High-context cultures are collectivist, value interpersonal relationships, and have members that form stable, close relationships. Low context cultures emphasize individuality and tasks. (2012). Mostly, western cultures are low context cultures like the UK, Australia, and the United States. In Mexico's high context culture, communication is . Writing Topic Sentences and Body Paragraphs, 38. A 2008 meta-analysis concluded that the model was "unsubstantiated and underdeveloped".[5]. The same applies for the other characteristics in varied countries. 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. After completing this chapter, you will be able to: Now that we know, broadly, what culture is, lets discuss some ways to categorize aspects of different cultures. We cite peer reviewed academic articles wherever possible and reference our sources at the end of our articles. High-context cultures, on the other hand, depend on both the spoken words and the context of the situationincluding the shared values/assumptions of the groupto convey meaning. Most of the contexting categories simply have not been researched enough to make firm conclusions. 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). The general terms "high context" and "low context" (popularized by Edward Hall) are used to describe broad-brush cultural differences between societies. [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. [19] This has been expanded to further countries by Sheposh & Shaista. Examples of high-context cultures include Asian, African, Latin American, and some European countries. The differences between high-context and low-context cultures is one of the most challenging things to navigate and one of the most important and distinct differences that exists across cultures. Note: Comparison of low- and high-context cultures reprinted from Business communication: Process & product (p. 64) by M.E. For high-context cultures, language is a kind of social lubricant, easing and harmonizing relations that are defined according to a group or collectivist orientation where we rather than I is the key to identity. On one side of the dimension, we have high context cultures, which depend on greater context when communicating. 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. They often use written contracts and agreements to clarify expectations (Gudykunst & Ting-Toomey, 1988). 18 Examples of Low Culture. Strategies to work effectively with people from high context and low context cultures Follow these 4 key strategies to communicate effectively across cultures: 1. [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. Low-Context Culture Communication & Examples | What Is Low-Context Culture? 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. Examples of a low context communication cultures include The United States, the UK, Switzerland, Canada and Germany. 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. The designation "high and low context culture" broadly refers to the way people communicate in cultures. How Do I Format and Cite Long Direct Quotes? What is the role of such non-verbal communication in business relationships? 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 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. This study, done by Kim Dunghoon, was to test the major aspects the high versus low-context culture concepts. (2014, December 10). What is culture? 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. Within high-context cultures, people rely on their networks of friends and family, viewing their relationships as part of one large community. 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. An in-depth understanding of cultural norms is not required because the communication is explicit. We have close, personal relationships with our relatives. 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. These experiences inclu. 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. Instead, they depend on the explicit code of the words and written rules to convey meaning. 231 lessons. [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. Guffey, M.E., Lowey, D., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2013). Moreover, their communication is often task-oriented and driven by rational decision-making, which can further add to their formality.. Members of ingroups usually share many characteristics and experiences. All articles are edited by a PhD level academic. Create your account. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. In contrast, low-context websites had lesser animation and images, focusing instead on the information. Researchers today are using it greatly to study different cultures all over the world. 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. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many European countries. "Understanding cultural differences. 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. Relationships are easy to build, can start very quickly but end just as soon. [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. Same as low context communication high context do have its own peculiarities like they talk in hidden meanings and often double meanings or coded information. 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. China, Japan, Turkey, and Mexico are some countries that lean towards high-context. As such, what is said is what is meant, and further analysis of the message is usually unnecessary. High-context cultures usually do not have rules that are explicitly written or stated. 1. For example, the body language and methods of communication experienced by a group of close friends in a casual setting differs greatly from a group of peers presenting at a professional business meeting. 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. 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. 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. 