high and low context cultures examples

It can imply understanding or agreement, but it can also mean their conversea lack of certainty. Since a high-context culture is based on fewer, deeper relations with people, there are many unspoken social rules and understandings within the culture. Communication Research Reports. [14] Groups that are able to rely on a common background may not need to use words as explicitly to understand each other. 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. (PDF) COMMUNICATING IN HIGH & LOW CONTEXT CULTURES COMMUNICATING IN HIGH & LOW CONTEXT CULTURES March 2016 Affiliation: Arizona State University State: In Progress Authors: Jay Klagge. This can be quite confusing to an outsider, especially someone from a low-context culture who is used to communicating via explicit messages. Sage Publications. 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. 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. High-context communication tends to be more indirect and more formal. Low-context cultures tend to be logical, analytical, action-oriented, and concerned with the individual. [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. Answer (1 of 2): Examples of high context countries include: Japan, China, and the Arab countries. (2014, May 9). [42] Low-context websites had less animation and more stagnant images, with more details on information. For example, Hall describes how Japanese culture has both low- and high-context situations. These problems can be separated into differences concerning "direction", "quantity" and "quality." The law is important! 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. (1971). High-context cultures: Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, China, India, and Saudi Arabia are some of the highest-context cultures in the world. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many European countries. [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. 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 High-context cultures rely heavily on non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, etc. Within high-context cultures, people rely on their networks of friends and family, viewing their relationships as part of one large community. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and holds a PhD in Education from ACU. Relationships are easy to build, can start very quickly but end just as soon. In his work, "Beyond Culture", Hall described these two different types of cultural relationships as they applied to information. Your message needs to be clear and precise. Three samples were gathered from the US, China, and Korea, three different cultures. 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. [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. 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. Once again we return to the differences between high-context and low-context cultures. (The pedestrians example) [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. 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. Beyond Culture. Because a low-context setting cannot rely on shared understanding of potentially ambiguous messages, low-context cultures tend to give more information, or to be precise in their language. A 2008 meta-analysis concluded that the model was "unsubstantiated and underdeveloped".[5]. Body language, tone of voice, and personal status are a few notable characteristics that are valued in a high-context culture. The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau. [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. Verbal message is direct; one spells things out exactly. Learn what high context culture is. France is a high-context culture. High context communication cultures . [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. A few relevant examples of differences in communication between low- and high-context cultures are found in Table 1. 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. In S. Thompson (ed. In. [25], The categories of context cultures are not totally separate. Instead, they depend on the explicit code of the words and written rules to convey meaning. Wurtz, Elizabeth (2005). These are some important high-context culture characteristics to look out for. But the fact that contexting has not been empirically validated should not necessarily be construed as a failure of the theory. As we discuss culture, we are making generalizations to create cultural prototypes. [36], Individualistic cultures promote the development of individual values and independent social groups. 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. 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. Low-context and high-context cultures are the ends of a continuum portraying how cultures communicate. The continuum pictures how people communicate with others through their range of communication abilities: utilizing gestures, relations, body language . Intercultural Business Communication by Confederation College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. 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. They have a Bachelor's in Air Traffic Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and minored in Aviation Safety and Homeland Security. We also make strong distinctions between those who are a part of our family and those who are not. 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. 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. Also remember that although cultures are different from one another, no culture or cultural characteristic is better or worse than any other. The low-context websites had multiple images of individuals, while the high-context websites contained images and animations of groups and communities.[42]. [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. Family gatherings and interactions with people from high-context cultures are two examples of scenarios in which Americans participate in high-context communications, largely because they are with close-knit groups of people who share similar values, rules, and norms. In, Meyer, C. (2017). Eye contact, for example, which is encouraged in North America, may have ambiguous meaning or be considered disrespectful in certain high-context cultures. ), Hall, E. T.; Hall, M. R. (1990). Russia is a high context country with a culture that revolves around collectivism and interdependence on group relationships. They place a high value on interpersonal relationships and group members are a very close-knit community. 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. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. 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. - Dosage & Side Effects, Anxiolytic: Definition, Medications & Dependence, What is Citalopram? Power Distance Index & Examples | What is Power Distance? 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. Because of this, communication can change drastically from one generation to the next, creating communication gaps between parents and children. A number of unique characteristics exist to make a clear distinction between high-context vs. low-context cultures and methods of communication. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. But we can also use them to talk about smaller groups, such as corporate cultures or a specific setting like the airport. Examples of low context cultures include: Scandinavia; Germany, and the US. Their communication is often indirect and requires a nuanced understanding, so outsiders might find it more difficult to enter their culture. Japan is a country with a high-context culture. 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. For example, the Native Americans in the United States rely heavily on their tradition. For example, families typically engage in high context communication whereby they can communicate much with subtleties such as a glace. 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. [22], The concept of elaborated and restricted codes was introduced by sociologist Basil Bernstein in his book Class, Codes and Control. The Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice states that, "high context defines cultures that are relational and collectivist, and which most highlight interpersonal relationships. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. For example, resemblance is a significant trait in cultures with a high level of context. 