https://helpfulprofessor.com/low-context-culture-examples/. In comparison, the United States is perhaps the best example of a diverse and low-context culture. High-context cultures: Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, China, India, and Saudi Arabia are some of the highest-context cultures in the world. Low and High Context Culture. Rules are not directly or explicitly written or stated. A case study was done on 30 Romanian and 30 Russian employees, to compare high- and low-context cultures, and results strongly suggested that Russia and Romania are both high-context cultures. This allows individuals of different generations to communicate through a shared set of values, which, in turn, provides stability to the culture. From each culture, 96 business managers were surveyed for the American and Chinese sample and 50 managers were surveyed from Korea. 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. Guffey, D. Lowey, K. Rhodes, K., & P. Rogin. [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. A 2005 study by Elizabeth Wurtz demonstrates how cultural differences shape marketing and advertising. Disagreement is depersonalized. For example, for someone who is older and more experienced within a society, the need for social cues may be higher or lower depending on the communication style. 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. 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. [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. Low-context communication is often seen in Western, more individualistic cultures (i.e., U.S., Australia, some European countries) where communication is direct, to the point, and one doesn't have to guess the meaning or intention behind what is being said. Context 1. . Communication is seen as a way of exchanging information, ideas, and opinions. However, there are some other characteristics also. Edward Hall is a famous theorist and anthropologist who has contributed a renowned theory of high- and low-context cultures to facilitate students, researchers . Low-context cultures can seem slightly more formal due to the explicit & precise nature of their messages. The United States, on the other hand, is considered a low-context culture, relying largely on explicit verbal explanations to keep everyone on the same page. 9. Meaning depends on what is said- the literal content of the message- rather than how it is said. France. The answer is simple. 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. [5], These concepts were first introduced by the anthropologist Edward T. Hall in his 1959 book The Silent Language. 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. - Dosage & Side Effects, Anxiolytic: Definition, Medications & Dependence, What is Citalopram? Anchor Press/Doubleday. For example, it could be argued that the Canadian French language is higher context than Canadian English, but lower context than Spanish or French French. High-context cultures usually do not have rules that are explicitly written or stated. We will write a custom Report on Communication Culture: Hall's High and Low-Context Model of Culture specifically for you. Create your account. If you want to appear polite, you need to be willing to greet strangers and thank . Low-context cultures also want these communications to revolve around basic questions, like: What's happening? [2], Website design among cross-cultural barriers include factoring in decisions about culture-sensitive color meanings, layout preferences, animation and sounds. Low-Context Culture Communication & Examples | What Is Low-Context Culture? Cultures where the group is valued over the individual promote. 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. Hofstede, G. (1984). The law is important! Neuliup, J. W. (2011). 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. 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]. 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. 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. The author states that Japan is a high context culture because they have every decision based on their culture and France is both a high and low mixture finally low context example is America. India and Japan are typically high-context, highly collectivistic cultures, where business is done by building relationships and maintaining respectful communication. Body language, tone of voice, and personal status are a few notable characteristics that are valued in a high-context culture. Hall, E. T. (1976). These rules of communication are understood without being explicitly stated. 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). Cite this Article in your Essay (APA Style), Privacy PolicyTerms and ConditionsDisclaimerAccessibility StatementVideo Transcripts. In this context, we will discuss those topics also. The composite score also indicates a significant difference among the three samples at the .01 level. Anchor Press/Doubleday. Sage Publications. 2. What is the role of such non-verbal communication in business relationships? They tend to use more slangs, idioms and are generally high pace speakers. Strategies to work effectively with people from high context and low context cultures Follow these 4 key strategies to communicate effectively across cultures: 1. They assume that listeners know very little and must be told practically everything. Communication cultures differ societally between high-context and low-context cultures, a concept first described by anthropologist Edward T. Hall in his 1976 publication Beyond Culture. Meanwhile, in a high-context culture, nonverbal cues and unspoken background . The low-context websites had multiple images of individuals, while the high-context websites contained images and animations of groups and communities.[42]. Members of ingroups usually share many characteristics and experiences. In his work, "Beyond Culture", Hall described these two different types of cultural relationships as they applied to information. Words: 825. [35], The concepts of collectivism and individualism have been applied to high- and low-context cultures by Dutch psychologist Geert Hofstede in his Cultural Dimensions Theory. According to Hall's theory, Chinese and Korean samples represented higher-context cultures while the American sample represents lower context. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. In the United States, Native Americans and Hawaiian islanders are also considered high-context. 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 ". 