high and low context cultures examples

Because of this, many features of cultural behavior in high-context cultures, such as individual roles and expectations, do not need much detailed or thought-out explanation. Cultures and languages are defined as higher or lower context on a spectrum. [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. In. 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. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Language may be used to achieve goals or exchange information. Sage Publications. Wurtz studied McDonalds online advertising in various countries such as Japan, Germany, the United States, etc. These problems can be separated into differences concerning "direction", "quantity" and "quality." Cultural Perceptions of Communication in Organizations: Low Context and High Context. The scale of high- and low-context cultures helps explain much about how we experience communication across our cultural experiences. [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. The study tested 16 items, covering various aspects of the high-versus-low context concept, including social orientation, responsibility, confrontation, communication, commitment, and dealing with new situations. Discover high context culture examples, and identify the importance of high context vs. low context communication. High-context communication tends to be more indirect and more formal. "[28] In such cultures, people are highly perceptive of actions. The Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice states that, "high context defines cultures that are relational and collectivist, and which most highlight interpersonal relationships. All the advice on this site is general in nature. 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. Low-context cultures are less stable than high-context cultures as they are not founded upon any shared background. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. Listen to business speaker Erin Meyer explain how cultural differences can affect communication. High-context cultures include close-knit groups of people, while low-context cultures are generally more diverse. The law is important! Communication is seen as a way of exchanging information, ideas, and opinions. Amount of Detail Expected - High-context cultures such as Japan, China, and France provide little details in their writing. They also are AT-CTI certified. 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. 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. - Definition & Assessment, Bipolar vs. Borderline Personality Disorder, Atypical Antipsychotics: Effects & Mechanism of Action, What Is a Mood Stabilizer? In low-context cultures, gestures and facial expressions are never the primary means of communication; they only serve to clarify or complement a point. Generally, the situation, people, and non-verbal elements are more important than the actual words that are communicated in a high-context culture. 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]. 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. Having a firm grasp on what constitutes high- and low-context, particularly in a communication setting, will truly help you better understand each . Japan is a country with a high-context culture. What is an Interculturally Effective Person (IEP)? succeed. All rights reserved. [14] However, understanding the broad tendencies of predominant cultures can help inform and educate individuals on how to better facilitate communication between individuals of differing cultural backgrounds. High-context cultures are built on a sense of shared experiences and history. Contexts in source publication. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. In a low-context culture, you would not expect to give or receive gifts . Power Distance Index & Examples | What is Power Distance? The high and low context cultures in this concept refers to how important contextual cues are in interpreting a message. Three samples were gathered from the US, China, and Korea, three different cultures. Watch this video from international business expert Erin Meyer [1]. She found out that in high-context countries, the advertising campaigns used more colors, movements, and sounds to provide context. Individualism may lead to communicating to all people in a group in the same way, rather than offering hierarchical respect to certain members. Their communication is often indirect and requires a nuanced understanding, so outsiders might find it more difficult to enter their culture. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many European countries. From each culture, 96 business managers were surveyed for the American and Chinese sample and 50 managers were surveyed from Korea. - Uses & Side Effects, What is Amitriptyline? The USA and Australia are typically low-context, highly individualistic cultures, where transparency and competition in business are prized. Furthermore, cultural aspects such as tradition, ceremony, and history are also highly valued. Once again we return to the differences between high-context and low-context cultures. 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. This concept was introduced by Edward T. Hall, an anthropologist back in 1976. Strategies to work effectively with people from high context and low context cultures Follow these 4 key strategies to communicate effectively across cultures: 1. Explain the differences between high- and low-context cultures, giving examples of each. Pages: 3. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you 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. Typically a high-context culture will be relational, collectivist, intuitive, and contemplative. classifications are discussed below. Topic: Culture, Context, Communication, Middle East, Business, Conflict, People, Relationships. 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). Resistance in Turkey and India Between World Wars, The Role of Culture & Gender in Listening, The Role of Perception & Bias in Intercultural Communication, Introduction to Educational Psychology: Certificate Program, Educational Psychology: Tutoring Solution, Research Methods in Psychology: Help and Review, Introduction to Psychology: Homework Help Resource, Abnormal Psychology: Homework Help Resource, Social Psychology: Homework Help Resource, Introduction to Psychology: Tutoring Solution, Educational Psychology: Homework Help Resource, UExcel Research Methods in Psychology: Study Guide & Test Prep, Research Methods in Psychology: Certificate Program, Research Methods in Psychology: Homework Help Resource, Create an account to start this course today. 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. Data was gathered in India, Ireland, Thailand, and the United States where the results confirm that "high-context nations (India and Thailand) prefer the avoiding and obliging conflict styles more than low-context nations (Ireland and the United States), whereas low-context nations prefer the uncompromising and dominating communication style more than high-context nations."[16]. High-context defines cultures that are usually relational and collectivist, and which most highlight interpersonal relationships. Beyond Culture. An error occurred trying to load this video. [20][21], Cultural context can also shift and evolve. Germany, Sweden, and the United States are generally classified as low-context cultures. They rely less on context & non-verbal cues and instead convey meaning more directly. 