These rules of communication are understood without being explicitly stated. Note: Comparison of low- and high-context cultures reprinted from Business communication: Process & product (p. 64) by M.E. Conflict Styles and HighLow Context Cultures: A Cross-Cultural Extension. All articles are edited by a PhD level academic. Explain the differences between high- and low-context cultures, giving examples of each. Monochronic vs. Polychronic Communication Styles | What Are Chronemics? - Effects & Types, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): Definition, effects & Types, Trepanning: Tools, Specialties & Definition, What is Pseudoephedrine? Family gatherings, religious congregations, and other social outings with a close-knit group of people are forms of high-context communications that take place regularly in most cultures. High-context cultures also value group harmony above individual achievement. But the fact that contexting has not been empirically validated should not necessarily be construed as a failure of the theory. These are some important high-context culture characteristics to look out for. High-context cultures promote the development of ingroups. Hall is also credited for developing the idea of chronemics, or the study of the use of time during nonverbal communications. After completing this chapter, you will be able to: Now that we know, broadly, what culture is, lets discuss some ways to categorize aspects of different cultures. people generally use. We will write a custom Report on Communication Culture: Hall's High and Low-Context Model of Culture specifically for you. The following are illustrative examples. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. Your email address will not be published. Some common characteristics of high-context cultures include: Though the United States has a low-context culture, we have all been placed in situations that are considered high-context. High-context cultures: Much of the society's communication takes place through . Low context cultures rely on the spoken word to communicate. Communicators in low-context cultures (such as those in North America, Scandinavia, and Germany) depend little on the context of a situation to convey their meaning. Low-context cultures can seem slightly more formal due to the explicit & precise nature of their messages. Carolyn Meyer (2017)[4]discusses the prototypes for communication in low-context and high-context cultures: Communicators in low-context cultures (such as those in Germany, Scandinavia, and North America) convey their meaning exclusive of the context of a situation. Published: 2020/12/03. [7][8] Denotation tends to be attributed to low-context culture[9] People in low-context cultures communicate in a more direct way, with explicitly speaking what they want to communicate. Developing Cultural Intelligence in Corporations, Cultural Perceptions of Time in Organizations: Monochronic and Polychronic Time, Using CRM to Improve Marketing & Customer Acquisition, Comparing Communication in Cultures with High & Low Tolerance for Ambiguity. The study tested 16 items, covering various aspects of the high-versus-low context concept, including social orientation, responsibility, confrontation, communication, commitment, and dealing with new situations. It relies on the straightforward use of language, without depending much on nonverbal cues. Intercultural Communication in the Workplace, 18. The American sample scored the lowest compared to the two "Oriental samples," which aligns with Hall's concept. [2] High-context cultures often exhibit less-direct verbal and nonverbal communication, utilizing small communication gestures and reading more meaning into these less-direct messages. For example, people in traditional high context cultures have been described as developing "shared identities." In direct contrast to low context behavior, in a negotiation, high context cultures communicate in Your email address will not be published. This also means that low-context communication may fail due to the overload of information, which makes culture lose its screening[definition needed] function. Members of high-context cultures usually have close relationships that last for an extended period of time. In other words, high-context communicators attach great importance to everything that surrounds the explicit message, including interpersonal relationships, non-verbal cues, and physical and social settings. Low-context cultures (such as those in North America and Western Europe) depend less on the environment of a situation to convey meaning than do high-context cultures (such as those in Japan, China, and Arab countries). [12] Typically a low-context culture will be less close-knit, and so individuals communicating will have fewer relational cues when interpreting messages. High context communication cultures . [2] Collectivist societies prioritize the group over the individual, and vice versa for individualist ones. High-context cultures are more likely to be intuitive, contemplative, and concerned with the collective. Most of the cultural behavior aspects are not open for the reason that many of the members are aware of what to do and what thoughts to engage in. The study suggests that in high-context cultures, such as China and Korea, people tend to be more socially oriented, less confrontational, and more complacent with existing ways of living compared to people from low-context cultures like the US.[23]. Learn what high context culture is. Most of the contexting categories simply have not been researched enough to make firm conclusions. