine discusses about cultural differences in regards with the concept of time and the intercultural misunderstandings and conflicts that owns the variations in the temporal concept of time.

This essay is based on the personal experience of the writer himself, as a writing professor at Brazil. In the essay he discusses about the difficulties he had had in a college to a new concept of social time, which reflects different cultural beliefs, assumption and values then he was habitual in his native country i.e. us. After his experience with Brazilian student teachers and other people, the writer realized that the people did have different concept and values about the time. These people were unable to materialize the time and follow its pace.

        Unlike American students, the Brazilian student ignored the time value and came in the class, without hesitation, even long after the commencement of the class. Besides they were in no hurry after leaving the class for they surrounded the teacher for a long time. Moreover the writer also found that even the professions were not punctual. They made the guilty for turning up late likewise his experience with the landlord suggested the same. Although he waited for him for a long time, he was unable to meet him, Undoubtedly the people of Brazil make apartments but they never travel themselves respecting the valves of time obviously they understand their social time but it make a great confusion to the people like the writers, who is accustomed to the exactness of the time.

 

·       As a child, the thought that time was measured by a clock but later in his maturity he know that it was measured by culture.

·       As a writing prof. he knew that Brazilians Report everything for tomorrow. ‘Amanha” was highly valued in their culture.

·       He also noticed that exactness of the time was not possible in Brazil. The people had their own concept of time and them more accordingly.

·       The Brazilians didn’t have the concept of early and late. They seem almost indifferent to the valve of time.

·       Not only were the students, the prof. also indifferent to the value of time. They were found of making appointments but never turn up on time.

·       The writers also noticed the high people or the landlords display their value by not being punctual. He waited for his landlord for more than two hours but the landlord didn’t wait for him even for the minutes.

·       In conclusion he realized that Brazilian concept of time was taking. They wasted their time in talking.

·       Levin in this narrating essay describes cultural differences in concept of time and inter cultural conflict and misunderstanding that after worries from these temporal variations. In order to enhance the intercultural experience Levine stresses the importance of learning unwritten rules about time in a new culture.

·       Levine in this essay means that rules of punctuality are strongly shaped by cultural values and believes.

·       Levine clarifies the concept of social time and says that social time is a cultural tempo. Orientation reflects unconscious values believes and rules. The components of social time and concept of punctuality, pace of life and orientation of past, present and future are discussed.

·       Adjusting to a forming concept of time is different because it reflects values, believes and rules that are after very different from those of the writers culture and that are unwritten or hidden.

·       In this place of writing Robort Levine maintains that there are cultural differences in concept of time reflecting values and believes which often lead to intercultural conflict and misunderstanding. By learning about a new cultures pace of life rules of partiality and orientation to past, present and future a writer can minimize problems and facilitate cultural adjustments.

TU BA 2nd year Compulsory English 202