Establishing relationships is an important part of communicating and interacting. The following chart will compare the main differences between high-context vs. low-context cultures and a discussion of example cultures will follow: While nations such as the United States have many low-context situations, it is important to recall that all societies experience high-context events as well. Edward Hall is a famous theorist and anthropologist who has contributed a renowned theory of high- and low-context cultures to facilitate students, researchers . In anthropology, high-context culture and low-context culture are ends of a continuum of how explicit the messages exchanged in a culture are and how important the context is in communication. The following are illustrative examples. It further attempts to draw parallels between face-to-face communication and communication on the web by looking at communication rules and patterns in high-context cultures and comparing and contrasting them to the . Published: 2020/12/03. Oxford University Press. Intercultural communication. [36], High-context cultures tend to be more stable, as their communication is more economical, fast, efficient and satisfying; but these are gained at a price of devoting time into preprogramming cultural background, and their high stability might come with a price of a high barrier for development. [34], Restricted codes are commonly used in high-context culture groups, where group members share the same cultural background and can easily understand the implicit meanings "between the lines" without further elaboration. Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices. "Understanding cultural differences. [30] The diversity within a main culture shows how the high and low scale differs depending on social settings such as school, work, home, and in other countries; variation is what allows the scale to fluctuate even if a large culture is categorized as primarily one or the other. Individuals in such cultures must hear or read a direct order, point, etc for it to be taken as valid. They rely less on the shared values/assumptions of the group and the context of the situation. Anchor Press/Doubleday. 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. References Gudykunst, W. B., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). 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. Hall, E. T. (1976). In a low-context culture, communication occurs through explicitly spelled out and defined words, and listeners just have to interpret spoken or written words as they are. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. For example Japan, which has a very high context culture, uses both polychronic and monochronic time. High context communication cultures . For a communicator to successfully interact with others from a different culture he must know whether his own culture is high or low context and which context is the culture in the interaction. 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. These problems can be separated into differences concerning "direction", "quantity" and "quality." In high-context cultures (such as those in Japan, China, and Arab countries), the listener is already "contexted" and does not need to be given much background information [3]. Low-context and high-context culture are anthropological concepts that describe the level of explicit information and the importance of context in a cultures communication. 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). High-context cultures usually do not have rules that are explicitly written or stated. Flowery language, humility, and elaborate apologies are typical. High-context communications, as well as low-context interactions, are important to understand from many perspectives. Members of high-context cultures are relatively comfortable interacting with others because a close-knit community has been formed, such as that of a family or religious congregation. Yolanda has taught college Psychology and Ethics, and has a doctorate of philosophy in counselor education and supervision. Websites catering to high-context audiences had a lot of animation & images. Many low context cultures are individualist so people openly express their views, and tend to make important information obvious to others. Cultures where the group is valued over the individual promote. Furthermore, cultural aspects such as tradition, ceremony, and history are also highly valued. for only $11.00 $9.35/page. Verbal message is direct; one spells things out exactly. Members of high-context cultures usually have close relationships that last for an extended period of time. The aim of this report is to evaluate the concept of different communication cultures through the application of Hall's high and low-context model of culture. Interaction. High-context cultures are those that communicate in ways that are implicit and rely heavily on context. Meyer defines low-context cultures as cultures where people communicate and receive messages at face value. [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. In anthropology, high-context culture and low-context culture are ends of a continuum of how explicit the messages exchanged in a culture are and how important the context is in communication. In his model, context refers to the stimuli, environment, or ambiance surrounding an event. For example, the Native Americans in the United States rely heavily on their tradition. [30] Many singular cultures that are large have subcultures inside of them, making communication and defining them more complicated than the low-context and high-context culture scale. "[27] This implies that communication is quite direct and detailed because members of the culture are not expected to have knowledge of each other's histories, past experience or background. An in-depth understanding of cultural norms is not required because the communication is explicit. Wurtz studied McDonalds online advertising in various countries such as Japan, Germany, the United States, etc. According to Watson, "the influence of cultural variables interplays with other key factors for example, social identities, those of age, gender, social class and ethnicity; this may include a stronger or weaker influence. [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. 