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. They also are AT-CTI certified. Once again we return to the differences between high-context and low-context cultures. Lower-context culture: United States, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Canada and other European nations. In high-context cultures, language may be used to assist and maintain relationship-building and to focus on process. 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 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. The GLOBE Project Overview & Behavior Styles | What is the GLOBE Project? 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 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. [20][21], Cultural context can also shift and evolve. 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. A few relevant examples of differences in communication between low- and high-context cultures are found in Table 1. Flowery language, humility, and elaborate apologies are typical. [5]. 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. (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. The American sample scored the lowest compared to the two "Oriental samples," which aligns with Hall's concept. These are some important high-context culture characteristics to look out for. The verbal and nonverbal cues of low vs. high-context communication can be . 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 . Beyond Culture. 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. 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. Relationships are easy to build, can start very quickly but end just as soon. The following are illustrative examples. Individualism and collectivism are related to low-context and high-context cultures, respectively. Members of the culture place emphasis on interpersonal relationships. High context is where the groups of people or societies in which individuals have had close links in the course of a long period. Websites catering to high-context audiences had a lot of animation & images. High-context cultures usually do not have rules that are explicitly written or stated. 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. 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). Individualism may lead to communicating to all people in a group in the same way, rather than offering hierarchical respect to certain members. 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. Examples of low-context cultures include Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Canada, and the United States. Overall, this study provides further evidence to support the high versus low-context culture concepts with Chinese, Korean, and American participants. There are smaller communities and specific settings within national/linguistic cultures, and they may exhibit different communication patterns. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Topic: Culture, Context, Communication, Middle East, Business, Conflict, People, Relationships. For example, the Native Americans in the United States rely heavily on their tradition. What is culture? Writing Topic Sentences and Body Paragraphs, 38. In other words, high-context communicators attach great importance to everything that surrounds the explicit message, including interpersonal relationships, non-verbal cues, and physical and social settings. - 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. People from low-context cultures value logic, facts, and directness. Hall and Hall proposed a "spectrum" of national cultures from "High-Context cultures" to "Low-Context Cultures. succeed. Listen to business speaker Erin Meyer explain how cultural differences can affect communication. The results found that U.S. participants used communication for pleasure more often than Mexican participants. Create your account, 10 chapters | I feel like its a lifeline. Due to this shared understanding, high-context cultures are slightly more informal. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. All the advice on this site is general in nature. Both often take many aspects of the other's cultural communication abilities and strengths into account. This is in direct contrast to low-context cultures, in which information is communicated primarily through language and rules are explicitly spelled out. 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. Contexts in source publication. For example, while the United States is a low-context culture, family gatherings (which are common in American culture) tend to be high-context. 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. 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. [22], The concept of elaborated and restricted codes was introduced by sociologist Basil Bernstein in his book Class, Codes and Control. Discover high context culture examples, and identify the importance of high context vs. low context communication. High-context cultures are related to connotation. When it comes to emails, texts, and online messaging, low-context cultures use it to fire off quick, frequent messages. With this regard, America culture is a low-context . ), Hall, E. T.; Hall, M. R. (1990). The terms low-context and high-context usually refer to language groups or nationalities. Trompenaars' Cultural Dimensions Model & Examples | 7 Dimensions of Culture, Hofstede's Uncertainty Avoidance | Culture, Example & Index, Developing an Audience-Centered Presentation, Methods to Increase the Accuracy of Impressions, Long-Term vs. Short-Term Orientation | Hofstede, Culture & Concept, Cross-Cultural Interactions & Relationships in Agile Organizations. [42] Low-context websites had less animation and more stagnant images, with more details on information. Low-context cultures (including North America and much of Western Europe) are logical, linear, individualistic, and action-oriented. 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. [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. For example, a low-context communicator can say, "I am unhappy with this outcome and . This means that the members' identity is heavily rooted in groups, i.e., families and work units. The answer is simple. 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. We cite peer reviewed academic articles wherever possible and reference our sources at the end of our articles. Amount of Detail Expected - High-context cultures such as Japan, China, and France provide little details in their writing. Hall identifies high-context cultures as those in which harmony and the well-being of the group is preferred over individual achievement. Examples of high-context cultures include Asian, African, Latin American, and some European countries. [26] The terms high- and low-context cultures are not classified with strict individual characteristics or boundaries. Furthermore, cultural aspects such as tradition, ceremony, and history are also highly valued. 