Lenguaje y cultura

Universidad Americana

Language and Culture

Customs and Courtesies Comparison Chart

United States of America Costa Rica

Greetings:

They usually do not embrace in public, except with member of their own family.

In business or political situation their greetings are more formal

Greetings:

People in Costa Rica are very effusive, when they greet their friends or family in public.

In business or political situation people sometimes are more formal.

Social position:

In US people are not too concerned about social rank. Social position:

In Costa Rica there are many people who are concerning about social status. On the other hand the low class does not care about the social status.

Visiting relatives or friends

People in US. Are very punctual, they like to be on time. And if someone invites you over his or her house is a good idea to call ahead in order to check his or her ability. Now days many people in Costa Rica announce their visits to their friends or relatives. However, in rural zones still people do not announce their arrivals.

Eating habits in US they use a knife to cut meat with their right hand and hold it with the fork in their left hand then switch them to the continue eating. Also they might use their hand to grab fried chicken, fruits, hamburgers and sandwiches. Eating habits in Costa Rica are very similar to US. However, in Costa Rica many people use a spoon instate of a fork. Diet is different. People in Costa Rica eat rise and beans almost every single day. But in US. They consumed more junk food.

Manners table:

Elbows on the table are considering bad manners.

Dinner is usually from 5:00 to 7:00 pm

Dress code for dinner. People in US ask before hand, whether it is formal or not

Meals in family is served buffet style (every body serve themselves)

Children usually eat with their parents and visitor; unless the occasion is a very formal one. Manners table are very similar to Costa Rica culture. However people in Costa Rica do not have a certain time for dinner, because usually family member work and came home at different times.

Children in Costa Rica as well as in US. Eat with their parents and visitor. However, now days many adolescents are having the bad habit to eat in their rooms.

Gestures and Nonverbal Communication

They do not make excessively movements when they are conversing.

They make a motion with index finger to emphasize an idea.

In Us people usually sit however they please.

People in Costa Rica talk with their hands, while they are talking they moved their hands a lot.

In Costa Rica as well as in US. Make motions with their index finger to emphasize and idea.

In Costa Rica people generally sit in the back of any meeting room.

To say “come here” Americans turn the palm upward and motion their fingers and to say “good bye”

To say “good bye” Americans waving the palm down The gesture to say come here is the same in US. And Costa Rica.

To say “good bye” in Costa Rica people keep the palm straight up and wave it several

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