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many European countries. In comparison, the United States is perhaps the best example of a diverse and low-context culture. A high-context culture is one in which communication may be more unspoken rather than explicit - for example, much attention is paid to body language, facial expressions, and other non-verbal cues in order to discern a speaker's meaning. High context is where the groups of people or societies in which individuals have had close links in the course of a long period. Answer (1 of 2): Examples of high context countries include: Japan, China, and the Arab countries. In his model, context refers to the stimuli, environment, or ambiance surrounding an event. ), Hall, E. T.; Hall, M. R. (1990). Generally, high-context cultures prefer oral communications, while low-context cultures favor written communications. Therefore, it is necessary for more explicit information to be included in the message so it is not misinterpreted. In contrast, low-context websites had lesser animation and images, focusing instead on the information. What is the role of such non-verbal communication in business relationships? copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. One approach to gaining such an insight is through the use of the high and low context culture framework, which was established by anthropologist Edward T. Examples of low context cultures are countries such as China, Brazil or Saudi Arabia. 231 lessons. [42] Low-context websites had less animation and more stagnant images, with more details on information. Conclusions are explicitly stated. Order now. Communication Research Reports. By contrast, a low-context culture is characterized by information being communicated primarily through spoken language, as well as rules being explicitly and directly stated. Teachers can share their own experiences and examples with their students. Examples of high-context cultures include China, India, and many non-Western societies. Japan is generally considered a high-context culture, meaning people communicate based on inherent understanding. 2. A few relevant examples of differences in communication between low- and high-context cultures are found in Table 1. Low-context countries, on the other hand, relied more on linear processes and verbal communication. The difference between High and Low Context Culture is that Low Context Cultures (Individualistic Cultures) do not need a lot of additional (Contextual) information to engage in " communication ". India and Japan are typically high-context, highly collectivistic cultures, where business is done by building relationships and maintaining respectful communication. [25], The categories of context cultures are not totally separate. We cite peer reviewed academic articles wherever possible and reference our sources at the end of our articles. High-context cultures are built on a sense of shared experiences and history. In contrast, take a look at the ads on the front page of Weibo, which is considered China's version of Facebook. Guffey, M.E., Lowey, D., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2013). classifications are discussed below. Wurtz studied McDonalds online advertising in various countries such as Japan, Germany, the United States, etc. Meaning depends on what is said- the literal content of the message- rather than how it is said. Typically a high-context culture will be relational, collectivist, intuitive, and contemplative. [1] In low context, communication members' communication must be more explicit, direct, and elaborate because individuals are not expected to have knowledge of each other's histories or background, and communication is not necessarily shaped by long-standing relationships between speakers. In his work, "Beyond Culture", Hall described these two different types of cultural relationships as they applied to information. [23] For example, Native Americans in the United States have higher-context cultures with a strong sense of tradition and history, compared to general American culture. Communicators in high-context cultures pay attention to more than the words spoken they also pay attention to interpersonal relationships, nonverbal expressions, physical settings, and social settings. Trust High context cultures and situations may extend significant trust to members. In contrast, high-context cultures use facial expressions, body language, and gestures in a nuanced manner. Contents show Low Context Culture Definition Edward T. Hall describes low-context culture as one in which: Low-context cultures also want these communications to revolve around basic questions, like: What's happening? Low context implies that a lot of information is exchanged explicitly through the message itself and rarely is anything implicit or hidden.People in low context cultures such as the UK tend to have short-term relationships, follow rules and standards closely and are generally very task-oriented. Ramos suggests that "in low context culture, communication members' communication must be more explicit. [14] Groups that are able to rely on a common background may not need to use words as explicitly to understand each other. Furthermore, cultural aspects such as tradition, ceremony, and history are also highly valued. A high-context culture is a culture or society that communicates dominantly through the use of contextual elements, such as specific forms of body language, the status of an individual, and. Low-context cultures tend to focus more on the individual than the group, which is why they value individualism and autonomy. Masculine vs. Feminine Cultures: Distinctions & Communication Styles. