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. [5]. [30][32], Families, subcultures and in-groups typically favour higher-context communication. 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. The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau. Hall, E. T. (1976). 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. Yolanda has taught college Psychology and Ethics, and has a doctorate of philosophy in counselor education and supervision. The low-context websites had multiple images of individuals, while the high-context websites contained images and animations of groups and communities.[42]. Most of the contexting categories simply have not been researched enough to make firm conclusions. Communication Research Reports. Your email address will not be published. In low-context cultures, gestures and facial expressions are never the primary means of communication; they only serve to clarify or complement a point. 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. Unlike low-context cultures, high-context cultures prioritize the group over the individual (Hofstede, 1984). Examples of high-context cultures include Asian, African, Latin American, and some European countries. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Cultures and communication in which the context of the message is of great importance to structuring actions are referred to as high context. 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. Message is carried more by words than by nonverbal means. Verbal message is direct; one spells things out exactly. It relies on the straightforward use of language, without depending much on nonverbal cues. [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. In contrast, high-context cultures use facial expressions, body language, and gestures in a nuanced manner. As a result of these years of interacting with one another, the members know what the rules are, how to think, and how to behave, so the rules do not have to be explicitly stated. Teachers can share their own experiences and examples with their students. [25], The categories of context cultures are not totally separate. Low-context cultures (including North America and much of Western Europe) are logical, linear, individualistic, and action-oriented. 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. 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. [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. Flowery language, humility, and elaborate apologies are typical. Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices. 18 Examples of Low Culture. Members of ingroups usually share many characteristics and experiences. 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. 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). The American legal system, for example, relies on low context communication. However, no country is low-context or high-context in absolute terms; instead, there is a mix of explicit & implicit communication everywhere. ), Hall, E. T.; Hall, M. R. (1990). In this article, we will give you examples of high and low context mediation. What is a high-context culture and how does this communication culture differ from a low-context culture? Hall identifies high-context cultures as those in which harmony and the well-being of the group is preferred over individual achievement. What is an Interculturally Effective Person (IEP)? 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 Kim Dunghoon conducted a study to test the major aspects of high-context versus low-context culture concepts. "Understanding cultural differences. High-context cultures include close-knit groups of people, while low-context cultures are generally more diverse. Wurtz found something similar while analyzing website design. Answer (1 of 2): Examples of high context countries include: Japan, China, and the Arab countries. 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 addition, Hall identified countries such as Japan, Arabic countries and some Latin American Countries to practice high-context culture; "High context communication carries most of its information within physical acts and features such as avoiding eye contact or even the shrug of a shoulder. As we discuss culture, we are making generalizations to create cultural prototypes. For example, while the United States is a low-context culture, family gatherings (which are common in American culture) tend to be high-context. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. 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. 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. Members of high-context cultures usually have close relationships that last for an extended period of time. On the other hand, certain intercultural communication skills are unique for each culture and it is significant to note that these overlaps in communication techniques are represented subgroups within social interactions or family settings. We have close, personal relationships with our relatives. Learn what high context culture is. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. 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). This can be quite confusing to an outsider, especially someone from a low-context culture who is used to communicating via explicit messages. In high-context cultures, communication cues are transmitted by posture, voice inflection, gestures, and facial expression. 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. Strategies to work effectively with people from high context and low context cultures Follow these 4 key strategies to communicate effectively across cultures: 1. Language may be used to achieve goals or exchange information. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. 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.) Relationships: The components of these cultures tend to value long-term relationships. Low use of nonverbal elements. A 2008 meta-analysis concluded that the model was "unsubstantiated and underdeveloped".[5]. High context culture is common wherever there is a relationship between people. Order now. Relationships are easy to build, can start very quickly but end just as soon. The USA and Australia are typically low-context, highly individualistic cultures, where transparency and competition in business are prized. 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]. 