Transcript High & Low Context Cultures - Joseph Pettigrew / FrontPage

High Context
and Low Context
Cultures
Joseph Pettigrew
Center for English Language
& Orientation Programs
Boston University
EN 026 – Legal English
Communication Skills
Summer 2010
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
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]
Context
Includes…

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
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Nonverbal communication (body language)
Manner of delivery
Status/rank/role of the participants
Ritual, tradition
Common knowledge
In-group/out-group membership
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
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
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
Hall’s Model
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
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
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Strong awareness of who is accepted/belongs vs.
"outsiders"
Low-Context Communication
Information

Rule oriented

More knowledge is public, external, and accessible.
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Shorter duration of communications
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Knowledge is transferable
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Task-centered. Decisions and activities focus around
what needs to be done and the division of
responsibilities.
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.
Low-Context Communication
Personal Interaction

Message is carried more by words than by nonverbal
means.
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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
Views of Time

Low Context – often Monochronic
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High Context – often Polychronic
mono – one
poly – many
chron – time
Polychronic (High)
Monochronic (Low)
Do many things at once
Do one thing at a time
Highly distractible and subject to
interruptions
Concentrate on the job
Consider time commitments an objective to Take time commitments seriously
be achieved only if possible
(deadlines, schedules)
Committed to people
Committed to the job
Change plans often and easily
Adhere religiously to plans
More concerned with relations (family,
friends, close business associates) than
with privacy
Concerned about not disturbing others;
follow rules of privacy and consideration
Borrow and lend things often and easily
Show great respect for private property,
seldom borrow or lend
Base promptness on the relationship
Emphasize promptness
Strong tendency to build lifetime
relationships
Accustomed to short-term relationships
High & Low Professions
High Context
Low Context
Human Resources
Marketing/Sales
Manufacturing Products
R&D
Technical
Information Systems
Engineers
Finance
http://www.csub.edu/tlc/options/resources/handouts/fac_dev/cultur
albarries.htm
How each sees the other
LCs may think that HCs
HCs may think that LCs
 are
 are
evasive
 are dishonest
 can’t take a stand
 have no opinion
 increase tension by
not dealing with
issues directly
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
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
LC in an HC environment
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Pay attention to non-verbal – eye contact,
physical distance, facial expressions, the
“vibe”
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Pay attention to status (who has more?)
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Face-saving is important; do not embarrass
others
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Conversation may be more for relationshipbuilding than for exchanging info
www.slideshare.net/uncstaff/individualism-collectivism-high-and-low-context
HC in an LC environment

They take your words at face value

They may not pick up on your hints or cues
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Roles ≠ status; they compartmentalize more
than you
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Direct (even blunt) ≠ rude
www.slideshare.net/uncstaff/individualism-collectivism-high-and-low-context
High, Low, & In Between

You can’t understand a game of American
football by using the rules of soccer – or vice
versa