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many Western countries. Cite this Article in your Essay (APA Style), Privacy PolicyTerms and ConditionsDisclaimerAccessibility StatementVideo Transcripts. They tend to use more slangs, idioms and are generally high pace speakers. Ironically, contexting is most frequently discussed in terms of directness, yet empirical studies nearly all fail to support this relationship. Instead, many cultures tend to have a mixture or at least some concepts that are shared between them, overlapping the two context cultures.[26]. Remember that culture is dynamic, and that every individual within a culture is unique and may not conform exactly to the general characteristics of that culture. People have many acquaintances they have fewer close friends. What are the effects on the communication process? 9. The preferred way of solving problems and learning is in groups. [26] The terms high- and low-context cultures are not classified with strict individual characteristics or boundaries. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. [10] In low-context cultures, relationships are not viewed as important figures to identity. Sage Publications. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and holds a PhD in Education from ACU. [18], Therefore, higher-context cultures tend to correlate with cultures that also have a strong sense of tradition and history, and change little over time. High-context cultures rely heavily on non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, etc. The results show significant differences between the American, Chinese, and Korean samples on 15 out of 16 items, with 11 items significant at the .01 level, one at the .05 level, and three at the .10 level. In addition, Hall identified countries such as Japan, Arabic countries and some Latin American Countries to practice high-context culture; "High context communication carries most of its information within physical acts and features such as avoiding eye contact or even the shrug of a shoulder. Give some examples of cultural differences in the interpretation of body language. Edward T. Hall describes low-context culture as one in which: most of the information is either in the explicit code or readily available elsewhere (Hall, 1976). They also are AT-CTI certified. The reverse holds true for High (Collectivistic) Context Cultures. Cultures and languages are defined as higher or lower context on a spectrum. According to Hall, the high-context culture definition relates to a culture by which the rules of communication are primarily and dominantly transmitted through the use of contextual elements. [25] There were 225 Mexican participants from three different undergraduate universities in Mexico City and 447 participants from Kent State University in the U.S.[25] The case study looked into culture shock experienced by Mexicans studying in the U.S. Getting the message across. They assume that listeners know very little and must be told practically everything. Most notably, members of either culture must recognize and make an effort to understand the values and characteristics of other cultures so that miscommunications may be avoided. High-Context and Low-Context Cultures: Understanding the Differences May 17, 2022 May 17, 2022 Reading Time: 5 minutes Read More High-Context and Low-Context Cultures: Understanding the Differences However, this type of segregation is not rigid, but takes the form of a gradient since the contextual base of a culture is not a quantifiable but relative concept. Culture and Interpersonal Communication. High context cultures tend to build relationships slowly, and they are generally stable for a long time and are based on trust and loyalty. A high-context culture is one in which communication may be more unspoken rather than explicit - for example, much attention is paid to body language, facial expressions, and other non-verbal cues in order to discern a speaker's meaning. They rely less on the shared values/assumptions of the group and the context of the situation. https://helpfulprofessor.com/low-context-culture-examples/. Strategies to work effectively with people from high context and low context cultures Follow these 4 key strategies to communicate effectively across cultures: 1. In a low-context culture, the onus for communication lies with the speaker. Overall, this study provides further evidence to support the high versus low-context culture concepts with Chinese, Korean, and American participants. Disagreement is depersonalized. What is an Interculturally Effective Person (IEP)? High context culture is common wherever there is a relationship between people. Topic: Culture, Context, Communication, Middle East, Business, Conflict, People, Relationships. succeed. About The Helpful Professor Although the concept of high- and low-context cultures is usually applied in the field of analyzing national cultures, it can also be used to describe scientific or corporate cultures, or specific settings such as airports or law courts. . (2014, May 9). [30][32], Families, subcultures and in-groups typically favour higher-context communication. On the other hand, certain intercultural communication skills are unique for each culture and it is significant to note that these overlaps in communication techniques are represented subgroups within social interactions or family settings. Guffey, D. Lowey, K. Rhodes, K., & P. Rogin. I feel like its a lifeline. Once again we return to the differences between high-context and low-context