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. Moving from high-context communication to low-context communication or vice versa is challenging for students. Neuliup, J. W. (2011). [35], The concepts of collectivism and individualism have been applied to high- and low-context cultures by Dutch psychologist Geert Hofstede in his Cultural Dimensions Theory. Cite this Article in your Essay (APA Style), Privacy PolicyTerms and ConditionsDisclaimerAccessibility StatementVideo Transcripts. The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau. So the poor cow's life depends on the country, where it was born: whether it is going to be worshipped or to end up on someone's . "[27] This implies that communication is quite direct and detailed because members of the culture are not expected to have knowledge of each other's histories, past experience or background. High context refers to societies or groups where people have close connections over a long period of time. In other words, people communicate explicitly in low-context cultures. Meyer defines low-context cultures as cultures where people communicate and receive messages at face value. In high-context cultures, language may be used to assist and maintain relationship-building and to focus on process. High Context vs. Low Context. Low-context and high-context cultures are the ends of a continuum portraying how cultures communicate. . I feel like its a lifeline. What is low context cultural communication? After you have finished with this lesson, you should be able to: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Contents show Low Context Culture Definition Edward T. Hall describes low-context culture as one in which: Listen to business speaker Erin Meyer explain how cultural differences can affect communication. In Mexico's high context culture, communication is . 9. Edward Hall is a famous theorist and anthropologist who has contributed a renowned theory of high- and low-context cultures to facilitate students, researchers . A person's identity in a high context society tends to be based on one's roles and experiences within the group. If you want to appear polite, you need to be willing to greet strangers and thank . For the processing of complex messages, the perspective of context theory is very relevant. Writing Topic Sentences and Body Paragraphs, 38. 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. 3. Having a firm grasp on what constitutes high- and low-context, particularly in a communication setting, will truly help you better understand each . The use of an elaborated code indicates that speaker and listener do not share significant amounts of common knowledge, and hence they may need to "spell out" their ideas more fully: elaborated codes tend to be more context-independent. classifications are discussed below. [18], Therefore, higher-context cultures tend to correlate with cultures that also have a strong sense of tradition and history, and change little over time. Low-Context Culture Communication & Examples | What Is Low-Context Culture? Examples of low context cultures include: Scandinavia; Germany, and the US. 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, low-context cultures rely on explicit verbal communication. The same applies for the other characteristics in varied countries. In this context, we will discuss those topics also. On one side of the dimension, we have high context cultures, which depend on greater context when communicating. We'll also look at how they're different and what that means for your work in global business. 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 . Class, Codes and Control. Identify your style Before implementing effective communication practices across cultures, identify your own style: [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. 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. 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. Both often take many aspects of the other's cultural communication abilities and strengths into account. 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. [39][40] In high-context cultures, facial expressions and gestures take on greater importance in conveying and understanding a message, and the receiver may require more cultural context to understand "basic" displays of emotions. Communicating with high-context cultures can require you to focus on politeness strategies that demonstrate your respect for readers and listeners. (2014, December 10). [15] In contrast, scientists working with living systems need to include more context because there can be significant variables which impact the research outcomes. Explain the differences between high- and low-context cultures, giving examples of each. Lower-context culture: United States, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Canada and other European nations. By contrast, a low-context culture is characterized by information being communicated primarily through spoken language, as well as rules being explicitly and directly stated. - Uses & Side Effects, What is Amitriptyline? In a low-context culture, the onus for communication lies with the speaker. Context is less important than words. What is high and low context culture examples? Culture and Interpersonal Communication. Instead, many cultures tend to have a mixture or at least some concepts that are shared between them, overlapping the two context cultures.[26]. [24] The table shows the major differences and similarities between individual queries. He studied English literature at the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University. 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 ". Low context cultures rely on the spoken word to communicate. Russians employ a communication style that relies on environmental, non-verbal, traditional, and symbolic cues when communicating. Family gatherings, religious congregations, and other social outings with a close-knit group of people are forms of high-context communications that take place regularly in most cultures. A number of unique characteristics exist to make a clear distinction between high-context vs. low-context cultures and methods of communication. All articles are edited by a PhD level academic. In, Meyer, C. (2017). Your message needs to be clear and precise. ; it is the way we communicate, do business and see the world. 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 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. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. Topic: Culture, Context, Communication, Middle East, Business, Conflict, People, Relationships. An understanding of external cultures also leads to a better acceptance of diversity, a reduction in confusion and anxiety from misinterpreted communications, and a more effective means of intercultural collaboration. Low-context cultures tend to be logical, analytical, action-oriented, and concerned with the individual. [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. [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. Want to create or adapt books like this? Examples of low-context cultures include Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Canada, and the United States. 3. People from low-context cultures value logic, facts, and directness. 