The American sample scored the lowest compared to the two "Oriental samples," which aligns with Hall's concept. Also remember that although cultures are different from one another, no culture or cultural characteristic is better or worse than any other. 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. High-context cultures include close-knit groups of people, while low-context cultures are generally more diverse. 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. They are considered less direct, and they put a lot of weight on gestures and body language to draw significance from messages. Hall notes a similar difference between Navajo-speakers and English-speakers in a United States school.[18]. (2014, May 9). Type of paper: Research Paper. 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). While some cultures are low or high . Instead, a comparison between cultures may find communication differences to a greater or lesser degree. Communicators in high-context cultures pay attention to more than the words spoken they also pay attention to interpersonal relationships, nonverbal expressions, physical settings, and social settings. However, no country is low-context or high-context in absolute terms; instead, there is a mix of explicit & implicit communication everywhere. [20][21], Cultural context can also shift and evolve. High-Context vs. Low-Context Communication - ToughNickel 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. This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). (2012). However, there are some other characteristics also. In other words, people communicate explicitly in low-context cultures. 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. Low context cultures rely on the spoken word to communicate. Required fields are marked *, This Article was Last Expert Reviewed on January 24, 2023 by Chris Drew, PhD. 3. Their communication is less-task oriented, and their decision-making is driven by relationships, shared experiences, and emotions. Cultural contexts are not absolutely "high" or "low". 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. For example, resemblance is a significant trait in cultures with a high level of context. 8 Examples of Low Context - Simplicable Hall is also credited for developing the idea of chronemics, or the study of the use of time during nonverbal communications. Wurtz studied McDonalds online advertising in various countries such as Japan, Germany, the United States, etc. What is the role of such non-verbal communication in business relationships? In. In a low-context culture, the onus for communication lies with the speaker. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Cultures and communication in which the context of the message is of great importance to structuring actions are referred to as high context. PDF Context Matters: An Ethiopian Case Study Adapting Leadership - CCL PDF Negotiating Aross Cultures - Air University Low-context culture refers to a culture that communicates explicitly. 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. The USA and Australia are typically low-context, highly individualistic cultures, where transparency and competition in business are prized. 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. [41] One study on McDonald's online advertising compared Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the United States, and found that in high-context countries, the advertising used more colors, movements, and sounds to give context, while in low-context cultures the advertising focused more on verbal information and linear processes. According to Hall's theory, the Chinese and Korean samples represented higher-context cultures while the American sample represents a lower context culture. High-context defines cultures that are usually relational and collectivist, and which most highlight interpersonal 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. 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. What is low context cultural communication? Disagreement is depersonalized. (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. High- and Low-Context Cultures and Responsibility for Miscommunication [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. The preferred way of solving problems and learning is in groups. 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. [10] In low-context cultures, relationships are not viewed as important figures to identity. 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. High context cultures are more common in the eastern nations than in western and in countries with low racial diversity. 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. Since a high-context culture is based on fewer, deeper relations with people, there are many unspoken social rules and understandings within the culture. Culture also affects how individuals interpret other people's facial expressions. 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. High and Low Cultural Contexts - Intercultural Business Communication A 2008 meta-analysis concluded that the model was "unsubstantiated and underdeveloped".[5]. The terms "high context culture" and "low context culture" are used to define how people in various cultures communicate messages to each other. This concept was introduced by Edward T. Hall, an anthropologist back in 1976. Example Of Theory Of High- And Low-Context Cultures Research Paper Low use of nonverbal elements. These problems can be separated into differences concerning "direction", "quantity" and "quality." A few relevant examples of differences in communication between low- and high-context cultures are found in Table 1. 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). Many aspects of cultural behavior are not made explicit because most members know what . Hofstede, G. (1984). The general terms "high context" and "low context" (popularized by Edward Hall) are used to describe broad-brush cultural differences between societies. High-context and low-context cultures | Detailed Pedia The Self in a Social Context: Help and Review, Figure-Ground Perception: Definition & Examples, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, High Context vs. Low Context Characteristics, Introduction to Social Psychology: Help and Review, Research Methods and Ethics: Help and Review, Social Cognition & Perception: Help and Review, The Self: Executive and Organizational Functions & Gender and Cultural Differences, Introspection and Self-Awareness Theory in Psychology: Definition & Examples, Self-Perception Theory: Definition and Examples, Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation in Education: Definition & Examples, Two-Factor Theory of Emotions: Definition and Relation to the Misattribution of Arousal, Social-Comparison Theory: Upward vs. 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. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. Context is less important than words. Moving from high-context communication to low-context communication or vice versa is challenging for students. Examples of low context cultures include: Scandinavia; Germany, and the US. High vs. Low Power Distance Cultural Communications | What are High and Low Power Distance Cultural Communications? The American legal system, for example, relies on low context communication. In Low Context Culture it is normal to be self reliant and yet have many relationships. High and low context cultures relationships in each - SlideShare Want to create or adapt books like this? 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. Hall identifies high-context cultures as those in which harmony and the well-being of the group is preferred over individual achievement. [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. Essay On High And Low Context Cultures | WOW Essays 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 [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. India and Japan are typically high-context, highly collectivistic cultures, where business is done by building relationships and maintaining respectful communication. Explain the differences between high- and low-context cultures, giving examples of each. Interaction. 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. 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.