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. They assume that listeners know very little and must be told practically everything. 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. The designation "high and low context culture" broadly refers to the way people communicate in cultures. Because low-context communication concerns more direct messages, the meaning of these messages is more dependent on the words being spoken rather than on the interpretation of more subtle or unspoken cues. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Contents show Low Context Culture Definition Edward T. Hall describes low-context culture as one in which: Cultural Perceptions of Communication in Organizations: Low Context and High Context. 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. The USA and Australia are typically low-context, highly individualistic cultures, where transparency and competition in business are prized. France is a high-context culture. Low-context countries, on the other hand, relied more on linear processes and verbal communication. 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. The cultural context. Since they value collectivism and interdependence, it makes sense that their communication requires an understanding of the communitys shared values. The low-context websites had multiple images of individuals, while the high-context websites contained images and animations of groups and communities.[42]. A number of unique characteristics exist to make a clear distinction between high-context vs. low-context cultures and methods of communication. 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. Conclusions are explicitly stated. The American legal system, for example, relies on low context communication. A few predominantly high-context cultures include Japan, China, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa. They rely less on context & non-verbal cues and instead convey meaning more directly. - Definition & Assessment, Bipolar vs. Borderline Personality Disorder, Atypical Antipsychotics: Effects & Mechanism of Action, What Is a Mood Stabilizer? [10] In low-context cultures, relationships are not viewed as important figures to identity. 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 a low-context culture, the onus for communication lies with the speaker. Their communication is less-task oriented, and their decision-making is driven by relationships, shared experiences, and emotions. They rely less on the shared values/assumptions of the group and the context of the situation. Nonetheless, the contexting model simply cannot be described as an empirically validated model. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Pages: 3. High context refers to societies or groups where people have close connections over a long period of time. Croucher's study examines the assertion that culture influences communication style (high/low-context) preference. Wurtz studied McDonalds online advertising in various countries such as Japan, Germany, the United States, etc. In this article, we will give you examples of high and low context mediation. Instead, they depend on the explicit code of the words and written rules to convey meaning. 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. In high-context cultures, people are said to prefer symbolic, artful language that is implicit. 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. The high and low context cultures in this concept refers to how important contextual cues are in interpreting a message. The situation, people, and non-verbal elements are more important than the actual words that are communicated. In the 1970's, anthropologist Edward T. Hall coined the phrases "high-context culture" and "low- context culture.". 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. Conflict Styles and HighLow Context Cultures: A Cross-Cultural Extension. Anthropologist Edward T. Hall first discussed high-context culture in his 1976 book titled Beyond Culture. Studentsshould always cross-check any information on this site with their course teacher. Establishing relationships is an important part of communicating and interacting. 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. 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). Ramos, D. C. (2014). 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 . In other words, people communicate explicitly in low-context cultures. In his model, context refers to the stimuli, environment, or ambiance surrounding an event. India and Japan are typically high-context, highly collectivistic cultures, where business is done by building relationships and maintaining respectful communication. Language may be used to achieve goals or exchange information. Required fields are marked *, This Article was Last Expert Reviewed on January 24, 2023 by Chris Drew, PhD. 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. Depending on the amount of information conveyed, cultures are classified as being high-context and low-context. It is important to note that no culture is low-context or high-context in absolute terms but a mix of both. 1. (2013)[2]explain the concept of cultural context: Cultural context is a concept developed by cultural anthropologist Edward T. Hall. 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). 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. 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. Meanwhile, in low-context cultures, more explicit speech is needed in order to allow the listener to fully understand the message. In S. Thompson (ed. Ironically, contexting is most frequently discussed in terms of directness, yet empirical studies nearly all fail to support this relationship. 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. In the United States, Native Americans and Hawaiian islanders are also considered high-context. Cultures where the group is valued over the individual promote. What is a high-context culture and how does this communication culture differ from a low-context culture? However, there are some other characteristics also. In a high-context culture, emphasis is placed on interpersonal relationships rather than personal achievement. 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