high and low context cultures examples

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 vs. Low Context. Hall is also credited for developing the idea of chronemics, or the study of the use of time during nonverbal communications. Anchor Press/Doubleday. In contrast, high-context cultures use facial expressions, body language, and gestures in a nuanced manner. Communication is driven by cultural differences - MSU Extension 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. High and Low Context Cultures - Intercultural Communication The American sample scored the lowest compared to the two "Oriental samples," which aligns with Hall's concept. Members of high-context cultures usually have close relationships that last for an extended period of time. Beyond Culture. [15] In contrast, scientists working with living systems need to include more context because there can be significant variables which impact the research outcomes. (1971). Low and High Context Culture. Since a high-context culture is based on fewer, deeper relations with people, there are many unspoken social rules and understandings within the culture. 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 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. Asia, Africa, Latin America, and central Europe are predominantly countries with a high context culture. References Gudykunst, W. B., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). 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 answer is simple. 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. This study is a result of a cross-cultural examination between students from the United States, a low-context culture, and Mexico, a high-context culture, to study the reasons people communicate in each culture. Eye contact, for example, which is encouraged in North America, may have ambiguous meaning or be considered disrespectful in certain high-context cultures. 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. Intercultural Communication in the Workplace, 18. Guffey, M. E., Lowey, D., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2013). Free Essay: High and Low Context Cultures, Hofstede's cultural Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. This makes high-context cultures difficult to navigate for those who do not understand the culture's unwritten rules. 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. There are strong distinctions made between individuals who are members of the ingroup and those who are not members in high-context cultures. Teachers can share their own experiences and examples with their students. Verbal message is direct; one spells things out exactly. Low-context cultures tend to focus more on the individual than the group, which is why they value individualism and autonomy. In low-context cultures, communication tends to be more direct and to the point. Cultures Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values. Also remember that although cultures are different from one another, no culture or cultural characteristic is better or worse than any other. Since they value collectivism and interdependence, it makes sense that their communication requires an understanding of the communitys shared values. When individuals from high-context and low-context cultures collaborate, there are often difficulties that occur during the exchange of information. All rights reserved. Furthermore, cultural aspects such as tradition, ceremony, and history are also highly valued. Pages: 3. [2] High-context cultures often exhibit less-direct verbal and nonverbal communication, utilizing small communication gestures and reading more meaning into these less-direct messages. High-context cu. 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. India and Japan are typically high-context, highly collectivistic cultures, where business is done by building relationships and maintaining respectful communication. High-context cultures promote the development of ingroups. Contexts in source publication. In the 1970's, anthropologist Edward T. Hall coined the phrases "high-context culture" and "low- context culture.". In S. Thompson (ed. [30], Hall links language to culture through the work of Sapir-Whorf on linguistic relativity. 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. [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. [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. 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. What is High Context Culture - Culture Matters Not only is the page itself busier . High context cultures are more common in the eastern nations than in western and in countries with low racial diversity. Words: 825. Most of the contexting categories simply have not been researched enough to make firm conclusions. All articles are edited by a PhD level academic. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. Meyer defines low-context cultures as cultures where people communicate and receive messages at face value. Most of the cultural behavior aspects are not open for the reason that many of the members are aware of what to do and what thoughts to engage in. [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. The preferred way of solving problems and learning is in groups. Low context cultures rely on the spoken word to communicate. Because of this, communication can change drastically from one generation to the next, creating communication gaps between parents and children. 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. [36], Individualistic cultures promote the development of individual values and independent social groups. Ramos, D. C. (2014). The review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. This allows individuals of different generations to communicate through a shared set of values, which, in turn, provides stability to the culture. But we can also use them to talk about smaller groups, such as corporate cultures or a specific setting like the airport. "[17] On the other hand, he identified countries such as Germany, the United States and Scandinavia as low-context cultures. Low use of nonverbal elements. High-context and low-context cultures 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. 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]. Interaction. classifications are discussed below. Studentsshould always cross-check any information on this site with their course teacher. A 2005 study by Elizabeth Wurtz demonstrates how cultural differences shape marketing and advertising. This also means that low-context communication may fail due to the overload of information, which makes culture lose its screening[definition needed] function. In other words, high-context communicators attach great importance to everything that surrounds the explicit message, including interpersonal relationships, non-verbal cues, and physical and social settings. While some cultures are low or high . But the fact that contexting has not been empirically validated should not necessarily be construed as a failure of the theory. 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. High-context communications, as well as low-context interactions, are important to understand from many perspectives. Translation Issues Associated With High-context and Low-context Cultures Hall identifies high-context cultures as those in which harmony and the well-being of the group is preferred over individual achievement. Wurtz, Elizabeth (2005). Culture also affects how individuals interpret other people's facial expressions. differentiate between high-context and low context culture examples Croucher's study examines the assertion that culture influences communication style (high/low-context) preference. In high-context cultures (such as those in Japan, China, Korea, and Arab countries), communication relies heavily on non-verbal, contextual, and shared cultural meanings. - Uses & Side Effects, What is Amitriptyline? After you have finished with this lesson, you should be able to: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Effectively communicating within this culture, therefore, requires messaging that is perceived as objective, professional, and efficient. They rely less on the shared values/assumptions of the group and the context of the situation. ", 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. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many Western countries. 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.