high and low context cultures examples

A few predominantly high-context cultures include Japan, China, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa. Examples of high and low context cultures It can be helpful to consider a few examples of high and low context cultures. Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): A graph which shows the level of context in various world cultures. Since a high-context culture is based on fewer, deeper relations with people, there are many unspoken social rules and understandings within the culture. 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. References Gudykunst, W. B., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). This is in direct contrast to low-context cultures, in which information is communicated primarily through language and rules are explicitly spelled out. Explain the differences between high- and low-context cultures, giving examples of each. In this article, we will give you examples of high and low context mediation. High context is where the groups of people or societies in which individuals have had close links in the course of a long period. 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. 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. 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. High-Context and Low-Context Cultures: Understanding the Differences May 17, 2022 May 17, 2022 Reading Time: 5 minutes Read More High-Context and Low-Context Cultures: Understanding the Differences 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). Low-context cultures tend to focus more on the individual than the group, which is why they value individualism and autonomy. However, no country is low-context or high-context in absolute terms; instead, there is a mix of explicit & implicit communication everywhere. 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]. 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). Cultures and communication in which context is of great importance to structuring actions is referred to as high context. . Ramos suggests that "in low context culture, communication members' communication must be more explicit. Conclusions are explicitly stated. Not only is the page itself busier . Hall and Hall proposed a "spectrum" of national cultures from "High-Context cultures" to "Low-Context Cultures. A first step in achieving this goal is to identify one's own culture before delving into the rigors of another. 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. [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. Culture and Interpersonal Communication. 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. Moreover, their communication is often task-oriented and driven by rational decision-making, which can further add to their formality.. The terms low-context and high-context usually refer to language groups or nationalities. 3. 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. "High context". What is culture? Want to create or adapt books like this? Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. Disagreement is depersonalized. Japan is a country with a high-context culture. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and holds a PhD in Education from ACU. Besides cultural context, personal experiences and preferences also shape communication. [5]. For the processing of complex messages, the perspective of context theory is very relevant. Low and High Context Culture. Culture also affects how individuals interpret other people's facial expressions. Examples of low-context cultures include the United States, Australia, and many European countries. Trust High context cultures and situations may extend significant trust to members. - Uses & Side Effects, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community, Japan, China, Korea, and many other countries in Asia, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and some other countries in South America, Tribal groups and most nations in Africa, such as Kenya, Iraq, Iran, and other countries located in the Middle East. Conflict Styles and HighLow Context Cultures: A Cross-Cultural Extension. In the 1970's, anthropologist Edward T. Hall coined the phrases "high-context culture" and "low- context culture.". Guffey, M.E., Lowey, D., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2013). All rights reserved. Croucher's study examines the assertion that culture influences communication style (high/low-context) preference. 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. [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. Cultures Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values. The theory of High and Low Context Cultures puts how people communicate in a dimension. Sourabh Yadav is a freelance writer & filmmaker. Class, Codes and Control. 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. 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. When individuals from high-context and low-context cultures collaborate, there are often difficulties that occur during the exchange of information. The use of an elaborated code indicates that speaker and listener do not share significant amounts of common knowledge, and hence they may need to "spell out" their ideas more fully: elaborated codes tend to be more context-independent. In contrast, high-context cultures use facial expressions, body language, and gestures in a nuanced manner. These countries are quite explicit and elaborate without having prior knowledge to each member's history or background. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. We also make strong distinctions between those who are a part of our family and those who are not. Create your account. A case study was done on 30 Romanian and 30 Russian employees, to compare high- and low-context cultures, and results strongly suggested that Russia and Romania are both high-context cultures. Traditionally, Western cultures are known for being more individualistic or communicating with a low context style. The Nine Competencies that Characterize an IEP, Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits and Obstacles, Intercultural Communication in the Workplace, Additional Resources to Help you Format your Paper in APA Style. [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. According to Hall's theory, Chinese and Korean samples represented higher-context cultures while the American sample represents lower context. Asia, Africa, Latin America, and central Europe are predominantly countries with a high context culture. They place a high value on interpersonal relationships and group members are a very close-knit community. With this regard, America culture is a low-context . The USA and Australia are typically low-context, highly individualistic cultures, where transparency and competition in business are prized. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Oxford University Press. For example, resemblance is a significant trait in cultures with a high level of context. Cultural differences in advertising and marketing may also be explained through high- and low-context cultures. These include specific forms of body language, the social or familial status of an individual, and the tone of voice employed during speech. The general terms "high context" and "low context" (popularized by Edward Hall) are used to describe broad-brush cultural differences between societies. Wurtz found something similar while analyzing website design. High context cultures are more common in the eastern nations than in western and in countries with low racial diversity. In, Meyer, C. (2017). The study suggests that in high-context cultures, such as China and Korea, people tend to be more socially oriented, less confrontational, and more complacent with existing ways of living compared to people from low-context cultures like the US.[23]. 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. 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. 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. Context is less important than words. Cultures and languages are defined as higher or lower context on a spectrum. Amount of Detail Expected - High-context cultures such as Japan, China, and France provide little details in their writing. Also remember that although cultures are different from one another, no culture or cultural characteristic is better or worse than any other. 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. 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. 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. Information has to be explicit and detailed for the message to be conveyed without distortion. London: Routledge. The American legal system, for example, relies on low context communication. Meyer defines low-context cultures as cultures where people communicate and receive messages at face value. [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. In a low-context culture, you would not expect to give or receive gifts . In the United States, Native Americans and Hawaiian islanders are also considered high-context. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Members of high-context cultures usually have close relationships that last for an extended period of time. 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. Anchor Press/Doubleday. "[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. Answer (1 of 2): Examples of high context countries include: Japan, China, and the Arab countries. Due to this shared understanding, high-context cultures are slightly more informal. 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. [32] Awareness of miscommunication between high- and low-context cultures within the workplace or intercultural communication settings advocates for collected unification within a group through the flexibility and ability to understand one another. 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.) High-context cultures are more likely to be intuitive, contemplative, and concerned with the collective. Language may be used to achieve goals or exchange information. Resistance in Turkey and India Between World Wars, The Role of Culture & Gender in Listening, The Role of Perception & Bias in Intercultural Communication, Introduction to Educational Psychology: Certificate Program, Educational Psychology: Tutoring Solution, Research Methods in Psychology: Help and Review, Introduction to Psychology: Homework Help Resource, Abnormal Psychology: Homework Help Resource, Social Psychology: Homework Help Resource, Introduction to Psychology: Tutoring Solution, Educational Psychology: Homework Help Resource, UExcel Research Methods in Psychology: Study Guide & Test Prep, Research Methods in Psychology: Certificate Program, Research Methods in Psychology: Homework Help Resource, Create an account to start this course today. [36], Individualistic cultures promote the development of individual values and independent social groups. 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. 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. They rely less on context & non-verbal cues and instead convey meaning more directly. [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. Sourabh Yadav (MA) and Peer Reviewed by Chris Drew (PhD), Bureaucratization (Sociology): Definition, Features, Origins, Stereotype Content Model: Examples and Definition. 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. [22], The concept of elaborated and restricted codes was introduced by sociologist Basil Bernstein in his book Class, Codes and Control. Low-context cultures rely on explicit communication. For example, people in traditional high context cultures have been described as developing "shared identities." In direct contrast to low context behavior, in a negotiation, high context cultures communicate in Intercultural Communication in the Workplace, 18. 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 Low-context countries, on the other hand, relied more on linear processes and verbal communication. Culture is a combination of our thoughts, roles, manners, values, etc. Both often take many aspects of the other's cultural communication abilities and strengths into account. Communication is seen as a way of exchanging information, ideas, and opinions. Instead, they depend on the explicit code of the words and written rules to convey 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. 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 . Websites catering to high-context audiences had a lot of animation & images. For example, for someone who is older and more experienced within a society, the need for social cues may be higher or lower depending on the communication style. 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. In. This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). The American sample scored the lowest compared to the two "Oriental samples," which aligns with Hall's concept. 3. Low-context and high-context cultures are the ends of a continuum portraying how cultures communicate. 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 . 