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. High context cultures are more common in the eastern nations than in western and in countries with low racial diversity. A simplified example mentioned by Hall is that scientists working in "hard science" fields (like chemistry and physics) tend to have lower-context cultures: because their knowledge and models have fewer variables, they will typically include less context for each event they describe. Cultures and communication in which the context of the message is of great importance to structuring actions are referred to as high context. ", "Communication: intercultural communication. The study identifies whether and how variables that characterize high- and low-context cultures are reflected on Web sites. Relationships are easy to build, can start very quickly but end just as soon. The Nine Competencies that Characterize an IEP, Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits and Obstacles, Intercultural Communication in the Workplace, Additional Resources to Help you Format your Paper in APA Style. We know that the way in which we say things at these gatherings is more important than what we say. Because directness may be thought of as disrespectful, discussions in high-context cultures can be circuitous, circling key issues rather than addressing them head-on. On one side of the dimension, we have high context cultures, which depend on greater context when communicating. For example, families typically engage in high context communication whereby they can communicate much with subtleties such as a glace. But we can also use them to talk about smaller groups, such as corporate cultures or a specific setting like the airport. Wurtz found something similar while analyzing website design. 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. Published: 2020/12/03. 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. 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. Listen to business speaker Erin Meyer explain how cultural differences can affect communication. An understanding of external cultures also leads to a better acceptance of diversity, a reduction in confusion and anxiety from misinterpreted communications, and a more effective means of intercultural collaboration. A 2008 meta-analysis concluded that the model was "unsubstantiated and underdeveloped".[5]. This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). In this article, we will give you examples of high and low context mediation. 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The preferred way of solving problems and learning is in groups. The same applies for the other characteristics in varied countries. [18] A trade language will typically need to explicitly explain more of the context than a dialect which can assume a high level of shared context. The American sample scored the lowest compared to the two "Oriental samples," which aligns with Hall's concept. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Low context cultures emphasize individuality and tasks. [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. Most of the contexting categories simply have not been researched enough to make firm conclusions. Russia is a high context country with a culture that revolves around collectivism and interdependence on group relationships. 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 . Not only is the page itself busier . [42] In a case study conducted by the IT University of Copenhagen, it was found that websites catering to high-context cultures tended to have more detailed and advanced designs, including various images and animations. As we discuss culture, we are making generalizations to create cultural prototypes. Traditionally, Western cultures are known for being more individualistic or communicating with a low context style. Messages can be contextualized by assuming that the audience would think in the same manner and will follow the underlying meaning implied in someone's speech or writing as a result of these common experiences. 3. Low-context cultures (including North America and much of Western Europe) are logical, linear, individualistic, and action-oriented. [5]. 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. In low-context cultures, communication tends to be more direct and to the point. 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. Trust must be developed before business transactions can begin. In the 1970's, anthropologist Edward T. Hall coined the phrases "high-context culture" and "low- context culture.". Culture and Interpersonal Communication. Type of paper: Research Paper. After you have finished with this lesson, you should be able to: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. "[28] In such cultures, people are highly perceptive of actions. classifications are discussed below. In these cultures, people may rely on body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions to convey meaning, and may not always say exactly what they mean directly. Cultures and languages are defined as higher or lower context on a spectrum. 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. (1971). In Low Context Culture it is normal to be self reliant and yet have many relationships. Cultural contexts are not absolutely "high" or "low". About The Helpful Professor 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. According to Hall's theory, the Chinese and Korean samples represented higher-context cultures while the American sample represents a lower context culture. 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. London: Routledge. Conclusion The dynamics of relationships within High and Low context cultures are very different. "[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. High-context cultures include close-knit groups of people, while low-context cultures are generally more diverse. The ways by which humans communicate are based heavily on the context of what is being spoken, the individuals involved, and the setting in which the communication takes place. Conflict Styles and HighLow Context Cultures: A Cross-Cultural Extension. A low-context (LC) communication is just the opposite; i.e., the mass of the information is vested in the explicit code.". Sage Publications. 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. A low-context culture is a culture in which people communicate explicitly. 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]. Instead, a comparison between cultures may find communication differences to a greater or lesser degree. High context is where the groups of people or societies in which individuals have had close links in the course of a long period. The high and low context cultures in this concept refers to how important contextual cues are in interpreting a message. 