high and low context cultures examples high and low context cultures examples

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. In other words, the relationship between directness and contexting based on traditional classifications of [high-context] and [low-context] cultures is particularly tenuous. Once again we return to the differences between high-context and low-context cultures. But the fact that contexting has not been empirically validated should not necessarily be construed as a failure of the theory. 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. Intercultural Business Communication by Confederation College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. These problems can be separated into differences concerning "direction", "quantity" and "quality." "Understanding cultural differences. The Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice states that, "high context defines cultures that are relational and collectivist, and which most highlight interpersonal relationships. While some cultures are low or high . Low-context countries, on the other hand, relied more on linear processes and verbal communication. This concept was introduced by Edward T. Hall, an anthropologist back in 1976. 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. For example, Hall describes how Japanese culture has both low- and high-context situations. classifications are discussed below. Gudykunst, W. B., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). In. Nonetheless, the contexting model simply cannot be described as an empirically validated model. Conclusion The dynamics of relationships within High and Low context cultures are very different. Members of the culture place emphasis on interpersonal relationships. High-context cultures are more likely to be intuitive, contemplative, and concerned with the collective. 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. After you have finished with this lesson, you should be able to: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. We know that the way in which we say things at these gatherings is more important than what we say. A first step in achieving this goal is to identify one's own culture before delving into the rigors of another. [38] By contrast, low-context cultures tend to change more rapidly and drastically, allowing extension[definition needed] to happen at faster rates. A low-context (LC) communication is just the opposite; i.e., the mass of the information is vested in the explicit code.". [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. 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. 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. Unlike low-context cultures, high-context cultures prioritize the group over the individual (Hofstede, 1984). Their communication is often indirect and requires a nuanced understanding, so outsiders might find it more difficult to enter their culture. In high-context cultures, communication cues are transmitted by posture, voice inflection, gestures, and facial expression. 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. 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. Bernstein, B. The high and low context cultures in this concept refers to how important contextual cues are in interpreting a message. In high-context cultures, people are said to prefer symbolic, artful language that is implicit. Guffey, M.E., Lowey, D., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2013). Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Ramos, D. C. (2014). Primarily use non-verbal methods to relay meaningful information in conversations, such as facial expressions, eye movement, and tone of voice. 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. Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): A graph which shows the level of context in various world cultures. 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. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. Wurtz studied McDonalds online advertising in various countries such as Japan, Germany, the United States, etc. High vs. Low Power Distance Cultural Communications | What are High and Low Power Distance Cultural Communications? The same applies for the other characteristics in varied countries. This can be quite confusing to an outsider, especially someone from a low-context culture who is used to communicating via explicit messages. Teachers can illustrate the differences between high- and low- context cultures by providing examples of behaviors. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. 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. Devon has tutored for almost two years. 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, there are often many opportunities for social and cultural context to explain speech, which reduces the need for words in all instances. Low-context cultures can seem slightly more formal due to the explicit & precise nature of their messages. These rules of communication are understood without being explicitly stated. 231 lessons. The situation, people, and non-verbal elements are more important than the actual words that are communicated. 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. Flowery language, humility, and elaborate apologies are typical. What is a high-context culture and how does this communication culture differ from a low-context culture? 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. Three samples were gathered from the US, China, and Korea, three different cultures. Class, Codes and Control. 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. 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. 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. 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. Meanwhile, in low-context cultures, more explicit speech is needed in order to allow the listener to fully understand the message. [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. London: Routledge. In. These are some important high-context culture characteristics to look out for. A conclusion may be implied but not argued directly. 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. Typically a high-context culture will be relational, collectivist, intuitive, and contemplative. 