- 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. [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. On the other hand, low-context culture does not have any such shared background. How Do I Format and Cite Long Direct Quotes? Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. Not only is the page itself busier . High Context vs. Low Context. 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. People within high-context cultures tend to be more aware and observant of facial expressions, body language, changes in tone, and other aspects of communication that are not directly spoken. 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. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Intercultural Communication in the Workplace, 18. In high-context cultures, language may be used to assist and maintain relationship-building and to focus on process. 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. For example, the head wobble (tilting the head from side to side) in India is a gesture that can convey a variety of meanings depending on the situation. 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). London: Routledge. [30], Punctuation marks and emojis are more often used by high-context users than low-context users. What are the effects on the communication process? [38] By contrast, low-context cultures tend to change more rapidly and drastically, allowing extension[definition needed] to happen at faster rates. Low-context cultures can seem slightly more formal due to the explicit & precise nature of their messages. Bernstein, B. 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. Guffey, M. E., Lowey, D., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2013). All rights reserved. Cultures Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values. Whereas low-context cultures prefer more words (to a certain extent), high-context cultures prefer more images. Meanwhile, in low-context cultures, more explicit speech is needed in order to allow the listener to fully understand the message. Cite this Article in your Essay (APA Style), Privacy PolicyTerms and ConditionsDisclaimerAccessibility StatementVideo Transcripts. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many Western countries. Most of the contexting categories simply have not been researched enough to make firm conclusions. Low-context cultures tend to be logical, analytical, action-oriented, and concerned with the individual. People have many acquaintances they have fewer close friends. [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. The continuum pictures how people communicate with others through their range of communication abilities: utilizing gestures, relations, body language . For example, families typically engage in high context communication whereby they can communicate much with subtleties such as a glace. [2] Collectivist societies prioritize the group over the individual, and vice versa for individualist ones. Russia is a high context country with a culture that revolves around collectivism and interdependence on group relationships. The terms low-context and high-context usually refer to language groups or nationalities. 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. The answer is simple. High-context cultures are collectivist cultures. - Uses & Side Effects, What is Amitriptyline? [24] The table shows the major differences and similarities between individual queries. In high-context cultures, there are often many opportunities for social and cultural context to explain speech, which reduces the need for words in all instances. [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. Their communication is often indirect and requires a nuanced understanding, so outsiders might find it more difficult to enter their culture. The cultural context. We have close, personal relationships with our relatives. For example, a low-context communicator can say, "I am unhappy with this outcome and . In other words, people communicate explicitly in low-context cultures. High context is where the groups of people or societies in which individuals have had close links in the course of a long period. In Mexico's high context culture, communication is . Wurtz found something similar while analyzing website design. They rely less on context & non-verbal cues and instead convey meaning more directly. In, Meyer, C. (2017). Beyond Culture. High-context communications, as well as low-context interactions, are important to understand from many perspectives. 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 (such as those in Japan, China, Korea, and Arab countries), communication relies heavily on non-verbal, contextual, and shared cultural meanings. The scale of high- and low-context cultures helps explain much about how we experience communication across our cultural experiences. This can be quite confusing to an outsider, especially someone from a low-context culture who is used to communicating via explicit messages. Germany, Sweden, and the United States are generally classified as low-context cultures. [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. [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. They rely less on the shared values/assumptions of the group and the context of the situation. Instead, many cultures tend to have a mixture or at least some concepts that are shared between them, overlapping the two context cultures.[26]. The preferred way of solving problems and learning is in groups. Establishing relationships is an important part of communicating and interacting. Hall notes a similar difference between Navajo-speakers and English-speakers in a United States school.[18]. He studied English literature at the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University. Class, Codes and Control. 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. [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. While some cultures are low or high . In this article, we will give you examples of high and low context mediation. Low and High Context Culture. Create your account, 10 chapters | For example, the Native Americans in the United States rely heavily on their tradition. [32] Awareness of miscommunication between high- and low-context cultures within the workplace or intercultural communication settings advocates for collected unification within a group through the flexibility and ability to understand one another. Information is transmitted not through words alone but also through non-verbal cues such as gestures, voice inflection, and facial expression, which can have different meanings in different cultures. 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. Teachers can illustrate the differences between high- and low- context cultures by providing examples of behaviors. High context refers to societies or groups where people have close connections over a long period of time. High-context cultures also value group harmony above individual achievement. 