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. succeed. What is the role of such non-verbal communication in business relationships? [6] How does her experience in Japan demonstrate what youve learned so far about the different dimensions of culture? High-context cultures promote the development of ingroups. ", Last edited on 27 February 2023, at 23:13, http://db19.linccweb.org/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/rowmandasj/high_context/0, "Intercultural Communication on Web sites: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Web sites from High-Context Cultures and Low-Context Cultures", "The Influence of High- and Low-Context Communication Styles On the Design, Content, and Language of Business-To-Business Web Sites", "The Influence of High-/Low-Context Culture on Perceived Ad Complexity and Liking", "Communication Style and Cultural Features in High/Low Context Communication Cultures: A Case Study of Finland, Japan and India", 10.1002/(SICI)1520-6793(199809)15:6<507::AID-MAR2>3.0.CO;2-A, "Communicational Features in High/Low Context Organizational Culture: A Case Study of Romania and Russia", "low-context and high-context communication", https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/dictmedia/communication_intercultural_communication/0, "Communication: intercultural communication", "Managing conflict in global teams: 4 keys to leveraging cultural differences in diverse teams", "International communication 101: staying on the right side of culture", "Individualism, Collectivism, High And Low Context", "Discovering cultural differences (and similarities) in facial expressions of emotion", "The Human Face as a Dynamic Tool for Social Communication", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=High-context_and_low-context_cultures&oldid=1141991389, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 23:13. China, Japan, Turkey, and Mexico are some countries that lean towards high-context. [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. 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. Interaction. High-Context and Low-Context Cultures: Understanding the Differences May 17, 2022 May 17, 2022 Reading Time: 5 minutes Read More High-Context and Low-Context Cultures: Understanding the Differences Websites catering to high-context audiences had a lot of animation & images. 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. India and Japan are typically high-context, highly collectivistic cultures, where business is done by building relationships and maintaining respectful communication. However, there are some other characteristics also. "[29] A similarity that the two communication styles share is its influence on social characteristics such as age, gender, social class and ethnicity. These countries are quite explicit and elaborate without having prior knowledge to each member's history or background. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many European countries. Low-context culture refers to a culture that communicates explicitly. In low-context countries, things need to be spelled out a bit more. 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. This is in direct contrast to low-context cultures, in which information is communicated primarily through language and rules are explicitly spelled out. Anchor Press/Doubleday. Goodwill Messages and Recommendations. A 2005 study by Elizabeth Wurtz demonstrates how cultural differences shape marketing and advertising. Three samples were gathered from the US, China, and Korea, three different cultures. people generally use. 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. The High Context / Low Context cultural dimension is a broad and far reaching theory which touches on many aspects of cultural communication including verbal and non-verbal messaging, internal and external locus of control, inward and outward reaction, cohesion of groups, people's bonds and commitments, as well . They often use written contracts and agreements to clarify expectations (Gudykunst & Ting-Toomey, 1988). In. Traditionally, Western cultures are known for being more individualistic or communicating with a low context style. The answer is simple. People within low-context cultures see their relationships much looser and the lines between networks of people are more flexibly drawn.[11]. 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]. Croucher, S., Bruno, A, McGrath, P, Adams, C, McGahan, C, Suits, A & Huckins, A. 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 [38] By contrast, low-context cultures tend to change more rapidly and drastically, allowing extension[definition needed] to happen at faster rates. - Definition & Assessment, Bipolar vs. Borderline Personality Disorder, Atypical Antipsychotics: Effects & Mechanism of Action, What Is a Mood Stabilizer? https://helpfulprofessor.com/low-context-culture-examples/. A low-context (LC) communication is just the opposite; i.e., the mass of the information is vested in the explicit code.". Generally, the situation, people, and non-verbal elements are more important than the actual words that are communicated in a high-context culture. You can find his work on The Print, Live Wire, and YouTube. Intercultural Communication in the Workplace, 18. 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. But we can also use them to talk about smaller groups, such as corporate cultures or a specific setting like the airport. The situation, people, and non-verbal elements are more important than the actual words that are communicated. 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 cultures include Japanese, Arabs and French. Hall, E. T. (1976). Low-context cultures can seem slightly more formal due to the explicit & precise nature of their messages. These are some important high-context culture characteristics to look out for. [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. 1. [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. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 What is culture? Mostly, western cultures are low context cultures like the UK, Australia, and the United States. We cite peer reviewed academic articles wherever possible and reference our sources at the end of our articles. The composite score also indicates a significant difference among the three samples at the .01 level. Watch this video from international business expert Erin Meyer [1]. 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. Overall, this study provides further evidence to support the high versus low-context culture concepts with Chinese, Korean, and American participants. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. Instead, a comparison between cultures may find communication differences to a greater or lesser degree. Intercultural Business Communication by Confederation College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. Context 1. . In S. Thompson (ed. 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. In low-context cultures, communication tends to be more direct and to the point. Researchers today are using it greatly to study different cultures all over the world. They rely less on context & non-verbal cues and instead convey meaning more directly. 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 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. 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. Both the speaker and listener act under the assumption that all relevant information has been explicitly stated. 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. For example, resemblance is a significant trait in cultures with a high level of context.
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high and low context cultures examples