Social and Cultural

There are cultural variations in how people recognize and use time. Researchers have divided cultures into two groups in the way they handle time: monochronic or linear-active cultures and polychronic or multi-active cultures. Our culture shapes our communication and designates what we spend attention to and what we ignore. Our time perception is reflected in our communication style.

The majority of Estonians, for instance, are monochronic, therefore, they belong to the linear-active cultures. This implies that time is seasoned and applied in a linear way - comparable to a road extending from the past into the future. For Estonians' time is divided into segments. It is expected that anything takes place at exact time according to the timetable and they feel satisfied when every thing goes according to the cautiously planned schedule. Estonians prefer to full 1 job at a time, they value punctuality and keeping to schedules. Schedules are sacred and deadlines are taken particularly seriously. For instance, if it is stated that the deadline for applications is at four:00 pm on Monday, then there is no point to send it 5 minutes later any a great deal more.
Estonians extremely worth their time.

Estonians' linear time perception is reflected in their communication style. Men and women talk about it as it were cash, they have a wide range of expressions which link time to dollars, such as "Aeg on raha!" (time is funds), "Iga minut on arvel!" (every minute counts), "Kaotama aega." (losing time), "Ära raiska aega!" (Do not waste time!) "Säästa aega!" (Save time!), "Aeg saab otsa." (To run out of time.).

Estonians speak as there had been lack of time. The Golden rule is "Keep it brief, say what is related and get to the point!" Estonians want to get outcomes swiftly and hate waiting as this is regarded waste of time. The similar issues communication patterns. For example, if there is a pause longer than two seconds, Estonians consider that people today either do not fully grasp them or do not have an opinion and thus, commence paraphrasing or clarifying their statements in order to get a response. If they assume that people today did not recognize them, they try to rephrase it more shortly and make it alot more explicit and clear.

Linear-active cultures are characterized by direct communication style which strives to represent details accurately and avoids emotional overtones and suggestive allusions. Estonians' cultural preference is for clear and direct (linear) communication as evidenced via standard expressions such as "Ära keeruta!" (Don't beat about the bush), "Räägi asjast! (Get to the point). If you speak too lengthy and make too numerous words, they cease listening mainly because they feel that you in no way get to the point and and that you deliberately waste their time.

Indirect communication style in multi-active cultures (e.g. in Arabic countries, in Latin-America), is ambiguous, persuasive and emotionally wealthy - "all voices together". Estonians are not very good in comprehending or following the true purpose of the indirect message and they perceive it as a waste of time. I have witnessed a large number of conflicts which have aroused only considering a person from another culture just talks to significantly and too lengthy.

Estonians as listeners concentrate on the words articulated by the speaker they try to grasp the message specifically, asks questions and make remarks and brief comments when listening. The most popular expression are "mh-mh", "ja-jaa", "ah-haa", which indicates "yes" and could sound as they agree, nevertheless, it actually signifies only that they are listening, or even not truly listening, but just waiting their turn to talk. Estonians as typical representatives of linear-active cultures are made use of to wait their turn to speak and thus, they generally get in line and remain in line and they are subsequently highly frustrated when someone does not respect this order.