cultures. Intercultural Communication on Websites: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Websites from High-Context Cultures and Low-Context Cultures. Low-context communicators dont need to be provided with much background information, but they do expect messages to be professional, efficient, and linear in their logic. However, there are some other characteristics also. Kim Dunghoon conducted a study to test the major aspects of high-context versus low-context culture concepts. Ramos, D. C. (2014). Two Types of Reflective Writing Assignments, Additional Resources for Improving Writing, Consistency in comparatives and listed elements: Parallelism, Hofstede Insights country comparison tool, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oYfhTC9lIQ, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQvqDv4vbEg, https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/42958_2_The_Cultural_Context.pdf, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, Tend to prefer indirect verbal interaction, Tend to understand meaning at one level only, Tend to understand meanings embedded at many sociocultural levels, Are generally less proficient in reading nonverbal cues, Are generally more proficient in reading nonverbal cues, Communication in highly structured messages, provide details, stress literal meaning, Communication is simple, sometimes ambiguous, messages; understand visual messages readily, Define cultural context (Guffey et al., 2013, p. 64), Contrast communicate styles for low-context and high-context cultures (Meyer, 2017, p. 59), Explain how cultural differences can affect workplace communication (Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau, 2014). Cultural communications are highly important to understand for a number of reasons and the concept of high-context vs. low-context culture was first elaborated by anthropologist Edward T. Hall in 1976. Meaning is determined not by what is said but by how it is said and by how social implications such as the communicators status and position come into play. A first step in achieving this goal is to identify one's own culture before delving into the rigors of another. High-context communications typically take place in a collectivist setting, or within a large group of people who share similar goals, values, or norms (ingroups). The terms low-context and high-context usually refer to language groups or nationalities. The law is important! [4] The model of high-context and low-context cultures offers a popular framework in intercultural-communication studies, but has been criticized as lacking empirical validation. Emphasis on verbal vs. non-verbal communications, the existence of close personal space, emphasis on collectivism and ingroup learning and achievements, and the importance of interpersonal relationships are but a few of the most significant distinguishing factors. Interaction. In contrast, low-context cultures rely on explicit verbal communication. Same as low context communication high context do have its own peculiarities like they talk in hidden meanings and often double meanings or coded information. Low use of nonverbal elements. Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices. Contexts in source publication. The use of an elaborated code indicates that speaker and listener do not share significant amounts of common knowledge, and hence they may need to "spell out" their ideas more fully: elaborated codes tend to be more context-independent. In high context cultures like Native American tribes, Japan, China, and Arabic countries, communication is curvilinear, and often what is left unsaid is just as important than what is, and there is more flexibility with time and looser schedules. Intercultural Business Communication by Confederation College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. Generally, the situation, people, and non-verbal elements are more important than the actual words that are communicated in a high-context culture. It can imply understanding or agreement, but it can also mean their conversea lack of certainty. Not only is the page itself busier . Moving from high-context communication to low-context communication or vice versa is challenging for students. Their communication is often indirect and requires a nuanced understanding, so outsiders might find it more difficult to enter their culture. Meanwhile, in a high-context culture, nonverbal cues and unspoken background . Table 2 shows a classification of countries in low and high context, their characteristics and the expected role . They rely less on context & non-verbal cues and instead convey meaning more directly. In other words, the relationship between directness and contexting based on traditional classifications of [high-context] and [low-context] cultures is particularly tenuous. [5], These concepts were first introduced by the anthropologist Edward T. Hall in his 1959 book The Silent Language. Focusing on tradition creates opportunities for higher-context messages between individuals of each new generation, and the high-context culture feeds back to the stability hence allows the tradition to be maintained. [3] Low-context cultures do the opposite; direct verbal communication is needed to properly understand a message being communicated and relies heavily on explicit verbal skills. Type of paper: Research Paper. Writing Topic Sentences and Body Paragraphs, 38. The continuum pictures how people communicate with others through their range of communication abilities: utilizing gestures, relations, body language, verbal messages, or non-verbal messages.