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. Traditionally, Western cultures are known for being more individualistic or communicating with a low context style. [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. London: Routledge. [25] Pleasure, affection and inclusion were the highest motives for communication in both cultures, and control was the lowest for both cultures. Hall, E. T. (1976). "[29] A similarity that the two communication styles share is its influence on social characteristics such as age, gender, social class and ethnicity. Culture is a combination of our thoughts, roles, manners, values, etc. Meaning depends on what is said- the literal content of the message- rather than how it is said. Table 2 shows a classification of countries in low and high context, their characteristics and the expected role . Beyond Culture. Eye contact, for example, which is encouraged in North America, may have ambiguous meaning or be considered disrespectful in certain high-context cultures. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. Hall is also credited for developing the idea of chronemics, or the study of the use of time during nonverbal communications. 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. Yolanda has taught college Psychology and Ethics, and has a doctorate of philosophy in counselor education and supervision. Power Distance Index & Examples | What is Power Distance? Wurtz studied McDonalds online advertising in various countries such as Japan, Germany, the United States, etc. - Uses & Side Effects, What is Amitriptyline? Meanwhile, in a high-context culture, nonverbal cues and unspoken background . [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. 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. By contrast, a low-context culture enjoys communications that take place most often through written or spoken (verbal) speech and rules are directly and explicitly stated. In a 2008 meta-analysis of 224 articles published between 1990 and 2006, Peter W. Cardon wrote: [T]he theory was never described by Hall with any empirical rigor, and no known research involving any instrument or measure of contexting validates it. High context culture is common wherever there is a relationship between people. Your message needs to be clear and precise. Sourabh Yadav is a freelance writer & filmmaker. The terms "high context culture" and "low context culture" are used to define how people in various cultures communicate messages to each other. Three samples were gathered from the US, China, and Korea, three different cultures. People from low-context cultures value logic, facts, and directness. Communication is seen as a way of exchanging information, ideas, and opinions. 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). To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. 2. Low-context countries, on the other hand, relied more on linear processes and verbal communication. Rules are not directly or explicitly written or stated. 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. There are strong distinctions made between individuals who are members of the ingroup and those who are not members in high-context cultures. References Gudykunst, W. B., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). [30], Hall links language to culture through the work of Sapir-Whorf on linguistic relativity. (The pedestrians example) 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. 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. Low-context cultures also want these communications to revolve around basic questions, like: What's happening? For example, for someone who is older and more experienced within a society, the need for social cues may be higher or lower depending on the communication style. [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. In contrast, take a look at the ads on the front page of Weibo, which is considered China's version of Facebook. In. Guffey, D. Lowey, K. Rhodes, K., & P. Rogin. Studentsshould always cross-check any information on this site with their course teacher. 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. 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.) High-context cu. 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). Contents show Low Context Culture Definition Edward T. Hall describes low-context culture as one in which: These rules of communication are understood without being explicitly stated. In low-context countries, things need to be spelled out a bit more. - Definition & Assessment, Bipolar vs. Borderline Personality Disorder, Atypical Antipsychotics: Effects & Mechanism of Action, What Is a Mood Stabilizer? 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. We'll also look at how they're different and what that means for your work in global business. It is important to note that no culture is low-context or high-context in absolute terms but a mix of both. 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. 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. 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]. In Low Context Culture it is normal to be self reliant and yet have many relationships. In other words, the relationship between directness and contexting based on traditional classifications of [high-context] and [low-context] cultures is particularly tenuous. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. 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. Hall identifies high-context cultures as those in which harmony and the well-being of the group is preferred over individual achievement. They tend to use more slangs, idioms and are generally high pace speakers. Moving from high-context communication to low-context communication or vice versa is challenging for students. [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. I feel like its a lifeline. They place a high value on interpersonal relationships and group members are a very close-knit community. Hofstede, G. (1984). Low-context culture refers to a culture that communicates explicitly. 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. 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. While some cultures are low or high . Relationships: The components of these cultures tend to value long-term relationships. Amount of Detail Expected - High-context cultures such as Japan, China, and France provide little details in their writing. . Communication Research Reports. 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 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. People within low-context cultures see their relationships much looser and the lines between networks of people are more flexibly drawn.[11]. 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. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. [14] Groups that are able to rely on a common background may not need to use words as explicitly to understand each other. High-context cultures include close-knit groups of people, while low-context cultures are generally more diverse. In the United States, Native Americans and Hawaiian islanders are also considered high-context. For example, resemblance is a significant trait in cultures with a high level of context. 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. Low-context cultures rely on explicit communication. [2] Collectivist societies prioritize the group over the individual, and vice versa for individualist ones. For the processing of complex messages, the perspective of context theory is very relevant. 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. He studied English literature at the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University. This can be quite confusing to an outsider, especially someone from a low-context culture who is used to communicating via explicit messages. They also are AT-CTI certified. Guffey et al. These problems can be separated into differences concerning "direction", "quantity" and "quality." 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. In a high-context culture, emphasis is placed on interpersonal relationships rather than personal achievement. Culture also affects how individuals interpret other people's facial expressions. Low-context and high-context cultures are the ends of a continuum portraying how cultures communicate. Both often take many aspects of the other's cultural communication abilities and strengths into account. The verbal and nonverbal cues of low vs. high-context communication can be . In other words, people communicate explicitly in low-context cultures. High-context cultures are those that communicate in ways that are implicit and rely heavily on context. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Context is less important than words. - Dosage & Side Effects, Anxiolytic: Definition, Medications & Dependence, What is Citalopram? 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. Hall and Hall proposed a "spectrum" of national cultures from "High-Context cultures" to "Low-Context 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 predominantly high-context cultures include Japan, China, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa. [1] In low context, communication members' communication must be more explicit, direct, and elaborate because individuals are not expected to have knowledge of each other's histories or background, and communication is not necessarily shaped by long-standing relationships between speakers. But the fact that contexting has not been empirically validated should not necessarily be construed as a failure of the theory. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. "[17] On the other hand, he identified countries such as Germany, the United States and Scandinavia as low-context cultures. The low-context websites had multiple images of individuals, while the high-context websites contained images and animations of groups and communities.[42]. [6] Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. High-context cultures promote the development of ingroups. We know that the way in which we say things at these gatherings is more important than what we say. Russia is a high context country with a culture that revolves around collectivism and interdependence on group relationships. Low context can describe situations, environments and cultures. Remember that culture is dynamic, and that every individual within a culture is unique and may not conform exactly to the general characteristics of that culture. These include specific forms of body language, the social or familial status of an individual, and the tone of voice employed during speech. Examples of high and low context cultures It can be helpful to consider a few examples of high and low context cultures. Because of this, communication can change drastically from one generation to the next, creating communication gaps between parents and children. High-context cultures: Much of the society's communication takes place through . In contrast, high-context cultures use facial expressions, body language, and gestures in a nuanced manner. Answer (1 of 2): Examples of high context countries include: Japan, China, and the Arab countries. Words: 825. Unlike low-context cultures, high-context cultures prioritize the group over the individual (Hofstede, 1984). [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. Create your account, 10 chapters | Once again we return to the differences between high-context and low-context cultures. [5]. An error occurred trying to load this video. The terms low-context and high-context usually refer to language groups or nationalities. People are comfortable standing close to each other. Sage Publications. The continuum pictures how people communicate with others through their range of communication abilities: utilizing gestures, relations, body language . These countries are quite explicit and elaborate without having prior knowledge to each member's history or background. Indeed, Vietnamese communication style has all the characteristics of highcontext cultures, such as indirect and digressive communication, use of few words, reliance on contextual cues, avoidance of the use of personal names, respect for long silences, and waiting politely until the other person has stopped speaking before taking turns. Goodwill Messages and Recommendations. Order now. All the advice on this site is general in nature. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many Western countries. The reverse holds true for High (Collectivistic) Context Cultures. Low-context cultures tend to focus more on the individual than the group, which is why they value individualism and autonomy. 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 For example, a low-context communicator can say, "I am unhappy with this outcome and . High-context cultures: Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, China, India, and Saudi Arabia are some of the highest-context cultures in the world. 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. High vs. Low Power Distance Cultural Communications | What are High and Low Power Distance Cultural Communications?
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