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. Japan and China are some of the best examples of high-context cultures, in addition to Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and many nations throughout Africa and the Middle East. ), Hall, E. T.; Hall, M. R. (1990). [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. 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 review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. Low-context cultures (including North America and much of Western Europe) are logical, linear, individualistic, and action-oriented. In contrast, the use of restricted codes indicates that speakers and listeners do share a great deal of common background and perspectives, and hence much more can be taken for granted, and thus expressed implicitly or through nuance: restricted codes tend to be more context-dependent. Websites catering to high-context audiences had a lot of animation & images. These experiences inclu. Sourabh Yadav is a freelance writer & filmmaker. 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. Culture also affects how individuals interpret other people's facial expressions. In high-context cultures, communication cues are transmitted by posture, voice inflection, gestures, and facial expression. Conclusions are explicitly stated. They rely less on the shared values/assumptions of the group and the context of the situation. They assume that listeners know very little and must be told practically everything. 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. Your email address will not be published. Anchor Press/Doubleday. 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 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. [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. [2] Collectivist societies prioritize the group over the individual, and vice versa for individualist ones. The low-context websites had multiple images of individuals, while the high-context websites contained images and animations of groups and communities.[42]. Traditionally, Western cultures are known for being more individualistic or communicating with a low context style. He studied English literature at the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University. 2. Verbal message is explicit. High-context communications, as well as low-context interactions, are important to understand from many perspectives. Sourabh Yadav (MA) and Peer Reviewed by Chris Drew (PhD), Bureaucratization (Sociology): Definition, Features, Origins, Stereotype Content Model: Examples and Definition. Sage Publications. High-context cultures are related to connotation. Cultural differences in advertising and marketing may also be explained through high- and low-context cultures. 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. 9. Hall is also credited for developing the idea of chronemics, or the study of the use of time during nonverbal communications. Negotiators basically say what they mean. It relies on the straightforward use of language, without depending much on nonverbal cues. A few predominantly high-context cultures include Japan, China, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa. [10] In low-context cultures, relationships are not viewed as important figures to identity. Effectively communicating within this culture, therefore, requires messaging that is perceived as objective, professional, and efficient. 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. You can find his work on The Print, Live Wire, and YouTube. For example, in one country a cow is seen as leather, in another one - as a deity and in another one as dinner. The terms "high context culture" and "low context culture" are used to define how people in various cultures communicate messages to each other. However, no country is low-context or high-context in absolute terms; instead, there is a mix of explicit & implicit communication everywhere. The situation, people, and non-verbal elements are more important than the actual words that are communicated. In his work, "Beyond Culture", Hall described these two different types of cultural relationships as they applied to information. Class, Codes and Control. Your message needs to be clear and precise. We'll also look at how they're different and what that means for your work in global business. 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. Communication Research Reports. High context is where the groups of people or societies in which individuals have had close links in the course of a long period. Context is less important than words. People have many acquaintances they have fewer close friends. [13] Not all individuals in a culture can be defined by cultural stereotypes, and there will be variations within a national culture in different settings. 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 Message is carried more by words than by nonverbal means. [38] By contrast, low-context cultures tend to change more rapidly and drastically, allowing extension[definition needed] to happen at faster rates. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 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. However, no country is low-context or high-context in absolute terms; instead, there is a mix of explicit & implicit communication everywhere. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. [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. However, the concept may also apply to corporations, professions and other cultural groups, as well as to settings such as online and offline communication. This means that the members' identity is heavily rooted in groups, i.e., families and work units. 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. They often use written contracts and agreements to clarify expectations (Gudykunst & Ting-Toomey, 1988). He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and holds a PhD in Education from ACU. They tend to use more slangs, idioms and are generally high pace speakers. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many European countries. Disagreement is depersonalized. Focusing on tradition creates opportunities for higher-context messages between individuals of each new generation, and the high-context culture feeds back to the stability hence allows the tradition to be maintained. Low-context culture refers to a culture that communicates explicitly. [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. High-context cu. [6] How does her experience in Japan demonstrate what youve learned so far about the different dimensions of culture? 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). 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. [30][32], Families, subcultures and in-groups typically favour higher-context communication. Low-context countries, on the other hand, relied more on linear processes and verbal communication. On the other hand, low-context culture does not have any such shared background. Hall and Hall proposed a "spectrum" of national cultures from "High-Context cultures" to "Low-Context Cultures. Culture is a combination of our thoughts, roles, manners, values, etc. Gudykunst, W. B., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). [25] Pleasure, affection and inclusion were the highest motives for communication in both cultures, and control was the lowest for both cultures. Whereas low-context cultures prefer more words (to a certain extent), high-context cultures prefer more images. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many Western countries. A person's identity in a high context society tends to be based on one's roles and experiences within the group. I feel like its a lifeline. Low context cultures rely on the spoken word to communicate. Since a high-context culture is based on fewer, deeper relations with people, there are many unspoken social rules and understandings within the culture. Low-context cultures tend to be logical, analytical, action-oriented, and concerned with the individual. Cite this Article in your Essay (APA Style), Privacy PolicyTerms and ConditionsDisclaimerAccessibility StatementVideo Transcripts. For the processing of complex messages, the perspective of context theory is very relevant. Examples of high and low context cultures It can be helpful to consider a few examples of high and low context cultures. 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. We have close, personal relationships with our relatives. 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. Culture and Interpersonal Communication. France is a high-context culture. 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. There are smaller communities and specific settings within national/linguistic cultures, and they may exhibit different communication patterns. How Do I Format and Cite Long Direct Quotes? 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. There are strong distinctions made between individuals who are members of the ingroup and those who are not members in high-context cultures. Their communication is less-task oriented, and their decision-making is driven by relationships, shared experiences, and emotions. Conflict Styles and HighLow Context Cultures: A Cross-Cultural Extension. Since they value collectivism and interdependence, it makes sense that their communication requires an understanding of the communitys shared values. But we can also use them to talk about smaller groups, such as corporate cultures or a specific setting like the airport. The American legal system, for example, relies on low context communication. Examples of high context cultures include many Asian, African, and Latin American countries, as well as some European cultures such as Spain and Italy. Wurtz, Elizabeth (2005). A 2008 meta-analysis concluded that the model was "unsubstantiated and underdeveloped".[5]. For example, families typically engage in high context communication whereby they can communicate much with subtleties such as a glace. Low-context cultures also want these communications to revolve around basic questions, like: What's happening? The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau. In Low Context Culture it is normal to be self reliant and yet have many relationships. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. 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. In a low-context culture, communication occurs through explicitly spelled out and defined words, and listeners just have to interpret spoken or written words as they are. Hall identifies high-context cultures as those in which harmony and the well-being of the group is preferred over individual achievement. [1] "High-" and "low-" context cultures typically refer to language groups, nationalities, or regional communities. [19] This has been expanded to further countries by Sheposh & Shaista. By comparison, low-context cultures refer to cultures whereby most communications take place through verbal language and rules are directly written out or stated for all to view. [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. High context cultures have a communication style based on body language, tone, and overall context; while low context cultures are more straightforward and explicit in communication. Japan is generally considered a high-context culture, meaning people communicate based on inherent understanding. 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. for only $11.00 $9.35/page. It is important to note that no culture is low-context or high-context in absolute terms but a mix of both. Russians employ a communication style that relies on environmental, non-verbal, traditional, and symbolic cues when communicating. High context cultures tend to build relationships slowly, and they are generally stable for a long time and are based on trust and loyalty. Wurtz found something similar while analyzing website design. Kim Dunghoon conducted a study to test the major aspects of high-context versus low-context culture concepts. 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. It is important to note that no culture is completely high-context or low-context, since all societies contain at least some parts that are both high and low. ", "Communication: intercultural communication. The theory of High and Low Context Cultures puts how people communicate in a dimension. Instead, many cultures tend to have a mixture or at least some concepts that are shared between them, overlapping the two context cultures.[26]. Getting the message across. High context communication cultures . Information has to be explicit and detailed for the message to be conveyed without distortion. (2014, May 9). This can be quite confusing to an outsider, especially someone from a low-context culture who is used to communicating via explicit messages. A 2005 study by Elizabeth Wurtz demonstrates how cultural differences shape marketing and advertising. High Context vs. Low Context. In high-context cultures, people are said to prefer symbolic, artful language that is implicit. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. 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]. 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. Body language, tone of voice, and personal status are a few notable characteristics that are valued in a high-context culture. However, there are some other characteristics also. low-context communication is "the mass of information is vested in the explicit code". Overall, this study provides further evidence to support the high versus low-context culture concepts with Chinese, Korean, and American participants. 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. 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. "High context". What is the role of such non-verbal communication in business relationships? Communicating with high-context cultures can require you to focus on politeness strategies that demonstrate your respect for readers and listeners. Individualism and collectivism are related to low-context and high-context cultures, respectively. High-context cultures are collectivist, value interpersonal relationships, and have members that form stable, close relationships. [2], Website design among cross-cultural barriers include factoring in decisions about culture-sensitive color meanings, layout preferences, animation and sounds. A conclusion may be implied but not argued directly. Give some examples of cultural differences in the interpretation of body language.

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