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. Intercultural Communication in the Workplace, 18. The most prominent characteristics of high context culture is non-verbal communication, while for low context culture, it is obvious to have verbal and written communication. However, no country is low-context or high-context in absolute terms; instead, there is a mix of explicit & implicit communication everywhere. In high-context cultures (such as those in Japan, China, Korea, and Arab countries), communication relies heavily on non-verbal, contextual, and shared cultural meanings. [41] One study on McDonald's online advertising compared Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the United States, and found that in high-context countries, the advertising used more colors, movements, and sounds to give context, while in low-context cultures the advertising focused more on verbal information and linear processes. All articles are edited by a PhD level academic. Meanwhile, in low-context cultures, more explicit speech is needed in order to allow the listener to fully understand the message. Culture and Interpersonal Communication. Watch this video from international business expert Erin Meyer [1]. It is important to note that no culture is low-context or high-context in absolute terms but a mix of both. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. We cite peer reviewed academic articles wherever possible and reference our sources at the end of our articles. However, there are some other characteristics also. Low-context cultures (including North America and much of Western Europe) are logical, linear, individualistic, and action-oriented. Wurtz found something similar while analyzing website design. The general terms "high context" and "low context" (popularized by Edward Hall) are used to describe broad-brush cultural differences between societies. Primarily use non-verbal methods to relay meaningful information in conversations, such as facial expressions, eye movement, and tone of voice. The terms low-context and high-context usually refer to language groups or nationalities. Cultural Perceptions of Communication in Organizations: Low Context and High Context. 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. 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. High Context vs. Low Context High-context is that "most of the information is either in the physical context or initialized in the person, while very little is in the coded, explicit, transmitted part of the message." (Hall). Low context communication is more common in the English speaking world, whereas high context communication is more common in Eastern cultures such as Japan and China. 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. High-context cultures, on the other hand, depend on both the spoken words and the context of the situationincluding the shared values/assumptions of the groupto convey meaning. The study collected three samples from different cultures - the US, China, and Korea - with 96 business managers surveyed in the American and Chinese sample and 50 managers in the Korean sample. Low-context cultures also want these communications to revolve around basic questions, like: What's happening? As such, what is said is what is meant, and further analysis of the message is usually unnecessary. The differences between high-context and low-context cultures is one of the most challenging things to navigate and one of the most important and distinct differences that exists across cultures. Because low-context communication concerns more direct messages, the meaning of these messages is more dependent on the words being spoken rather than on the interpretation of more subtle or unspoken cues. classifications are discussed below. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It can imply understanding or agreement, but it can also mean their conversea lack of certainty. I feel like its a lifeline. These are some important high-context culture characteristics to look out for. This is in contrast to lower-context cultures in which the shared experiences upon which communication is built can change drastically from one generation to the next, creating communication gaps between parents and children, as in the United States.[18]. Ironically, contexting is most frequently discussed in terms of directness, yet empirical studies nearly all fail to support this relationship. "[17] On the other hand, he identified countries such as Germany, the United States and Scandinavia as low-context cultures. [14] Groups that are able to rely on a common background may not need to use words as explicitly to understand each other. 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). [13] Not all individuals in a culture can be defined by cultural stereotypes, and there will be variations within a national culture in different settings. High context refers to societies or groups where people have close connections over a long period of time. 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]. For example, if you have ever been to a family gathering, then you have experience with a high-context culture. "High context". Communicating with high-context cultures can require you to focus on politeness strategies that demonstrate your respect for readers and listeners. Low context can describe situations, environments and cultures. In other words, the relationship between directness and contexting based on traditional classifications of [high-context] and [low-context] cultures is particularly tenuous. Writing Topic Sentences and Body Paragraphs, 38. Your email address will not be published. In high-context cultures, communication cues are transmitted by posture, voice inflection, gestures, and facial expression. Low-context cultures rely on explicit communication. 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. The answer is simple. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. [6] Indeed, Vietnamese communication style has all the characteristics of highcontext cultures, such as indirect and digressive communication, use of few words, reliance on contextual cues, avoidance of the use of personal names, respect for long silences, and waiting politely until the other person has stopped speaking before taking turns. Researchers today are using it greatly to study different cultures all over the world. Trust High context cultures and situations may extend significant trust to members. 