High Context and Low Context Cultures

1. High Context and Low Context Cultures Joseph Pettigrew Center for English Language & Orientation Programs Boston University EN 026 – Legal English Communication Skills Summer 2010

2. Culture “… [is] a learned set of shared interpretations about beliefs, values, and norms, which affect the behaviors of a relatively large group of people.” – Donal Carbaugh “… designates what we pay attention to and what we ignore.” – Edward T. Hall

3. Context “the framework, background, surrounding circumstances in which communication or an event takes place” [www.marin.edu/buscom/index_files/Page605.htm] “how much you have to know before you can communicate effectively” [http://www.via-web.de/high-context-vs-low-context]

4. Context Includes… • Nonverbal communication (body language) • Manner of delivery • Status/rank/role of the participants • Ritual, tradition • Common knowledge • In-group/out-group membership

5. Edward T. Hall (1914-2009) • High context: “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.” (p. 79) • Low context: “the mass of information is vested in the explicit code.” (p. 70) Beyond Culture, 1979

6. Main Type of Cultural Knowledge High:More knowledge is below the waterline– implicit, patterns that are not fully conscious, hard to explain even if you are a member of that culture Low:More knowledge is above the waterline– explicit, consciously organized

7. HIGH CONTEXT LOW CONTEXT Korean Japanese Chinese Arab Greek Mexican Spanish Italian Russian French French Canadian English English Canadian Australian American Scandinavian German Swiss-German

8. High-context cultures Long-lasting relationships Context matters Spoken agreements Insiders & outsiders clearly distinguished Cultural patterns ingrained, slow change Low-context cultures Shorter relationships Words matter more than context Written agreements Insiders & outsiders less clearly distinguished Cultural patterns change faster Hall’s Model

9. High-Context Communication Information • Knowledge is situational, relational • Less is verbally explicit or written or formally expressed • More internalized understandings of what is communicated (ex: "in-jokes") • Often used in long term, well-established relationships • Decisions/activities focus around personal face-to-face communication, often around central, authoritative figure • Strong awareness of who is accepted/belongs vs. "outsiders"

10. Low-Context Communication Information • Rule oriented • More knowledge is public, external, and accessible. • Shorter duration of communications • Knowledge is transferable • Task-centered. Decisions and activities focus around what needs to be done and the division of responsibilities.

11. High-Context Communication Personal Interaction • High use of nonverbal elements (voice tone, facial expression, gestures, and eye movement) • Verbal message is indirect; one talks around the point and embellishes it. • Communication is seen as an art form, a way of engaging someone. • Disagreement is personalized. One is sensitive to conflict expressed in another's nonverbal communication. Conflict either must be solved before work can progress or must be avoided.

12. Low-Context Communication Personal Interaction • Message is carried more by words than by nonverbal means. • Verbal message is direct; one spells things out exactly. • Communication is seen as a way of exchanging information, ideas, and opinions. • Disagreement is depersonalized. One withdraws from conflict with another and gets on with the task. Focus is on rational solutions, not personal ones. http://hubpages.com/hub/High-Context-vs-Low-Context-Communication

13. Views of Time • Low Context – often Monochronic • High Context – often Polychronic mono – one poly – many chron – time

15. High Context Low Context Human ResourcesMarketing/SalesManufacturing ProductsR & DTechnicalInformation SystemsEngineersFinance http://www.csub.edu/tlc/options/resources/handouts/fac_dev/culturalbarries.htm High & Low Professions

16. LCs may think that HCs are evasive are dishonest can’t take a stand have no opinion increase tension by not dealing with issues directly HCs may think that LCs are insensitive have no tact and are boorish are insulting are harsh increase tension by dealing with issues in a direct manner A Quick Guide to Cultural Competency – Dr. Sangeeta Gupta How each sees the other

17. What to do? Remember … • Every culture and every situation has its high and low aspects • Individuals vary within a culture and from one situation to another

18. LC in an HC environment • Pay attention to non-verbal – eye contact, physical distance, facial expressions, the “vibe” • Pay attention to status (who has more?) • Face-saving is important; do not embarrass others • Conversation may be more for relationship-building than for exchanging info www.slideshare.net/uncstaff/individualism-collectivism-high-and-low-context

19. HC in an LC environment • They take your words at face value • They may not pick up on your hints or cues • Roles ≠ status; they compartmentalize more than you • Direct (even blunt) ≠ rude www.slideshare.net/uncstaff/individualism-collectivism-high-and-low-context

20. High, Low, & In Between • You can’t understand a game of American football by using the rules of soccer – or vice versa