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 [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 cultures rely on the spoken word to communicate. Therefore, it is necessary for more explicit information to be included in the message so it is not misinterpreted. High-context cu. A 2005 study by Elizabeth Wurtz demonstrates how cultural differences shape marketing and advertising. Individualism and collectivism are related to low-context and high-context cultures, respectively. "High context". These experiences inclu. (2014, December 10). Hall, E. T. (1976). France. Give some examples of cultural differences in the interpretation of body language. 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. Context 1. . While in high context cultures, communication is done primarily through nonverbal mediums and gestures, in low context cultures, information is vested explicitly so that there is no risk of confusion. Anthropologist Edward T. Hall first discussed high-context culture in his 1976 book titled Beyond Culture. Note: Comparison of low- and high-context cultures reprinted from Business communication: Process & product (p. 64) by M.E. [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 identifies high-context cultures as those in which harmony and the well-being of the group is preferred over individual achievement. What is an Interculturally Effective Person (IEP)? Nonetheless, the contexting model simply cannot be described as an empirically validated model. Low-context countries, on the other hand, relied more on linear processes and verbal communication. 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. The terms low-context and high-context usually refer to language groups or nationalities. Since they value collectivism and interdependence, it makes sense that their communication requires an understanding of the communitys shared values. "[29] A similarity that the two communication styles share is its influence on social characteristics such as age, gender, social class and ethnicity. Discover high context culture examples, and identify the importance of high context vs. low context 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). 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. - Definition & Assessment, Bipolar vs. Borderline Personality Disorder, Atypical Antipsychotics: Effects & Mechanism of Action, What Is a Mood Stabilizer? ; it is the way we communicate, do business and see the world. Goodwill Messages and Recommendations. Cultures and communication in which the context of the message is of great importance to structuring actions are referred to as high context. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. This allows individuals of different generations to communicate through a shared set of values, which, in turn, provides stability to the culture. Establishing relationships is an important part of communicating and interacting. In other words, people communicate explicitly in low-context cultures. In the 1970's, anthropologist Edward T. Hall coined the phrases "high-context culture" and "low- context culture.". From each culture, 96 business managers were surveyed for the American and Chinese sample and 50 managers were surveyed from Korea. 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 According to Hall's theory, the Chinese and Korean samples represented higher-context cultures while the American sample represents a lower context culture. High-context cultures: Much of the society's communication takes place through . In this context, we will discuss those topics also. [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. 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). 231 lessons. However, the concept may also apply to corporations, professions and other cultural groups, as well as to settings such as online and offline communication. Most of the contexting categories simply have not been researched enough to make firm conclusions. [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 cultures include close-knit groups of people, while low-context cultures are generally more diverse. [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. In other words, the relationship between directness and contexting based on traditional classifications of [high-context] and [low-context] cultures is particularly tenuous. What is low context cultural communication? 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. According to Hall's theory, Chinese and Korean samples represented higher-context cultures while the American sample represents lower context. Typically a high-context culture will be relational, collectivist, intuitive, and contemplative. https://helpfulprofessor.com/low-context-culture-examples/. 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. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 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. Members of ingroups usually share many characteristics and experiences. [19] This has been expanded to further countries by Sheposh & Shaista. 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. 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. They rely less on context & non-verbal cues and instead convey meaning more directly. 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. 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). 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. For example, while the United States is a low-context culture, family gatherings (which are common in American culture) tend to be high-context. - Uses & Side Effects, What is Amitriptyline? 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. Oxford University Press. Language may be used to achieve goals or exchange information. Strategies to work effectively with people from high context and low context cultures Follow these 4 key strategies to communicate effectively across cultures: 1. [5]:4223, Characteristics of high-context and low-context cultures, Examples of higher- and lower-context cultures, Overlap and contrast between context cultures, How higher context relates to other cultural metrics. Besides cultural context, personal experiences and preferences also shape communication. In comparison, the United States is perhaps the best example of a diverse and low-context culture. [37] Because individualistic cultures may value cultural diversity, a more explicit way of communicating is often required to avoid misunderstanding. Due to this shared understanding, high-context cultures are slightly more informal. [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. They also displayed pictures of individuals, while high-context websites foregrounded group pictures. The designation "high and low context culture" broadly refers to the way people communicate in cultures. Intercultural communication. Intercultural Communication on Websites: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Websites from High-Context Cultures and Low-Context Cultures. Examples of high-context cultures include Asian, African, Latin American, and some European countries. The situation, people, and non-verbal elements are more important than the actual words that are communicated. Writing Topic Sentences and Body Paragraphs, 38. Studentsshould always cross-check any information on this site with their course teacher. Lower-context culture: United States, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Canada and other European nations. The preferred way of solving problems and learning is in groups. Bernstein, B. The following are illustrative examples. 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. These countries are quite explicit and elaborate without having prior knowledge to each member's history or background. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. 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]. Trust must be developed before business transactions can begin. 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. Required fields are marked *, This Article was Last Expert Reviewed on January 24, 2023 by Chris Drew, PhD. High context refers to societies or groups where people have close connections over a long period of time. Your email address will not be published. Sage Publications. Both often take many aspects of the other's cultural communication abilities and strengths into account. 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.

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