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. By contrast, a low-context culture enjoys communications that take place most often through written or spoken (verbal) speech and rules are directly and explicitly stated. These rules of communication are understood without being explicitly stated. Guffey, M. E., Lowey, D., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2013). Whereas low-context cultures prefer more words (to a certain extent), high-context cultures prefer more images. Leaders in high-context cultures, such as Ethiopia, tend to communicate more implicitly, using more nonverbal communication and expressing more vague verbal messages (at least from the viewpoint of a low-context culture). They are considered less direct, and they put a lot of weight on gestures and body language to draw significance from messages. A low-context (LC) communication is just the opposite; i.e., the mass of the information is vested in the explicit code.". However, no country is low-context or high-context in absolute terms; instead, there is a mix of explicit & implicit communication everywhere. Intercultural Business Communication by Confederation College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. A 2008 meta-analysis concluded that the model was "unsubstantiated and underdeveloped".[5]. [24] The table shows the major differences and similarities between individual queries. For example, while the United States is a low-context culture, family gatherings (which are common in American culture) tend to be high-context. 1. For instance, a study has argued that both Japan and Finland (high-context cultures) are becoming lower-context with the increased influence of Western European and United States culture.[22]. Once again we return to the differences between high-context and low-context cultures. Examples of high context cultures include many Asian, African, and Latin American countries, as well as some European cultures such as Spain and Italy. In a high-context culture, emphasis is placed on interpersonal relationships rather than personal achievement. We will write a custom Report on Communication Culture: Hall's High and Low-Context Model of Culture specifically for you. 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. He studied English literature at the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University. This can be quite confusing to an outsider, especially someone from a low-context culture who is used to communicating via explicit messages. Kim Dunghoon conducted a study to test the major aspects of high-context versus low-context culture concepts. So the poor cow's life depends on the country, where it was born: whether it is going to be worshipped or to end up on someone's . Low and High Context Culture. Not only is the page itself busier . Learn what high context culture is. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. Body language, tone of voice, and personal status are a few notable characteristics that are valued in a high-context culture. Culture also affects how individuals interpret other people's facial expressions. People are comfortable standing close to each other. But we can also use them to talk about smaller groups, such as corporate cultures or a specific setting like the airport. 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. Data was gathered in India, Ireland, Thailand, and the United States where the results confirm that "high-context nations (India and Thailand) prefer the avoiding and obliging conflict styles more than low-context nations (Ireland and the United States), whereas low-context nations prefer the uncompromising and dominating communication style more than high-context nations."[16]. Low-context cultures can seem slightly more formal due to the explicit & precise nature of their messages. low-context communication is "the mass of information is vested in the explicit code". Type of paper: Research Paper. When a part of these groups, a low-context individual may be more drawn to interpersonal relationships with others than focusing on their own accomplishments and do not require information to be elaborated because they maintain an understanding of group behaviors. In. Create your account, 10 chapters | The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau. Goodwill Messages and Recommendations. Required fields are marked *, This Article was Last Expert Reviewed on January 24, 2023 by Chris Drew, PhD. Eye contact, for example, which is encouraged in North America, may have ambiguous meaning or be considered disrespectful in certain high-context cultures. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. 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 the tone of voice employed during speech. Conflict Styles and HighLow Context Cultures: A Cross-Cultural Extension. High Context vs. Low Context (Internet) Example of McDonalds Internet site: High: Families shown, lots of people on the website ads Low: You, your choices, easy to navigate High Context vs. Low Context (Law) High: Traditions are the laws Low: Rules and order are spelled out. Many aspects of cultural behavior are not made explicit because most members know what . [33] Conversely, in cultural groups with low context, where people share less common knowledge or 'value individuality above group identification', elaborated codes are necessary to avoid misunderstanding. Words: 825. You can find his work on The Print, Live Wire, and YouTube. For high-context cultures, language is a kind of social lubricant, easing and harmonizing relations that are defined according to a group or collectivist orientation where we rather than I is the key to identity. 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 is the way we communicate, do business and see the world. High-context communication tends to be more indirect and more formal. They tend to use more slangs, idioms and are generally high pace speakers. The tools are used to establish context by adding additional information as personal and social cues are not as presentable as they are in face-to-face negotiations. The reverse holds true for High (Collectivistic) Context Cultures. Trompenaars' Cultural Dimensions Model & Examples | 7 Dimensions of Culture, Hofstede's Uncertainty Avoidance | Culture, Example & Index, Developing an Audience-Centered Presentation, Methods to Increase the Accuracy of Impressions, Long-Term vs. Short-Term Orientation | Hofstede, Culture & Concept, Cross-Cultural Interactions & Relationships in Agile Organizations. In Low Context Culture it is normal to be self reliant and yet have many relationships. A 2005 study by Elizabeth Wurtz demonstrates how cultural differences shape marketing and advertising. London: Routledge. 