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. In high-context cultures, language may be used to assist and maintain relationship-building and to focus on process. High context cultures tend to build relationships slowly, and they are generally stable for a long time and are based on trust and loyalty. Examples of high context cultures include many Asian, African, and Latin American countries, as well as some European cultures such as Spain and Italy. For example Japan, which has a very high context culture, uses both polychronic and monochronic time. Japan is a country with a high-context culture. The following high-context culture examples are a few global cultures where these rules, as well as other characteristics of high-context cultures, apply predominantly: For additional context, a few examples of low-context cultures beyond the United States include Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Finland, and Denmark. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. What is an Interculturally Effective Person (IEP)? 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. We'll also look at how they're different and what that means for your work in global business. A few relevant examples of differences in communication between low- and high-context cultures are found in Table 1. All articles are edited by a PhD level academic. . Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. Monochronic vs. Polychronic Communication Styles | What Are Chronemics? Message is carried more by words than by nonverbal means. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Meyer defines low-context cultures as cultures where people communicate and receive messages at face value. A conclusion may be implied but not argued directly. [30], Hall links language to culture through the work of Sapir-Whorf on linguistic relativity. Communication Differences in Low-Context vs. High-Context Cultures, Comparing Communication Styles in Low- and High-Context Cultures, Additional Resources for Determining Cultural Contexts, Ethnocentrism and Cross-Cultural Competence, Additional Resources for Understanding Trompenaars Dimensions, Three Prototypes: Dignity, Face, and Honor Cultures, Ethnocentrism, Culture Shock, and Cultural Relativism. [31], Between each type of culture context, there will be forms of miscommunication because of the difference in gestures, social cues, and intercultural adjustments; however, it is important to recognize these differences and learn how to avoid miscommunication to benefit certain situations. Ramos suggests that "in low context culture, communication members' communication must be more explicit. 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]. They rely less on the shared values/assumptions of the group and the context of the situation. 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 . Gudykunst, W. B., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). Moreover, their communication is often task-oriented and driven by rational decision-making, which can further add to their formality.. ; it is the way we communicate, do business and see the world. I feel like its a lifeline. Contents show Low Context Culture Definition Edward T. Hall describes low-context culture as one in which: Since understanding every culture has its level of complexity, it is hard for other country people to determine what is the state of culture of the country they visit as a traveller. The situation, people, and non-verbal elements are more important than the actual words that are communicated. 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. On the other hand, low-context culture does not have any such shared background. (2014, May 9). Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many European countries. - Effects & Types, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): Definition, effects & Types, Trepanning: Tools, Specialties & Definition, What is Pseudoephedrine? Verbal message is explicit. A first step in achieving this goal is to identify one's own culture before delving into the rigors of another. In low-context countries, things need to be spelled out a bit more. [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. the study of body movement including gestures, hand, arm, and leg movements, facial expressions, eye contact, and stance or posture Low-context message a message where the message is encoded in the words used or in the verbal expression and not as much in the context Masculinity-Femininity 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 "[29] A similarity that the two communication styles share is its influence on social characteristics such as age, gender, social class and ethnicity. 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. 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. 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. People have many acquaintances they have fewer close friends. 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. High-context cultures are related to connotation. This makes high-context cultures difficult to navigate for those who do not understand the culture's unwritten rules. [36], Individualistic cultures promote the development of individual values and independent social groups. 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. What is a high-context culture and how does this communication culture differ from a low-context culture? 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). In low-context cultures, gestures and facial expressions are never the primary means of communication; they only serve to clarify or complement a point. These include specific forms of body language, the social or familial status of an individual, and the tone of voice employed during speech. Seekprofessional input on your specific circumstances. Generally, the situation, people, and non-verbal elements are more important than the actual words that are communicated in a high-context culture. Information has to be explicit and detailed for the message to be conveyed without distortion. In contrast, low-context cultures rely on explicit verbal communication. 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. [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. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Teachers can illustrate the differences between high- and low- context cultures by providing examples of behaviors. In. High- context cultures are often collectivist in nature and largely defined by group communications, as well as the development or promotion of ingroups, or groups that individuals may become loyal to. An in-depth understanding of cultural norms is not required because the communication is explicit. Low-context cultures rely on explicit communication. High-context cultures are collectivist, value interpersonal relationships, and have members that form stable, close relationships. High-context cultures are more likely to be intuitive, contemplative, and concerned with the collective. In high cultures, much of the communication is understood by the group either by non-verbal coding, which refers to common body language; distinct in-groups and out-group's, which refers to the cohesiveness of the group; and covert and implicit messages, which refers to what we refer .
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