Copyright 2023 Helpful Professor. This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). 1.4.6 - Context of Cultures: High and Low - University of the Pacific In high-context cultures, language may be used to assist and maintain relationship-building and to focus on process. Conflict Styles and HighLow Context Cultures: A Cross-Cultural Extension. They place a high value on interpersonal relationships and group members are a very close-knit community. The American legal system, for example, relies on low context communication. (1971). Moving from high-context communication to low-context communication or vice versa is challenging for students. [2] Collectivist societies prioritize the group over the individual, and vice versa for individualist ones. In his work, "Beyond Culture", Hall described these two different types of cultural relationships as they applied to information. High and Low Context Culture in Business | Free Essay Example Their communication is less-task oriented, and their decision-making is driven by relationships, shared experiences, and emotions. In low-context cultures, gestures and facial expressions are never the primary means of communication; they only serve to clarify or complement a point. Cultures Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values. Japan is generally considered a high-context culture, meaning people communicate based on inherent understanding. 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. High-Context vs. Low-Context Communication - ToughNickel Differences in high-context and low-context communication styles - LinkedIn People are comfortable standing close to each other. [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. It relies on the straightforward use of language, without depending much on nonverbal cues. 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. Sage Publications. Japan is a country with a high-context culture. 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. Traditionally, Western cultures are known for being more individualistic or communicating with a low context style. Researchers today are using it greatly to study different cultures all over the world. Cultures and communication in which the context of the message is of great importance to structuring actions are referred to as high context. Hall, E. T. (1976). Therefore, it is necessary for more explicit information to be included in the message so it is not misinterpreted. What are the differences between high context and low context cultures? For example, the body language and methods of communication experienced by a group of close friends in a casual setting differs greatly from a group of peers presenting at a professional business meeting. A 2005 study by Elizabeth Wurtz demonstrates how cultural differences shape marketing and advertising. Guffey et al. Contents show Low Context Culture Definition Edward T. Hall describes low-context culture as one in which: [24] The table shows the major differences and similarities between individual queries. Settings and cultures where people come together from a wider diversity of backgrounds such as international airports, large cities, or multi-national firms, tend to use lower-context communication forms. It can imply understanding or agreement, but it can also mean their conversea lack of certainty. Communicating With High- and Low-Context Cultures In contrast, the use of restricted codes indicates that speakers and listeners do share a great deal of common background and perspectives, and hence much more can be taken for granted, and thus expressed implicitly or through nuance: restricted codes tend to be more context-dependent. The results found that U.S. participants used communication for pleasure more often than Mexican participants. ; it is the way we communicate, do business and see the world. Solved 1. Explain the differences between high- and | Chegg.com 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. Strategies to work effectively with people from high context and low context cultures Follow these 4 key strategies to communicate effectively across cultures: 1. [42] Low-context websites had less animation and more stagnant images, with more details on information. In his model, context refers to the stimuli, environment, or ambiance surrounding an event. The High Context / Low Context cultural dimension is a broad and far reaching theory which touches on many aspects of cultural communication including verbal and non-verbal messaging, internal and external locus of control, inward and outward reaction, cohesion of groups, people's bonds and commitments, as well . [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. For example, while the United States is a low-context culture, family gatherings (which are common in American culture) tend to be high-context. All articles are edited by a PhD level academic. In contrast, take a look at the ads on the front page of Weibo, which is considered China's version of Facebook. High Context Culture vs Low Context Culture: Communication - TechTello 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. 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. In a 2008 meta-analysis of 224 articles published between 1990 and 2006, Peter W. Cardon wrote: [T]he theory was never described by Hall with any empirical rigor, and no known research involving any instrument or measure of contexting validates it. A few predominantly high-context cultures include Japan, China, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa. A first step in achieving this goal is to identify one's own culture before delving into the rigors of another. All the advice on this site is general in nature. 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. How Low & High-Context Cultures Influence Communication Croucher, S., Bruno, A, McGrath, P, Adams, C, McGahan, C, Suits, A & Huckins, A. On one side of the dimension, we have high context cultures, which depend on greater context when communicating. Individualism may lead to communicating to all people in a group in the same way, rather than offering hierarchical respect to certain members. 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). What is culture? Note: Comparison of low- and high-context cultures reprinted from Business communication: Process & product (p. 64) by M.E. High Context and Low Context - SlideShare Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. 