The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau. What is high and low context culture examples? "[17] On the other hand, he identified countries such as Germany, the United States and Scandinavia as low-context cultures. The same applies for the other characteristics in varied countries. Pages: 3. ), Hall, E. T.; Hall, M. R. (1990). Watch this video from international business expert Erin Meyer [1]. Primarily use non-verbal methods to relay meaningful information in conversations, such as facial expressions, eye movement, and tone of voice. 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. High context cultures include Japanese, Arabs and French. Their communication is less-task oriented, and their decision-making is driven by relationships, shared experiences, and emotions. Wurtz, Elizabeth (2005). Neuliup, J. W. (2011). 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. Table 2 shows a classification of countries in low and high context, their characteristics and the expected role . 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]. [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. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. [19] This has been expanded to further countries by Sheposh & Shaista. [15] In contrast, scientists working with living systems need to include more context because there can be significant variables which impact the research outcomes. A few relevant examples of differences in communication between low- and high-context cultures are found in Table 1. [6] How does her experience in Japan demonstrate what youve learned so far about the different dimensions of culture? Information is transmitted not through words alone but also through non-verbal cues such as gestures, voice inflection, and facial expression, which can have different meanings in different cultures. The composite score also indicates a significant difference among the three samples at the .01 level. 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. Identify your style Before implementing effective communication practices across cultures, identify your own style: Developing Cultural Intelligence in Corporations, Cultural Perceptions of Time in Organizations: Monochronic and Polychronic Time, Using CRM to Improve Marketing & Customer Acquisition, Comparing Communication in Cultures with High & Low Tolerance for Ambiguity. 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). In the 1970's, anthropologist Edward T. Hall coined the phrases "high-context culture" and "low- context culture.". Overall, this study provides further evidence to support the high versus low-context culture concepts with Chinese, Korean, and American participants. [22], The concept of elaborated and restricted codes was introduced by sociologist Basil Bernstein in his book Class, Codes and Control. Cultures and communication in which the context of the message is of great importance to structuring actions are referred to as high context. High-context cultures are related to connotation. Cultures and communication in which context is of great importance to structuring actions is referred to as high context. According to Hall's theory, Chinese and Korean samples represented higher-context cultures while the American sample represents lower context. 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. The preferred way of solving problems and learning is in groups. We also make strong distinctions between those who are a part of our family and those who are not. 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. Teachers can illustrate the differences between high- and low- context cultures by providing examples of behaviors. 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. (The pedestrians example) Data was gathered in India, Ireland, Thailand, and the United States where the results confirm that "high-context nations (India and Thailand) prefer the avoiding and obliging conflict styles more than low-context nations (Ireland and the United States), whereas low-context nations prefer the uncompromising and dominating communication style more than high-context nations."[16]. This can be quite confusing to an outsider, especially someone from a low-context culture who is used to communicating via explicit messages. [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. High-context cultures promote the development of ingroups. 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. Japan and China are some of the best examples of high-context cultures, in addition to Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and many nations throughout Africa and the Middle East. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. 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. Both the speaker and listener act under the assumption that all relevant information has been explicitly stated. On one side of the dimension, we have high context cultures, which depend on greater context when communicating. Many low context cultures are individualist so people openly express their views, and tend to make important information obvious to others. All articles are edited by a PhD level academic. If you want to appear polite, you need to be willing to greet strangers and thank . Topic: Culture, Context, Communication, Middle East, Business, Conflict, People, Relationships. [1] "High-" and "low-" context cultures typically refer to language groups, nationalities, or regional communities. Information has to be explicit and detailed for the message to be conveyed without distortion. High Context vs. Low Context (Internet) Example of McDonalds Internet site: High: Families shown, lots of people on the website ads Low: You, your choices, easy to navigate High Context vs. Low Context (Law) High: Traditions are the laws Low: Rules and order are spelled out. A conclusion may be implied but not argued directly. Beyond Culture. However, there are some other characteristics also. 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. Negotiators basically say what they mean. Examples of high-context cultures include China, India, and many non-Western societies. [2], Website design among cross-cultural barriers include factoring in decisions about culture-sensitive color meanings, layout preferences, animation and sounds. 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. Low-context cultures tend to be logical, analytical, action-oriented, and concerned with the individual. Give some examples of cultural differences in the interpretation of body language. [42] Low-context websites had less animation and more stagnant images, with more details on information. 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. Japan and other countries located in Asia, Brazil and other countries located in South America, African tribal groups and most countries located in Africa, A majority of the Middle East, including Iraq and Iran, Describe Edward T. Hall's characterization of high-context cultures, Distinguish between high-context and low-context cultures, Explain the characteristics of high-context cultures, Recall the importance of ingroups to high-context cultures. Listen to business speaker Erin Meyer explain how cultural differences can affect communication. Due to this shared understanding, high-context cultures are slightly more informal. It is important to note that no culture is low-context or high-context in absolute terms but a mix of both. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Hall is also credited for developing the idea of chronemics, or the study of the use of time during nonverbal communications. 3. They tend to use more slangs, idioms and are generally high pace speakers. Furthermore, cultural aspects such as tradition, ceremony, and history are also highly valued. The designation "high and low context culture" broadly refers to the way people communicate in cultures. 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. 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).
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