Researchers today are using it greatly to study different cultures all over the world. We also make strong distinctions between those who are a part of our family and those who are not. Edward Hall is a famous theorist and anthropologist who has contributed a renowned theory of high- and low-context cultures to facilitate students, researchers . "[17] On the other hand, he identified countries such as Germany, the United States and Scandinavia as low-context cultures. Negotiators basically say what they mean. The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau. 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). ), Hall, E. T.; Hall, M. R. (1990). The Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice states that, "high context defines cultures that are relational and collectivist, and which most highlight interpersonal relationships. However, the concept may also apply to corporations, professions and other cultural groups, as well as to settings such as online and offline communication. The law is important! 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. References Gudykunst, W. B., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). 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]. China, Japan, Turkey, and Mexico are some countries that lean towards high-context. [5], These concepts were first introduced by the anthropologist Edward T. Hall in his 1959 book The Silent Language. According to Hall, the high-context culture definition relates to a culture by which the rules of communication are primarily and dominantly transmitted through the use of contextual elements. It can imply understanding or agreement, but it can also mean their conversea lack of certainty. 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. Listen to business speaker Erin Meyer explain how cultural differences can affect communication. Low-context cultures tend to focus more on the individual than the group, which is why they value individualism and autonomy. What are the effects on the communication process? 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. Anthropologist Edward T. Hall first discussed high-context culture in his 1976 book titled Beyond Culture. When it comes to emails, texts, and online messaging, low-context cultures use it to fire off quick, frequent messages. Intercultural Communication on Websites: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Websites from High-Context Cultures and Low-Context Cultures. Hall notes a similar difference between Navajo-speakers and English-speakers in a United States school.[18]. 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. We will write a custom Report on Communication Culture: Hall's High and Low-Context Model of Culture specifically for you. Copyright 2023 Helpful Professor. In high-context cultures, communication cues are transmitted by posture, voice inflection, gestures, and facial expression. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. [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. [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. They also are AT-CTI certified. There are smaller communities and specific settings within national/linguistic cultures, and they may exhibit different communication patterns. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. Meanwhile, in low-context cultures, more explicit speech is needed in order to allow the listener to fully understand the message. Family gatherings and interactions with people from high-context cultures are two examples of scenarios in which Americans participate in high-context communications, largely because they are with close-knit groups of people who share similar values, rules, and norms. 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. Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): A graph which shows the level of context in various world cultures. He studied English literature at the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University. Traditionally, Western cultures are known for being more individualistic or communicating with a low context style. [3] Low-context cultures do the opposite; direct verbal communication is needed to properly understand a message being communicated and relies heavily on explicit verbal skills. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you In his work, "Beyond Culture", Hall described these two different types of cultural relationships as they applied to information. Generally, the situation, people, and non-verbal elements are more important than the actual words that are communicated in a high-context culture. 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. Getting the message across. "High context". However, no country is low-context or high-context in absolute terms; instead, there is a mix of explicit & implicit communication everywhere. How Do I Format and Cite Long Direct Quotes? Information has to be explicit and detailed for the message to be conveyed without distortion. [15] In contrast, scientists working with living systems need to include more context because there can be significant variables which impact the research outcomes. 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 general terms "high context" and "low context" (popularized by Edward Hall) are used to describe broad-brush cultural differences between societies. low-context communication is "the mass of information is vested in the explicit code". About The Helpful Professor 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. In low-context cultures, communication tends to be more direct and to the point. Cultures Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values. 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 All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. High-context defines cultures that are usually relational and collectivist, and which most highlight interpersonal relationships. The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau. In a low-context culture, communication occurs through explicitly spelled out and defined words, and listeners just have to interpret spoken or written words as they are. - Dosage & Side Effects, Anxiolytic: Definition, Medications & Dependence, What is Citalopram? High-context cultures are collectivist, value interpersonal relationships, and have members that form stable, close relationships. 