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

Because of this, communication can change drastically from one generation to the next, creating communication gaps between parents and children. What is high and low context culture examples? Language may be used to achieve goals or exchange information. 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. (2013)[2]explain the concept of cultural context: Cultural context is a concept developed by cultural anthropologist Edward T. Hall. In the United States, Native Americans and Hawaiian islanders are also considered high-context. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. However, no country is low-context or high-context in absolute terms; instead, there is a mix of explicit & implicit communication everywhere. They are considered less direct, and they put a lot of weight on gestures and body language to draw significance from messages. [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 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. Published: 2020/12/03. This makes high-context cultures difficult to navigate for those who do not understand the culture's unwritten rules. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. 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. A number of unique characteristics exist to make a clear distinction between high-context vs. low-context cultures and methods of communication. Cultures and communication in which the context of the message is of great importance to structuring actions are referred to as high context. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Instead, a comparison between cultures may find communication differences to a greater or lesser degree. But the fact that contexting has not been empirically validated should not necessarily be construed as a failure of the theory. 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. Culture also affects how individuals interpret other people's facial expressions. Give some examples of cultural differences in the interpretation of body language. 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. 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. They rely less on context & non-verbal cues and instead convey meaning more directly. Examples of low-context cultures include Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Canada, and the United States. 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 . Japan is generally considered a high-context culture, meaning people communicate based on inherent understanding. The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau. Meyer defines low-context cultures as cultures where people communicate and receive messages at face value. High-context cultures rely heavily on non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, etc. These are some important high-context culture characteristics to look out for. 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.) These include specific forms of body language, the social or familial status of an individual, and the tone of voice employed during speech. 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Disagreement is depersonalized. Meanwhile, in low-context cultures, more explicit speech is needed in order to allow the listener to fully understand the message. Beyond Culture. It is important to note that while a nation or society may be widely considered a high-context or low-context culture, certain events occur in the opposite context regularly (such as family gatherings in the United States). The continuum pictures how people communicate with others through their range of communication abilities: utilizing gestures, relations, body language . In. 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. Trust High context cultures and situations may extend significant trust to members. Low-Context Culture Communication & Examples | What Is Low-Context Culture? 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. This can be quite confusing to an outsider, especially someone from a low-context culture who is used to communicating via explicit messages. [24] The table shows the major differences and similarities between individual queries. 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 . 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. Communication Research Reports. people generally use. 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. Websites catering to high-context audiences had a lot of animation & images. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you The terms "high context culture" and "low context culture" are used to define how people in various cultures communicate messages to each other. For example, if you have ever been to a family gathering, then you have experience with a high-context culture. A person's identity in a high context society tends to be based on one's roles and experiences within the group. Relationships: The components of these cultures tend to value long-term relationships. Sage Publications. Contexts in source publication. The Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice states that, "high context defines cultures that are relational and collectivist, and which most highlight interpersonal relationships. [6] How does her experience in Japan demonstrate what youve learned so far about the different dimensions of culture? Cultures where the group is valued over the individual promote. [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. [20][21], Cultural context can also shift and evolve. 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]. The cultural context. Settings and cultures where people come together from a wider diversity of backgrounds such as international airports, large cities, or multi-national firms, tend to use lower-context communication forms. High-context cultures also value group harmony above individual achievement. [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. In Low Context Culture it is normal to be self reliant and yet have many relationships. Learn what high context culture is. for only $11.00 $9.35/page. However, the concept may also apply to corporations, professions and other cultural groups, as well as to settings such as online and offline communication. [26] The terms high- and low-context cultures are not classified with strict individual characteristics or boundaries. High context refers to societies or groups where people have close connections over a long period of time. [30] The diversity within a main culture shows how the high and low scale differs depending on social settings such as school, work, home, and in other countries; variation is what allows the scale to fluctuate even if a large culture is categorized as primarily one or the other. In a high-context culture, emphasis is placed on interpersonal relationships rather than personal achievement. 