high and low context cultures examples

For example, a low-context communicator can say, "I am unhappy with this outcome and . 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. 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. What is low context cultural communication? [42] In a case study conducted by the IT University of Copenhagen, it was found that websites catering to high-context cultures tended to have more detailed and advanced designs, including various images and animations. 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. This makes high-context cultures difficult to navigate for those who do not understand the culture's unwritten rules. 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. These rules of communication are understood without being explicitly stated. (2014, December 10). Neuliup, J. W. (2011). They rely less on the shared values/assumptions of the group and the context of the situation. [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. 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. [19] This has been expanded to further countries by Sheposh & Shaista. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. Type of paper: Research Paper. Three samples were gathered from the US, China, and Korea, three different cultures. Japan is generally considered a high-context culture, meaning people communicate based on inherent understanding. 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 contrast, take a look at the ads on the front page of Weibo, which is considered China's version of Facebook. Teachers can illustrate the differences between high- and low- context cultures by providing examples of behaviors. [14] Groups that are able to rely on a common background may not need to use words as explicitly to understand each other. 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. For example, the Native Americans in the United States rely heavily on their tradition. 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 . High context cultures are more common in the eastern nations than in western and in countries with low racial diversity. 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. Websites catering to high-context audiences had a lot of animation & images. [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. Negotiators basically say what they mean. 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. 2. Identify your style Before implementing effective communication practices across cultures, identify your own style: In a low-context culture, you would not expect to give or receive gifts . Sage Publications. 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. Guffey et al. ; it is the way we communicate, do business and see the world. 9. [24] The table shows the major differences and similarities between individual queries. Examples of a low context communication cultures include The United States, the UK, Switzerland, Canada and Germany. Effectively communicating within this culture, therefore, requires messaging that is perceived as objective, professional, and efficient. 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. It is important to note that no culture is low-context or high-context in absolute terms but a mix of both. With this regard, America culture is a low-context . [2], Website design among cross-cultural barriers include factoring in decisions about culture-sensitive color meanings, layout preferences, animation and sounds. Masculine vs. Feminine Cultures: Distinctions & Communication Styles. 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. In his model, context refers to the stimuli, environment, or ambiance surrounding an event. Japan is a country with a high-context culture. Low-Context Culture Communication & Examples | What Is Low-Context 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. 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. The scale of high- and low-context cultures helps explain much about how we experience communication across our cultural experiences. In other words, people communicate explicitly in low-context cultures. Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): A graph which shows the level of context in various world cultures. 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. Examples of low-context cultures include Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Canada, and the United States. This can be quite confusing to an outsider, especially someone from a low-context culture who is used to communicating via explicit messages. Verbal message is direct; one spells things out exactly. Hall notes a similar difference between Navajo-speakers and English-speakers in a United States school.[18]. There are smaller communities and specific settings within national/linguistic cultures, and they may exhibit different communication patterns. The theory of High and Low Context Cultures puts how people communicate in a dimension. 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. France is a high-context culture. Low-context cultures rely on explicit communication. Contexts in source publication. [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. They often use written contracts and agreements to clarify expectations (Gudykunst & Ting-Toomey, 1988). These are some important high-context culture characteristics to look out for. Characteristics of Low Context People behave according to rules Preference is given to knowledge sharing and transfer Relationships do not last longer On purpose relationships High-context cultures are collectivist, value interpersonal relationships, and have members that form stable, close relationships. 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. Within high-context cultures, people rely on their networks of friends and family, viewing their relationships as part of one large community. [38] By contrast, low-context cultures tend to change more rapidly and drastically, allowing extension[definition needed] to happen at faster rates. Furthermore, cultural aspects such as tradition, ceremony, and history are also highly valued. Both the speaker and listener act under the assumption that all relevant information has been explicitly stated. 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). The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau. 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. [5]:4223, Characteristics of high-context and low-context cultures, Examples of higher- and lower-context cultures, Overlap and contrast between context cultures, How higher context relates to other cultural metrics. 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. 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. 3. In other words, the relationship between directness and contexting based on traditional classifications of [high-context] and [low-context] cultures is particularly tenuous. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you [42] Low-context websites had less animation and more stagnant images, with more details on information. Cultural Perceptions of Communication in Organizations: Low Context and High Context. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. "[28] In such cultures, people are highly perceptive of actions. https://helpfulprofessor.com/low-context-culture-examples/. The results found that U.S. participants used communication for pleasure more often than Mexican participants. Words: 825. One approach to gaining such an insight is through the use of the high and low context culture framework, which was established by anthropologist Edward T. Examples of low context cultures are countries such as China, Brazil or Saudi Arabia. Initially, high culture rejects these outsiders but eventually embraces them or appropriates . The USA and Australia are typically low-context, highly individualistic cultures, where transparency and competition in business are prized. Flowery language, humility, and elaborate apologies are typical. 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. Culture and Interpersonal Communication. References Gudykunst, W. B., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). 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. [37] Because individualistic cultures may value cultural diversity, a more explicit way of communicating is often required to avoid misunderstanding. However, no country is low-context or high-context in absolute terms; instead, there is a mix of explicit & implicit communication everywhere. 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. In the 1970's, anthropologist Edward T. Hall coined the phrases "high-context culture" and "low- context culture.". Low-context cultures tend to be logical, analytical, action-oriented, and concerned with the individual. For example, in one country a cow is seen as leather, in another one - as a deity and in another one as dinner. What is the role of such non-verbal communication in business relationships? These experiences inclu. Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices. Create your account. Eye contact, for example, which is encouraged in North America, may have ambiguous meaning or be considered disrespectful in certain high-context cultures. Sourabh Yadav is a freelance writer & filmmaker. The review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. For example, Hall describes how Japanese culture has both low- and high-context situations. Communicating with high-context cultures can require you to focus on politeness strategies that demonstrate your respect for readers and listeners. Low context cultures rely on the spoken word to communicate. 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. High-context cultures are related to connotation. The reverse holds true for High (Collectivistic) Context Cultures. Sage Publications. Both often take many aspects of the other's cultural communication abilities and strengths into account. High-context cultures promote the development of ingroups. Hall, E. T. (1976). All the advice on this site is general in nature. succeed. This study, done by Kim Dunghoon, was to test the major aspects the high versus low-context culture concepts. Instead, they depend on the explicit code of the words and written rules to convey meaning. In low-context countries, things need to be spelled out a bit more. The American sample scored the lowest compared to the two "Oriental samples," which aligns with Hall's concept. For example, if you have ever been to a family gathering, then you have experience with a high-context culture. Hall identifies high-context cultures as those in which harmony and the well-being of the group is preferred over individual achievement. 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]. When it comes to emails, texts, and online messaging, low-context cultures use it to fire off quick, frequent messages. Culture and Interpersonal Communication. Cultural contexts are not absolutely "high" or "low". High-context cultures: Much of the society's communication takes place through . 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). India and Japan are typically high-context, highly collectivistic cultures, where business is done by building relationships and maintaining respectful communication. Edward T. Hall describes low-context culture as one in which: most of the information is either in the explicit code or readily available elsewhere (Hall, 1976). 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. 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. As we discuss culture, we are making generalizations to create cultural prototypes. Russia is a high context country with a culture that revolves around collectivism and interdependence on group relationships. 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. Verbal message is explicit. The situation, people, and non-verbal elements are more important than the actual words that are communicated. Relationships: The components of these cultures tend to value long-term relationships. 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. High-context communication tends to be more indirect and more formal. [7][8] Denotation tends to be attributed to low-context culture[9] People in low-context cultures communicate in a more direct way, with explicitly speaking what they want to communicate. High vs. Low Power Distance Cultural Communications | What are High and Low Power Distance Cultural Communications? The verbal and nonverbal cues of low vs. high-context communication can be . The Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice states that, "high context defines cultures that are relational and collectivist, and which most highlight interpersonal relationships. 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. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. 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. This allows individuals of different generations to communicate through a shared set of values, which, in turn, provides stability to the culture. Relationships are easy to build, can start very quickly but end just as soon. 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. Communication Research Reports. Low and High Context Culture. Meaning depends on what is said- the literal content of the message- rather than how it is said. Meanwhile, in a high-context culture, nonverbal cues and unspoken background . You can find his work on The Print, Live Wire, and YouTube. Hofstede, G. (1984). Culture is a combination of our thoughts, roles, manners, values, etc. But the fact that contexting has not been empirically validated should not necessarily be construed as a failure of the theory. What is high and low context culture examples? Hofstede, G. (1984). people generally use. - 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.

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