LanguageThe official language of Brazil is Portuguese. Brazilian Portuguese is partially different from the Portuguese spoken in Portugal. Many businessmen and women often speak at least a little English and to avoid offending anyone it is advisable to ask before the meeting if an interpreter is needed. Communication throughout Brazil can be both direct and indirect, depending on the situation; however, Brazil, along with the rest of Latin America, tends more towards indirect communication (khen-group.com). Indirect communication relies on being less verbally explicit and skilled at reading nonverbal cues. Brazilians tend not to be blunt or give direct orders; rather, they tend to prefer to act on their intentions and give compliments while mitigating negative aspects. Indirect communication relies on facial expressions, tone of voice, and/or gestures to fully convey the meaning of a message. Brazil has a high-context culture, meaning they prefer smaller, tight-knit groups, with a reliance on that groups support. Many societies that value collectivism have this in common. Groups are highly valued and venturing outside of that group to gain support can prove difficult. Relationships are highly valued, expected and sought after. A Brazilian may be put off by people who aren't looking for a closer relationship and don't stay in touch. Nonverbal Communication As mentioned above, being an indirect communication society relies heavily on facial expressions, gestures, posture and attitude. Proxemics During interactions it is normal for light touch and close proximity to each other. Light touch includes areas such as hands, arms, shoulders. For Brazilians, you can expect a distance of one to two feet between parties compared to a distance of about 4 to 12 feet for North Americans (culturecrossing.net). Don't step back during conversations, as this is considered rude. Gestures Widely used gestures include: Rubbing two index fingers together to indicate a close relationship between two people (Fig. A); Gently lower the lower eyelid to indicate vigilance or wariness (Fig. B);The “thumbs up” gesture is similar, if not exact, to an American's interpretation (Fig. C);Depending on the situation, keep your hands in front of the body with the hand, wrists loose and the touching of the fingertips may indicate lack of knowledge or lack of attention (Fig. D); Pretending to suck your thumb means that someone has been forgotten/excluded or that they are disappointed. Kissing both cheeks is a common greeting used among family, friends and acquaintances (culturecrossing.net). Figure AFigure BFigure CFigure DPostureBody posture may depend on the situation, due to the use of body expressions to better communicate the meaning of indirect communication.