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Low use of nonverbal elements. Beyond Culture. In S. Thompson (ed. [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. Oxford University Press. Rules are not directly or explicitly written or stated. Sage Publications. As we discuss culture, we are making generalizations to create cultural prototypes. Goodwill Messages and Recommendations. [25], The categories of context cultures are not totally separate. A 2008 meta-analysis concluded that the model was "unsubstantiated and underdeveloped".[5]. 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. On the other hand, low-context culture does not have any such shared background. 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). 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 ". A few predominantly high-context cultures include Japan, China, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa. Edward Hall is a famous theorist and anthropologist who has contributed a renowned theory of high- and low-context cultures to facilitate students, researchers . In contrast, high-context cultures use facial expressions, body language, and gestures in a nuanced manner. If you want to appear polite, you need to be willing to greet strangers and thank . - Definition & Assessment, Bipolar vs. Borderline Personality Disorder, Atypical Antipsychotics: Effects & Mechanism of Action, What Is a Mood Stabilizer? Members of high-context cultures usually have close relationships that last for an extended period of time. Cultural differences in advertising and marketing may also be explained through high- and low-context cultures. 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 Guffey et al. Anchor Press/Doubleday. Language may be used to achieve goals or exchange information. The aim of this report is to evaluate the concept of different communication cultures through the application of Hall's high and low-context model of culture. Some common characteristics of high-context cultures include: Though the United States has a low-context culture, we have all been placed in situations that are considered high-context. Create your account, 10 chapters | Anthropologist Edward T. Hall first discussed high-context culture in his 1976 book titled Beyond Culture. [31], Between each type of culture context, there will be forms of miscommunication because of the difference in gestures, social cues, and intercultural adjustments; however, it is important to recognize these differences and learn how to avoid miscommunication to benefit certain situations. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. [14] Groups that are able to rely on a common background may not need to use words as explicitly to understand each other. Cultures and communication in which context is of great importance to structuring actions is referred to as high context. China, Japan, Turkey, and Mexico are some countries that lean towards high-context. According to Hall's theory, the Chinese and Korean samples represented higher-context cultures while the American sample represents a lower context culture. Neuliup, J. W. (2011). Hofstede, G. (1984). Learn what high context culture is. Lower-context culture: United States, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Canada and other European nations. 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). I feel like its a lifeline. Russia is a high context country with a culture that revolves around collectivism and interdependence on group relationships. The preferred way of solving problems and learning is in groups. 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. Also remember that although cultures are different from one another, no culture or cultural characteristic is better or worse than any other. In the 1970's, anthropologist Edward T. Hall coined the phrases "high-context culture" and "low- context culture.". The law is important! This is in direct contrast to low-context cultures, in which information is communicated primarily through language and rules are explicitly spelled out. 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. [42] Low-context websites had less animation and more stagnant images, with more details on information. Context is less important than words. Cultures Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values. 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. All the advice on this site is general in nature. About The Helpful Professor - Effects & Types, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): Definition, effects & Types, Trepanning: Tools, Specialties & Definition, What is Pseudoephedrine? 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. 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]. low-context communication is "the mass of information is vested in the explicit code". For example, if you have ever been to a family gathering, then you have experience with a high-context culture. [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. [15] In contrast, scientists working with living systems need to include more context because there can be significant variables which impact the research outcomes. [36], Individualistic cultures promote the development of individual values and independent social groups. What is high and low context culture examples? [5], These concepts were first introduced by the anthropologist Edward T. Hall in his 1959 book The Silent Language. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Low-context cultures also want these communications to revolve around basic questions, like: What's happening? In a low-context culture, you would not expect to give or receive gifts . Both the speaker and listener act under the assumption that all relevant information has been explicitly stated. Messages can be contextualized by assuming that the audience would think in the same manner and will follow the underlying meaning implied in someone's speech or writing as a result of these common experiences. Members of high-context cultures are relatively comfortable interacting with others because a close-knit community has been formed, such as that of a family or religious congregation. 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. [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. The scale of high- and low-context cultures helps explain much about how we experience communication across our cultural experiences. [37] Because individualistic cultures may value cultural diversity, a more explicit way of communicating is often required to avoid misunderstanding. 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. [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. 