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. In low-context cultures, gestures and facial expressions are never the primary means of communication; they only serve to clarify or complement a point. The preferred way of solving problems and learning is in groups. https://helpfulprofessor.com/low-context-culture-examples/. - Uses & Side Effects, What is Amitriptyline? India and Japan are typically high-context, highly collectivistic cultures, where business is done by building relationships and maintaining respectful communication. Sourabh Yadav (MA) and Peer Reviewed by Chris Drew (PhD), Bureaucratization (Sociology): Definition, Features, Origins, Stereotype Content Model: Examples and Definition. Low and High Context Culture. Discover high context culture examples, and identify the importance of high context vs. low context communication. A 2005 study by Elizabeth Wurtz demonstrates how cultural differences shape marketing and advertising. A few relevant examples of differences in communication between low- and high-context cultures are found in Table 1. [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. [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. Your email address will not be published. In high context cultures like Native American tribes, Japan, China, and Arabic countries, communication is curvilinear, and often what is left unsaid is just as important than what is, and there is more flexibility with time and looser schedules. Individualism may lead to communicating to all people in a group in the same way, rather than offering hierarchical respect to certain members. [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. Conclusion The dynamics of relationships within High and Low context cultures are very different. The review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. In a low-context culture, you would not expect to give or receive gifts . I feel like its a lifeline. Getting the message across. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many European countries. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Studentsshould always cross-check any information on this site with their course teacher. 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. 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. About The Helpful Professor The results found that U.S. participants used communication for pleasure more often than Mexican participants. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. 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. ", "Communication: intercultural communication. The general terms "high context" and "low context" (popularized by Edward Hall) are used to describe broad-brush cultural differences between societies. Required fields are marked *, This Article was Last Expert Reviewed on January 24, 2023 by Chris Drew, PhD. Typically a high-context culture will be relational, collectivist, intuitive, and contemplative. People are comfortable standing close to each other. Watch this video from international business expert Erin Meyer [1]. [25], The categories of context cultures are not totally separate. 1. In contrast, low-context cultures rely on explicit verbal communication. [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 cultures tend to be logical, analytical, action-oriented, and concerned with the individual. 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]. [1] "High-" and "low-" context cultures typically refer to language groups, nationalities, or regional communities. Russia is a high context country with a culture that revolves around collectivism and interdependence on group relationships. 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 Neuliup, J. W. (2011). [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. High-context cultures: Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, China, India, and Saudi Arabia are some of the highest-context cultures in the world. 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. [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. 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. References Gudykunst, W. B., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). 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. A low-context culture is a culture in which people communicate explicitly. The study identifies whether and how variables that characterize high- and low-context cultures are reflected on Web sites. Examples of high and low context cultures It can be helpful to consider a few examples of high and low context cultures. Examples of high-context cultures include Asian, African, Latin American, and some European countries. According to Hall's theory, Chinese and Korean samples represented higher-context cultures while the American sample represents lower context. 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 contrast, high-context cultures use facial expressions, body language, and gestures in a nuanced manner. Anchor Press/Doubleday. Culture and Interpersonal Communication. Verbal message is direct; one spells things out exactly. 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. Identify your style Before implementing effective communication practices across cultures, identify your own style: 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. Hofstede, G. (1984). Order now. low-context communication is "the mass of information is vested in the explicit code". 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. The answer is simple. Culture is a combination of our thoughts, roles, manners, values, etc. Nonetheless, the contexting model simply cannot be described as an empirically validated model. 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. A few predominantly high-context cultures include Japan, China, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. [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. Kim Dunghoon conducted a study to test the major aspects of high-context versus low-context culture concepts. 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. This is in direct contrast to low-context cultures, in which information is communicated primarily through language and rules are explicitly spelled out. Japan is a country with a high-context culture. 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. Type of paper: Research Paper. London: Routledge. Interaction. The theory of High and Low Context Cultures puts how people communicate in a dimension. High-context cultures are those that communicate in ways that are implicit and rely heavily on context. 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. Low-context cultures (including North America and much of Western Europe) are logical, linear, individualistic, and action-oriented. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Depending on the amount of information conveyed, cultures are classified as being high-context and low-context. Negotiators basically say what they mean. Oxford University Press. [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. Therefore, it is necessary for more explicit information to be included in the message so it is not misinterpreted. "High context". "[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. In a low-context culture, the onus for communication lies with the speaker. According to Hall's theory, the Chinese and Korean samples represented higher-context cultures while the American sample represents a lower context culture. Information has to be explicit and detailed for the message to be conveyed without distortion. Relationships are easy to build, can start very quickly but end just as soon. 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.