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. Trompenaars' Cultural Dimensions Model & Examples | 7 Dimensions of Culture, Hofstede's Uncertainty Avoidance | Culture, Example & Index, Developing an Audience-Centered Presentation, Methods to Increase the Accuracy of Impressions, Long-Term vs. Short-Term Orientation | Hofstede, Culture & Concept, Cross-Cultural Interactions & Relationships in Agile Organizations. High Context Culture And Its Importance Japan is generally considered a high-context culture, meaning people communicate based on inherent understanding. "[28] In such cultures, people are highly perceptive of actions. There are strong distinctions made between individuals who are members of the ingroup and those who are not members in high-context cultures. People have many acquaintances they have fewer close friends. Eye contact, for example, which is encouraged in North America, may have ambiguous meaning or be considered disrespectful in certain high-context cultures. [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. She found out that in high-context countries, the advertising campaigns used more colors, movements, and sounds to provide context. 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. 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 also value group harmony above individual achievement. In this context, we will discuss those topics also. Communication Differences in Low-Context vs. High-Context Cultures, Comparing Communication Styles in Low- and High-Context Cultures, Additional Resources for Determining Cultural Contexts, Ethnocentrism and Cross-Cultural Competence, Additional Resources for Understanding Trompenaars Dimensions, Three Prototypes: Dignity, Face, and Honor Cultures, Ethnocentrism, Culture Shock, and Cultural Relativism. 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. [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. Context 1. . Low use of nonverbal elements. What is low context cultural communication? Low context implies that a lot of information is exchanged explicitly through the message itself and rarely is anything implicit or hidden.People in low context cultures such as the UK tend to have short-term relationships, follow rules and standards closely and are generally very task-oriented. Discover high context culture examples, and identify the importance of high context vs. low context communication. Effectively communicating within this culture, therefore, requires messaging that is perceived as objective, professional, and efficient. (2014, December 10). succeed. Guffey, D. Lowey, K. Rhodes, K., & P. Rogin. A conclusion may be implied but not argued directly. Getting the message across. Their communication is less-task oriented, and their decision-making is driven by relationships, shared experiences, and emotions. Beyond Culture. 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. On the other hand, low-context culture does not have any such shared background. Researchers today are using it greatly to study different cultures all over the world. All articles are edited by a PhD level academic. 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]. Individualism and collectivism are related to low-context and high-context cultures, respectively. We'll also look at how they're different and what that means for your work in global business. [20][21], Cultural context can also shift and evolve. 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). [2] Collectivist societies prioritize the group over the individual, and vice versa for individualist ones. [19] This has been expanded to further countries by Sheposh & Shaista. Many low context cultures are individualist so people openly express their views, and tend to make important information obvious to others. ), Hall, E. T.; Hall, M. R. (1990). In other words, the relationship between directness and contexting based on traditional classifications of [high-context] and [low-context] cultures is particularly tenuous. 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. I feel like its a lifeline. High context culture is common wherever there is a relationship between people. Relationships: The components of these cultures tend to value long-term relationships. A 2008 meta-analysis concluded that the model was "unsubstantiated and underdeveloped".[5]. Power Distance Index & Examples | What is Power Distance? [6] How does her experience in Japan demonstrate what youve learned so far about the different dimensions of culture? Yolanda has taught college Psychology and Ethics, and has a doctorate of philosophy in counselor education and supervision. 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. 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. High-context cultures promote the development of ingroups. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. The reverse holds true for High (Collectivistic) Context Cultures. In Mexico's high context culture, communication is . [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. A few relevant examples of differences in communication between low- and high-context cultures are found in Table 1. Beyond Culture. for only $11.00 $9.35/page. [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. - Definition & Assessment, Bipolar vs. Borderline Personality Disorder, Atypical Antipsychotics: Effects & Mechanism of Action, What Is a Mood Stabilizer? 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. In low-context cultures, communication tends to be more direct and to the point. According to Hall's theory, the Chinese and Korean samples represented higher-context cultures while the American sample represents a lower context culture. Watch this video from international business expert Erin Meyer [1]. When it comes to emails, texts, and online messaging, low-context cultures use it to fire off quick, frequent messages. It can imply understanding or agreement, but it can also mean their conversea lack of certainty. 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). [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. An error occurred trying to load this video. [25], The categories of context cultures are not totally separate. High-context defines cultures that are usually relational and collectivist, and which most highlight interpersonal relationships. Devon has tutored for almost two years. [30], Hall links language to culture through the work of Sapir-Whorf on linguistic relativity. [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.

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