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.. The general terms "high context" and "low context" (popularized by Edward Hall) are used to describe broad-brush cultural differences between societies. (2014, December 10). In the United States, Native Americans and Hawaiian islanders are also considered high-context. Type of paper: Research Paper. Negotiators basically say what they mean. Goodwill Messages and Recommendations. Low-context cultures are less stable than high-context cultures as they are not founded upon any shared background. Cultural contexts are not absolutely "high" or "low". This means that the members' identity is heavily rooted in groups, i.e., families and work units. Your message needs to be clear and precise. 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. [1] "High-" and "low-" context cultures typically refer to language groups, nationalities, or regional communities. Typically a high-context culture will be relational, collectivist, intuitive, and contemplative. In his model, context refers to the stimuli, environment, or ambiance surrounding an event. Create your account. 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. The hypotheses tested indicated the high-context culture in Mexico would provide different motives for communication when compared with the low-context culture of the U.S. 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 Moving from high-context communication to low-context communication or vice versa is challenging for students. References Gudykunst, W. B., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). Low context can describe situations, environments and cultures. Hall, E. T. (1976). Cultural differences in advertising and marketing may also be explained through high- and low-context cultures. What is an Interculturally Effective Person (IEP)? 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. Rules are not directly or explicitly written or stated. Many aspects of cultural behavior are not made explicit because most members know what . Their communication is less-task oriented, and their decision-making is driven by relationships, shared experiences, and emotions. 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. For example, in one country a cow is seen as leather, in another one - as a deity and in another one as dinner. [20][21], Cultural context can also shift and evolve. [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. Low use of nonverbal elements. 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. High-context defines cultures that are usually relational and collectivist, and which most highlight interpersonal relationships. An individual from Texas (a higher-context culture) may communicate with a few words or use of a prolonged silence characteristic of Texan English, where a New Yorker would be very explicit (as typical of New York City English), although both speak the same language (American English) and are part of a nation (the United States of America) which is lower-context relative to other nations. They have a Bachelor's in Air Traffic Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and minored in Aviation Safety and Homeland Security. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. It describes the level of explicit information and the importance of context in a given culture, indicating the range of communicative abilities (verbal messages, gestures, etc.) Besides cultural context, personal experiences and preferences also shape communication. In a low-context culture, you would not expect to give or receive gifts . This also means that low-context communication may fail due to the overload of information, which makes culture lose its screening[definition needed] function. Due to this shared understanding, high-context cultures are slightly more informal. 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 (2012). Studentsshould always cross-check any information on this site with their course teacher. Traditionally, Western cultures are known for being more individualistic or communicating with a low context style. [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. 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. 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. Flowery language, humility, and elaborate apologies are typical. High-context cultures are collectivist, value interpersonal relationships, and have members that form stable, close relationships. High-context cultures promote the development of ingroups. Culture also affects how individuals interpret other people's facial expressions. Getting the message across. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. The composite score also indicates a significant difference among the three samples at the .01 level. An error occurred trying to load this video. The American sample scored the lowest compared to the two "Oriental samples," which aligns with Hall's concept. Guffey et al. The reverse holds true for High (Collectivistic) Context Cultures. Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices. 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. 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. [12] Typically a low-context culture will be less close-knit, and so individuals communicating will have fewer relational cues when interpreting messages. Cultures and communication in which context is of great importance to structuring actions is referred to as high context. 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. Guffey, D. Lowey, K. Rhodes, K., & P. Rogin. She found out that in high-context countries, the advertising campaigns used more colors, movements, and sounds to provide context. [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. 3. Sourabh Yadav (MA) and Peer Reviewed by Chris Drew (PhD), Bureaucratization (Sociology): Definition, Features, Origins, Stereotype Content Model: Examples and Definition. 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. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. 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 . ), Hall, E. T.; Hall, M. R. (1990). Conclusions are explicitly stated. Low-context cultures tend to be logical, analytical, action-oriented, and concerned with the individual. In comparison, the United States is perhaps the best example of a diverse and low-context culture. This study is a result of a cross-cultural examination between students from the United States, a low-context culture, and Mexico, a high-context culture, to study the reasons people communicate in each culture. In a low-context culture, the onus for communication lies with the speaker. According to Hall's theory, Chinese and Korean samples represented higher-context cultures while the American sample represents lower context. Mostly, western cultures are low context cultures like the UK, Australia, and the United States. The same applies for the other characteristics in varied countries. 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.
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