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. Cultural Context | Communication for Professionals - Lumen Learning The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau. 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. Class, Codes and Control. Which countries have low context cultures? - Our Planet Today A few examples of high-context cultures include China, Japan, South Africa, Argentina, and Spain; While low-context cultures are found more dominantly in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. In a low-context culture, the onus for communication lies with the speaker. Seekprofessional input on your specific circumstances. Understanding Japan's High Context Culture - Japanjunky [36], Individualistic cultures promote the development of individual values and independent social groups. Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): A graph which shows the level of context in various world cultures. Conclusions are explicitly stated. In contrast, low-context cultures rely on explicit verbal communication. Examples of high-context cultures include China, India, and many non-Western societies. 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. Gudykunst, W. B., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). Examples of high-context cultures include Asian, African, Latin American, and some European countries. Beyond Culture. 8 Examples of Low Context - Simplicable Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. PDF Negotiating Aross Cultures - Air University [38] By contrast, low-context cultures tend to change more rapidly and drastically, allowing extension[definition needed] to happen at faster rates. [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. Hall notes a similar difference between Navajo-speakers and English-speakers in a United States school.[18]. For example, the Native Americans in the United States rely heavily on their tradition. High and Low Context Culture - UKEssays [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. ), Hall, E. T.; Hall, M. R. (1990). 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. Low-context culture refers to a culture that communicates explicitly. 1. We'll also look at how they're different and what that means for your work in global business. In a high-context culture, emphasis is placed on interpersonal relationships rather than personal achievement. 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). Recognizing High and Low Context Cultures - National Charrette Institute Low-context cultures tend to focus more on the individual than the group, which is why they value individualism and autonomy. 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. A person's identity in a high context society tends to be based on one's roles and experiences within the group. High and low culture examples. High vs. Low Power Distance Cultural The high and low context cultures in this concept refers to how important contextual cues are in interpreting a message. 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. Low use of nonverbal elements. Low-Context Culture Communication & Examples | What Is Low-Context Culture? In comparison, the United States is perhaps the best example of a diverse and low-context culture. differentiate between high-context and low context culture examples In. Also remember that although cultures are different from one another, no culture or cultural characteristic is better or worse than any other. They tend to use more slangs, idioms and are generally high pace speakers. 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. 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]. Both the speaker and listener act under the assumption that all relevant information has been explicitly stated. Create your account. [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. [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. High-context cultures are more likely to be intuitive, contemplative, and concerned with the collective. All rights reserved. Culture and Interpersonal Communication. High and Low Context Cultures - Intercultural Communication The answer is simple. He studied English literature at the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University. High Context Culture Definition & Examples | High Context vs Low Examples of low-context cultures include Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Canada, and the United States. 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. PDF What teachers can do Moving from high-context communication to low They rely less on context & non-verbal cues and instead convey meaning more directly. They often use written contracts and agreements to clarify expectations (Gudykunst & Ting-Toomey, 1988). An experiment performed by the University of Glasgow shows that different cultures have different understanding of the facial expression signals of the six basic emotions, which are the so-called "universal language of emotion"happiness, surprise, fear, disgust, anger and sadness. High-context cultures are those that communicate in ways that are implicit and rely heavily on context. The law is important! Unlike the linear communication style preferred in low-context cultures, high-context communicators may use spiral logic, circling around a topic indirectly and looking at it from many tangential or divergent viewpoints. 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. 15 Examples of High Context - Simplicable 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. Eye contact, for example, which is encouraged in North America, may have ambiguous meaning or be considered disrespectful in certain high-context cultures. 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. However, the concept may also apply to corporations, professions and other cultural groups, as well as to settings such as online and offline communication. Examples of high context cultures include many Asian, African, and Latin American countries, as well as some European cultures such as Spain and Italy. [25], The categories of context cultures are not totally separate. The continuum pictures how people communicate with others through their range of communication abilities: utilizing gestures, relations, body language . Examples of low context cultures include: Scandinavia; Germany, and the US. For an outsider, it is easier to enter into low-context cultures because one does not need to be aware of the shared history/values of the group. Teachers can illustrate the differences between high- and low- context cultures by providing examples of behaviors. Overall, this study provides further evidence to support the high versus low-context culture concepts with Chinese, Korean, and American participants. "[28] In such cultures, people are highly perceptive of actions. Members of high-context cultures usually have close relationships that last for an extended period of time. In contrast, low-context websites had lesser animation and images, focusing instead on the information. 