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| Communications in Brazil |
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| Conversation |
Brazilians are usually very talkative and cheerful and use the personal contact (touching arms and elbows and backs) often. Brazilians appreciate jokes and spirituous comments. Good conversation topics are trips, food, positive aspects of the Brazilian industry, Brazilian art and music and soccer, a sport loved by Brazilians. Other sports of interest are basketball, tennis, formula one (car racing) and volleyball. About the physical gestures, the O. K. hand signal is considered a rude gesture in Brazil (has the same meaning of flickering at a person). To invoke good luck, place your thumb between your index an middle finders while making a fist. This is also known as the "fig". Flicking the fingertips underneath the chin indicates that you do not know the answer to a question. Brazilians often snap their fingers while flailing their hands up and down to add emphasis to a statement or indicate that something occurred "long ago." |
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| First Name or Title? |
| In Brazil the main surname is usually the last. Thus, Dr Paulo Lopes Pereira would normally be referred to as Dr Pereira. However, Brazilians are often known only by their first names, eg Dr Paulo. You should also bear in mind that the title Dr is used as a mark of respect and may have nothing to do with professional qualifications. In business, usually Mister and Miss is used followed by the first name of the person. For example: a man called Carlos Silva would be referred to as Mr. Carlos and a woman called Ana Silva would be referred to as Miss Ana. |
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| Public Behavior |
If you are talking to a Brazilian, look them straight in the eyes. A lot of people will think that you don't like them or that you are not interested in talking to them if you avoid eye contact. |