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. [12] Typically a low-context culture will be less close-knit, and so individuals communicating will have fewer relational cues when interpreting messages. people generally use. [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. Hofstede, G. (1984). In contrast, high-context cultures use facial expressions, body language, and gestures in a nuanced manner. Wurtz found something similar while analyzing website design. 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. [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. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many Western countries. Teachers can illustrate the differences between high- and low- context cultures by providing examples of behaviors. In other words, people communicate explicitly in low-context cultures. 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. High context refers to societies or groups where people have close connections over a long period of time. 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. Amount of Detail Expected - High-context cultures such as Japan, China, and France provide little details in their writing. However, there are some other characteristics also. For example, a low-context communicator can say, "I am unhappy with this outcome and . A number of unique characteristics exist to make a clear distinction between high-context vs. low-context cultures and methods of communication. The USA and Australia are typically low-context, highly individualistic cultures, where transparency and competition in business are prized. High-context cultures are those that communicate in ways that are implicit and rely heavily on context. [14] Groups that are able to rely on a common background may not need to use words as explicitly to understand each other. Low-context communication is often seen in Western, more individualistic cultures (i.e., U.S., Australia, some European countries) where communication is direct, to the point, and one doesn't have to guess the meaning or intention behind what is being said. 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. 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. Low-context cultures can seem slightly more formal due to the explicit & precise nature of their messages. The high and low context cultures in this concept refers to how important contextual cues are in interpreting a message. What is the role of such non-verbal communication in business relationships? 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. Seekprofessional input on your specific circumstances. The ways by which humans communicate are based heavily on the context of what is being spoken, the individuals involved, and the setting in which the communication takes place. The terms low-context and high-context usually refer to language groups or nationalities. 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. The verbal and nonverbal cues of low vs. high-context communication can be . For instance, a study has argued that both Japan and Finland (high-context cultures) are becoming lower-context with the increased influence of Western European and United States culture.[22]. Both often take many aspects of the other's cultural communication abilities and strengths into account. Within high-context cultures, people rely on their networks of friends and family, viewing their relationships as part of one large community. 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. High vs. Low Power Distance Cultural Communications | What are High and Low Power Distance Cultural Communications? In contrast, low-context websites had lesser animation and images, focusing instead on the information. Verbal message is direct; one spells things out exactly. Most notably, members of either culture must recognize and make an effort to understand the values and characteristics of other cultures so that miscommunications may be avoided. In high-context cultures, language may be used to assist and maintain relationship-building and to focus on process. Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices. The reverse holds true for High (Collectivistic) Context Cultures. Rules are not directly or explicitly written or stated. [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. 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. For the processing of complex messages, the perspective of context theory is very relevant. [38] By contrast, low-context cultures tend to change more rapidly and drastically, allowing extension[definition needed] to happen at faster rates. High-context cultures are collectivist cultures. 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. Routledge. However, no country is low-context or high-context in absolute terms; instead, there is a mix of explicit & implicit communication everywhere. Since North American business practices tend to follow low-context norms, most of us are more familiar with this system than we are with high-context cultures. Meanwhile, in a high-context culture, nonverbal cues and unspoken background . 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. [30] Many singular cultures that are large have subcultures inside of them, making communication and defining them more complicated than the low-context and high-context culture scale. 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. 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. [1] "High-" and "low-" context cultures typically refer to language groups, nationalities, or regional communities. As such, high-context cultures tend to cater to the development and promotion of ingroups, which are groups that we belong to and are loyal to, including families, cultures, and religious congregations. 3. Cultures and communication in which context is of great importance to structuring actions is referred to as high context. [37] Because individualistic cultures may value cultural diversity, a more explicit way of communicating is often required to avoid misunderstanding. Class, Codes and Control. India and Japan are typically high-context, highly collectivistic cultures, where business is done by building relationships and maintaining respectful communication. Culture and Interpersonal Communication. London: Routledge. 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 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. [36], High-context cultures tend to be more stable, as their communication is more economical, fast, efficient and satisfying; but these are gained at a price of devoting time into preprogramming cultural background, and their high stability might come with a price of a high barrier for development. In, Meyer, C. (2017). [30], Hall links language to culture through the work of Sapir-Whorf on linguistic relativity. [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. 