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]. Discover high context culture examples, and identify the importance of high context vs. low context communication. Your email address will not be published. Hall identifies high-context cultures as those in which harmony and the well-being of the group is preferred over individual achievement. Communication is seen as a way of exchanging information, ideas, and opinions. In low-context cultures, communication tends to be more direct and to the point. people generally use. Cultures and languages are defined as higher or lower context on a spectrum. [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. Low context cultures rely on the spoken word to communicate. Croucher's study examines the assertion that culture influences communication style (high/low-context) preference. [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. Getting the message across. Hall and Hall proposed a "spectrum" of national cultures from "High-Context cultures" to "Low-Context Cultures. High-context cultures are collectivist cultures. Culture also affects how individuals interpret other people's facial expressions. Sage Publications. A few relevant examples of differences in communication between low- and high-context cultures are found in Table 1. London: Routledge. These rules of communication are understood without being explicitly stated. 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 Moreover, their communication is often task-oriented and driven by rational decision-making, which can further add to their formality.. 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]. 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. 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. [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. 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. What is low context cultural communication? 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 Low and High context countries and their characteristics Examples of High Context Small religious gatherings, party with close friends, family functions, dining out with family or friends, and sleep over at friend's place, etc. We will write a custom Report on Communication Culture: Hall's High and Low-Context Model of Culture specifically for you. Hofstede, G. (1984). Some recognized examples include: Higher-context culture: China, India, Korea, Japan, other Asian countries, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania, Oman, and Yemen, African countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Nigeria, Latin America, the Pacific islands, France, Greece, Finland, Ireland, Italy, and Russia. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many European countries. Information has to be explicit and detailed for the message to be conveyed without distortion. The terms "high context culture" and "low context culture" are used to define how people in various cultures communicate messages to each other. Examples of a low context communication cultures include The United States, the UK, Switzerland, Canada and Germany. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. ", "Communication: intercultural communication. 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. 18 Examples of Low Culture. Lower-context culture: United States, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Canada and other European nations. [30], Hall links language to culture through the work of Sapir-Whorf on linguistic relativity. 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. As such, high-context cultures tend to cater to the development and promotion of ingroups, which are groups that we belong to and are loyal to, including families, cultures, and religious congregations. It is important to note that while a nation or society may be widely considered a high-context or low-context culture, certain events occur in the opposite context regularly (such as family gatherings in the United States). Routledge. Power Distance Index & Examples | What is Power Distance? - Effects & Types, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): Definition, effects & Types, Trepanning: Tools, Specialties & Definition, What is Pseudoephedrine? Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. But we can also use them to talk about smaller groups, such as corporate cultures or a specific setting like the airport. 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. Beyond Culture. As a result of these years of interacting with one another, the members know what the rules are, how to think, and how to behave, so the rules do not have to be explicitly stated. What is the role of such non-verbal communication in business relationships? 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. On the other hand, low-context culture does not have any such shared background. Table 2 shows a classification of countries in low and high context, their characteristics and the expected role . "Understanding cultural differences. What is an Interculturally Effective Person (IEP)? - Uses & Side Effects, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community, Japan, China, Korea, and many other countries in Asia, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and some other countries in South America, Tribal groups and most nations in Africa, such as Kenya, Iraq, Iran, and other countries located in the Middle East. Once again we return to the differences between high-context and low-context cultures. Cultural Perceptions of Communication in Organizations: Low Context and High Context. Edward Hall is a famous theorist and anthropologist who has contributed a renowned theory of high- and low-context cultures to facilitate students, researchers . 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. Depending on the amount of information conveyed, cultures are classified as being high-context and low-context. [42] The images found on the websites used in the study promoted individualistic and collectivist characteristics within the low-context and high-context websites, respectively.