Temporal and

Historical
Frame of Reference
Group 5 - Shakespeare
 Temporal
Frame
of Reference
Temporal Frame of Reference
◈ Refers to people’s frame of reference as a result of
their sense and use of time in human
communication.
◈ It concerns about:
 How time is conceived, organized, used and
interpreted in different cultures?
 How do people conceptualize and use time in human
communication?
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 Types of Time
Biological Time Mechanical Time
 The temporal dimensions  Time measured by mechanical
of natural world devices such as clock and the
 Examples: Four seasons, likes
growth and decay of  The artificial measurement of
matters, sunrise and biological time
sunset, aging  Its existence and use define
how things are being done in
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 Types of Time
Psychological Time
 The sense of time
experienced by individuals
 The result of complex set of
factors that contribute to
the mental frame of
reference of individuals
 Example: Temper
Social Time
 Temporal frame of reference
that is socially defined in
regard to what is proper or
improper use of time in social
interaction
 Partly the result of the extent to
which the culture in question
has internalized mechanical
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time.
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Polychronic Time
◈ A style of "time management" that does not
emphasize on the adherence to preset schedule.
◈ Stresses involvement of people and completion of
transaction rather than following a schedule. 
◈ People conduct their business polychronically may
do multiple tasks at the same time
◈ They do not do things "sequentially“.
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Monochronic Time
◈ Time is conceived and understood as discrete units
of measurement 
◈ Emphasizes on the completion of tasks according
to preset schedule. 
◈ People tend to execute tasks in a sequential
manner; they will not move on to another job
unless they complete what they have on their desk
(ex. Factories)
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 “
“We are not makers of
history.
We are made by history.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

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 Historical
Frame
of Reference
Historical Frame of Reference
◈ History occupies an enormously important place
not only in a culture's collective memory but also
in the life of its individuals.
◈ History is taught in order for us to avoid repeating
out past mistakes and guide future actions.
◈ We also realize that "history repeats itself," as if
history carries with it an inevitability.
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Historical Frame of Reference
◈ People often derive a sense of their identity from
the history they share with others.
◈ Past experience plays a determining role in our
perception and, to a certain extent, our future
action.
◈ However, past does not necessarily dictate the
future.
◈ History plays a vital and active role in defining or
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Historical Frame of Reference
◈ There are different kinds of history and they help
construct our personal history and individual sense
of identity that in one way or another would
influence the ways we view and do things, such as:
 Political history National history
 Intellectual history Religious history
 Social history Economic history
 Racial history Family history

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Historical Frame of Reference
◈ Every history we carry in our personal life provides
some kind of a narrative in helping us explain how
we come to where we are and why.
◈ Depending on life experience, current situation,
personal aspiration, and a host of other factors, the
narratives our histories give us can help us
transcend unpleasant experiences in the past or
keep bringing us back to them.
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Historical Frame of Reference
◈ It is important for us to be actively aware of the
historical frame of reference of our counterparts.
◈ Learn about them and listen to what they have to
say.
◈ At appropriate moments, ask them why they hold
their views and see how they personally relate to
them. 
◈ Their views are a reflection of their historical frame
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