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. 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. The theory of High and Low Context Cultures puts how people communicate in a dimension. Low use of nonverbal elements. Your email address will not be published. Flowery language, humility, and elaborate apologies are typical. Give some examples of cultural differences in the interpretation of body language. Beyond Culture. [2], Website design among cross-cultural barriers include factoring in decisions about culture-sensitive color meanings, layout preferences, animation and sounds. A person's identity in a high context society tends to be based on one's roles and experiences within the group. By contrast, a low-context culture enjoys communications that take place most often through written or spoken (verbal) speech and rules are directly and explicitly stated. For example, Hall describes how Japanese culture has both low- and high-context situations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Initially, high culture rejects these outsiders but eventually embraces them or appropriates . 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. Verbal message is explicit. People within low-context cultures see their relationships much looser and the lines between networks of people are more flexibly drawn.[11]. This is in direct contrast to low-context cultures, in which information is communicated primarily through language and rules are explicitly spelled out. 231 lessons. succeed. For example, resemblance is a significant trait in cultures with a high level of context. High-context cultures are more likely to be intuitive, contemplative, and concerned with the collective. Japan is generally considered a high-context culture, meaning people communicate based on inherent understanding. In this context, we will discuss those topics also. Primarily use non-verbal methods to relay meaningful information in conversations, such as facial expressions, eye movement, and tone of voice. High Context Culture And Its Importance Watch this video from international business expert Erin Meyer [1]. Hall, E. T. (1976). 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. 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 . High-context cultures usually do not have rules that are explicitly written or stated. High-context communications, as well as low-context interactions, are important to understand from many perspectives. In high-context cultures, there are often many opportunities for social and cultural context to explain speech, which reduces the need for words in all instances. 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. A few relevant examples of differences in communication between low- and high-context cultures are found in Table 1. Lower-context culture: United States, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Canada and other European nations. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. A low-context (LC) communication is just the opposite; i.e., the mass of the information is vested in the explicit code.". For example, the Native Americans in the United States rely heavily on their tradition. Message is carried more by words than by nonverbal means. Conclusions are explicitly stated. A few predominantly high-context cultures include Japan, China, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa. Communication is seen as a way of exchanging information, ideas, and opinions. Answer (1 of 2): Examples of high context countries include: Japan, China, and the Arab countries. 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. These are some important high-context culture characteristics to look out for. Examples of high-context cultures include China, India, and many non-Western societies. Table 2 shows a classification of countries in low and high context, their characteristics and the expected role . 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. In a low-context culture, you would not expect to give or receive gifts . 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). "[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. Asia, Africa, Latin America, and central Europe are predominantly countries with a high context culture. Low-context cultures tend to be logical, analytical, action-oriented, and concerned with the individual. [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. A conclusion may be implied but not argued directly. What is an Interculturally Effective Person (IEP)? In this article, we will give you examples of high and low context mediation. Depending on the amount of information conveyed, cultures are classified as being high-context and low-context. 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. - Uses & Side Effects, What is Amitriptyline? All the advice on this site is general in nature. Low context can describe situations, environments and cultures. (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. Hall identifies high-context cultures as those in which harmony and the well-being of the group is preferred over individual achievement. 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. High-context cultures are built on a sense of shared experiences and history. The cultural context. 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. Communicating with high-context cultures can require you to focus on politeness strategies that demonstrate your respect for readers and listeners. Neuliup, J. W. (2011). All rights reserved. The designation "high and low context culture" broadly refers to the way people communicate in cultures. If you want to appear polite, you need to be willing to greet strangers and thank . Low context cultures emphasize individuality and tasks. 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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 . Sourabh Yadav (MA) and Peer Reviewed by Chris Drew (PhD), Bureaucratization (Sociology): Definition, Features, Origins, Stereotype Content Model: Examples and Definition. Guffey, M. E., Lowey, D., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2013). 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. Examples of low-context cultures include Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Canada, and the United States. Context 1. . These include specific forms of body language, the social or familial status of an individual, and the tone of voice employed during speech. For example, in one country a cow is seen as leather, in another one - as a deity and in another one as dinner.