The designation "high and low context culture" broadly refers to the way people communicate in cultures. This is in contrast to lower-context cultures in which the shared experiences upon which communication is built can change drastically from one generation to the next, creating communication gaps between parents and children, as in the United States.[18]. Your email address will not be published. Note: Comparison of low- and high-context cultures reprinted from Business communication: Process & product (p. 64) by M.E. Strategies to work effectively with people from high context and low context cultures Follow these 4 key strategies to communicate effectively across cultures: 1. [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. The composite score also indicates a significant difference among the three samples at the .01 level. A high-context culture is a culture in which the values, rules, and social norms are primarily communicated through the use of contextual elements (such as body language, a person's status, and tone of voice) and are not explicitly stated. The American sample scored the lowest compared to the two "Oriental samples," which aligns with Hall's concept. [1] "High-" and "low-" context cultures typically refer to language groups, nationalities, or regional communities. What is low context cultural communication? Hofstede, G. (1984). [10] In low-context cultures, relationships are not viewed as important figures to identity. Communicating In High And Low Context Cultures We cite peer reviewed academic articles wherever possible and reference our sources at the end of our articles. the study of body movement including gestures, hand, arm, and leg movements, facial expressions, eye contact, and stance or posture Low-context message a message where the message is encoded in the words used or in the verbal expression and not as much in the context Masculinity-Femininity Ramos suggests that "in low context culture, communication members' communication must be more explicit. Communicators in low-context cultures (such as those in North America, Scandinavia, and Germany) depend little on the context of a situation to convey their meaning. Nonetheless, the contexting model simply cannot be described as an empirically validated model. This study, done by Kim Dunghoon, was to test the major aspects the high versus low-context culture concepts. This concept was introduced by Edward T. Hall, an anthropologist back in 1976. In other words, the relationship between directness and contexting based on traditional classifications of [high-context] and [low-context] cultures is particularly tenuous. Teachers can illustrate the differences between high- and low- context cultures by providing examples of behaviors. They rely less on the shared values/assumptions of the group and the context of the situation. Depending on the amount of information conveyed, cultures are classified as being high-context and low-context. In the United States, Native Americans and Hawaiian islanders are also considered high-context. Low and High Context 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. The Basic Difference Between High-context and Low-context Cultures 4.3: Variations in Communication Styles - Social Sci LibreTexts Communication Culture: Hall's High and Low-Context Model of Culture High-Context and Low-Context Cultures - YouTube 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. Ramos, D. C. (2014). The USA and Australia are typically low-context, highly individualistic cultures, where transparency and competition in business are prized. In high-context cultures, language may be used to assist and maintain relationship-building and to focus on process. Mostly, western cultures are low context cultures like the UK, Australia, and the United States. In these cultures, people may rely on body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions to convey meaning, and may not always say exactly what they mean directly. For example, if you have ever been to a family gathering, then you have experience with a high-context culture. High and Low Context Culture in Business | Free Essay Example The United States, on the other hand, is considered a low-context culture, relying largely on explicit verbal explanations to keep everyone on the same page. Explain the differences between high- and low-context cultures, giving examples of each. Japan is a country with a high-context culture. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 High-context cultures usually do not have rules that are explicitly written or stated. The scale of high- and low-context cultures helps explain much about how we experience communication across our cultural experiences. 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. Words: 825. (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 verbal and nonverbal cues of low vs. high-context communication can be . What is the role of such non-verbal communication in business relationships? The review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. for only $11.00 $9.35/page. They often use written contracts and agreements to clarify expectations (Gudykunst & Ting-Toomey, 1988). We'll also look at how they're different and what that means for your work in global business. Examples of high context cultures include many Asian, African, and Latin American countries, as well as some European cultures such as Spain and Italy. The cultural context. A 2005 study by Elizabeth Wurtz demonstrates how cultural differences shape marketing and advertising. Instead, they depend on the explicit code of the words and written rules to convey meaning. 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. 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). If you want to appear polite, you need to be willing to greet strangers and thank . Three samples were gathered from the US, China, and Korea, three different cultures. The author states that Japan is a high context culture because they have every decision based on their culture and France is both a high and low mixture finally low context example is America. Culture and Interpersonal Communication. These include specific forms of body language, the social or familial status of an individual, and the tone of voice employed during speech. 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. 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. Therefore, it is necessary for more explicit information to be included in the message so it is not misinterpreted. 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. Low context is a communication environment that doesn't heavily rely on common understanding such as shared culture, experiences and norms.This can be contrasted with high context communication that relies on common background or understanding. 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. - Uses & Side Effects, What is Amitriptyline? [6] How does her experience in Japan demonstrate what youve learned so far about the different dimensions of culture? [31], Between each type of culture context, there will be forms of miscommunication because of the difference in gestures, social cues, and intercultural adjustments; however, it is important to recognize these differences and learn how to avoid miscommunication to benefit certain situations. 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. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Guffey, M. E., Lowey, D., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2013). 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. Many aspects of cultural behavior are not made explicit because most members know what . Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices. Many low context cultures are individualist so people openly express their views, and tend to make important information obvious to others. 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. [12] Typically a low-context culture will be less close-knit, and so individuals communicating will have fewer relational cues when interpreting messages. Recognizing High and Low Context Cultures - National Charrette Institute 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. "[17] On the other hand, he identified countries such as Germany, the United States and Scandinavia as low-context cultures.