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. The study identifies whether and how variables that characterize high- and low-context cultures are reflected on Web sites. But we can also use them to talk about smaller groups, such as corporate cultures or a specific setting like the airport. Their communication is less-task oriented, and their decision-making is driven by relationships, shared experiences, and emotions. Writing Topic Sentences and Body Paragraphs, 38. This also means that low-context communication may fail due to the overload of information, which makes culture lose its screening[definition needed] function. https://helpfulprofessor.com/low-context-culture-examples/. High-context cultures usually do not have rules that are explicitly written or stated. [30][32], Families, subcultures and in-groups typically favour higher-context communication. You can find his work on The Print, Live Wire, and YouTube. For example, in one country a cow is seen as leather, in another one - as a deity and in another one as dinner. Conclusions are explicitly stated. [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. "High context". Yolanda has taught college Psychology and Ethics, and has a doctorate of philosophy in counselor education and supervision. Examples of high-context cultures include China, India, and many non-Western societies. 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. 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. However, the concept may also apply to corporations, professions and other cultural groups, as well as to settings such as online and offline communication. Not only is the page itself busier . [25] There were 225 Mexican participants from three different undergraduate universities in Mexico City and 447 participants from Kent State University in the U.S.[25] The case study looked into culture shock experienced by Mexicans studying in the U.S. The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau. 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. An in-depth understanding of cultural norms is not required because the communication is explicit. 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. Cultural contexts are not absolutely "high" or "low". 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]. High context culture is common wherever there is a relationship between people. This makes high-context cultures difficult to navigate for those who do not understand the culture's unwritten rules. Within high-context cultures, people rely on their networks of friends and family, viewing their relationships as part of one large community. By comparison, low-context cultures refer to cultures whereby most communications take place through verbal language and rules are directly written out or stated for all to view. Information has to be explicit and detailed for the message to be conveyed without distortion. High-context cultures include close-knit groups of people, while low-context cultures are generally more diverse. Amount of Detail Expected - High-context cultures such as Japan, China, and France provide little details in their writing. Cultures and languages are defined as higher or lower context on a spectrum. High-context cu. 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. Cultural Perceptions of Communication in Organizations: Low Context and High Context. Culture and Interpersonal Communication. High-context cultures rely heavily on non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, etc. Sage Publications. India and Japan are typically high-context, highly collectivistic cultures, where business is done by building relationships and maintaining respectful communication. For example, while the United States is a low-context culture, family gatherings (which are common in American culture) tend to be high-context. Verbal message is direct; one spells things out exactly. Low and High Context Culture. We cite peer reviewed academic articles wherever possible and reference our sources at the end of our articles. Hall, E. T. (1976). Therefore, it is necessary for more explicit information to be included in the message so it is not misinterpreted. ", "Communication: intercultural communication. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you 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). High-context cultures also value group harmony above individual achievement. 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. 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. 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 . An error occurred trying to load this video. Give some examples of cultural differences in the interpretation of body language. 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 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. [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. 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. What is culture? Culture and Interpersonal Communication. 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. Low-context and high-context cultures are the ends of a continuum portraying how cultures communicate. Table 2 shows a classification of countries in low and high context, their characteristics and the expected role . Low-context cultures tend to be logical, analytical, action-oriented, and concerned with the individual. 9. 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. 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. In low-context countries, things need to be spelled out a bit more. - Uses & Side Effects, What is Amitriptyline? [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. As such, what is said is what is meant, and further analysis of the message is usually unnecessary. 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. Individualism may lead to communicating to all people in a group in the same way, rather than offering hierarchical respect to certain members. High Context vs. Low Context. Examples of high-context cultures include Asian, African, Latin American, and some European countries. Hall and Hall proposed a "spectrum" of national cultures from "High-Context cultures" to "Low-Context Cultures. [10] In low-context cultures, relationships are not viewed as important figures to identity. [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. The designation "high and low context culture" broadly refers to the way people communicate in cultures. They rely less on context & non-verbal cues and instead convey meaning more directly.