231 lessons. Unlike low-context cultures, high-context cultures prioritize the group over the individual (Hofstede, 1984). [33] This significance follows into many situations such as the workplace, which can be prone to diversified cultures and opportunities for collaboration and working together. A high-context culture is a culture in which the values, rules, and social norms are primarily communicated through the use of contextual elements (such as body language, a person's status, and tone of voice) and are not explicitly stated. 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). An error occurred trying to load this video. Hall, E. T. (1976). For example, families typically engage in high context communication whereby they can communicate much with subtleties such as a glace. Instead, many cultures tend to have a mixture or at least some concepts that are shared between them, overlapping the two context cultures.[26]. Since a high-context culture is based on fewer, deeper relations with people, there are many unspoken social rules and understandings within the culture. The GLOBE Project Overview & Behavior Styles | What is the GLOBE Project? We also make strong distinctions between those who are a part of our family and those who are not. In contrast, a high-context language like Japanese or Chinese can use a high number of homophones but still be understood by a listener who knows the context. Information has to be explicit and detailed for the message to be conveyed without distortion. 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 Examples of low context cultures include: Scandinavia; Germany, and the US. Because low-context communication concerns more direct messages, the meaning of these messages is more dependent on the words being spoken rather than on the interpretation of more subtle or unspoken cues. [39][40] In high-context cultures, facial expressions and gestures take on greater importance in conveying and understanding a message, and the receiver may require more cultural context to understand "basic" displays of emotions. (2014, May 9). High-context cultures are built on a sense of shared experiences and history. Examples of low- and high-context cultures are those based in the following culture clusters: High-context cultures The Sub-Saharan Africa Cluster The Middle East Cluster The Latin Europe Cluster The Eastern Europe Cluster The Latin America Cluster The Southern Asia Cluster The Confucian Asia Cluster Low-context cultures The Anglo Cluster [30], Hall links language to culture through the work of Sapir-Whorf on linguistic relativity. Context 1. . Hofstede, G. (1984). Sage Publications. For the processing of complex messages, the perspective of context theory is very relevant. [32] Since all sets of cultures differ, especially from a global standpoint where language also creates a barrier for communication, social interactions specific to a culture normally require a range of appropriate communication abilities that an opposing culture may not understand or know about. People from low-context cultures value logic, facts, and directness. All the advice on this site is general in nature. For example, in one country a cow is seen as leather, in another one - as a deity and in another one as dinner. Wurtz, Elizabeth (2005). Seekprofessional input on your specific circumstances. Lower-context culture: United States, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Canada and other European nations. Contents show Low Context Culture Definition Edward T. Hall describes low-context culture as one in which: Examples of high and low context cultures It can be helpful to consider a few examples of high and low context cultures. Characteristics of Low Context People behave according to rules Preference is given to knowledge sharing and transfer Relationships do not last longer On purpose relationships Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. Anchor Press/Doubleday. There are strong distinctions made between individuals who are members of the ingroup and those who are not members in high-context cultures. The USA and Australia are typically low-context, highly individualistic cultures, where transparency and competition in business are prized. In a low-context culture, the onus for communication lies with the speaker. They are not simply complementary but are often used as the primary means of conveying a message and require the members to have greater cultural understanding. High-context cultures are those in which the rules of communication are primarily transmitted through the use of contextual elements (i.e., body language, a person's status, and tone of voice) and are not explicitly stated. From each culture, 96 business managers were surveyed for the American and Chinese sample and 50 managers were surveyed from Korea. https://helpfulprofessor.com/low-context-culture-examples/. High-context cultures include close-knit groups of people, while low-context cultures are generally more diverse. Examples of high-context cultures include China, India, and many non-Western societies. [6] How does her experience in Japan demonstrate what youve learned so far about the different dimensions of culture? Japan and China are some of the best examples of high-context cultures, in addition to Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and many nations throughout Africa and the Middle East. 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. [19] This has been expanded to further countries by Sheposh & Shaista. Cultures Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values. Japan and other countries located in Asia, Brazil and other countries located in South America, African tribal groups and most countries located in Africa, A majority of the Middle East, including Iraq and Iran, Describe Edward T. Hall's characterization of high-context cultures, Distinguish between high-context and low-context cultures, Explain the characteristics of high-context cultures, Recall the importance of ingroups to high-context cultures.
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