4.13 High context vs low context cultures
Edward Hall coined the terms “low-context culture” (LCC) and “high-context culture” (HCC) to describe how communication styles differ across cultures. In essence, “in LCC, meaning is expressed through explicit verbal messages, both written and oral. In HCC, on the other hand, intention or meaning can best be conveyed through implicit contexts, including gestures, social customs, silence, nuance, or tone of voice” (Nam, 2015, p. 378). Table 4.1 explores the differences between low-context and high-context cultures across three general categories: communication, cultural orientation, and business. Figure 4.1 below illustrates some of the low and high context cultures (Rosch & Segler, 1987).
|
Categories |
Low-Context |
High-Context |
|---|---|---|
|
Communication |
||
|
Type of Communication |
Explicit Communication |
Implicit Communication |
|
Communication Focus |
Focus on Verbal Communication |
Focus on Nonverbal Communication |
|
Context of Message |
Less Meaningful |
Very Meaningful |
|
Politeness |
Not Important |
Very Important |
|
Approach to People |
Direct and Confrontational |
Indirect and Polite |
|
Cultural Orientation |
||
|
Emotions |
No Room for Emotions |
Emotions Have Importance |
|
Approach to Time |
Monochromatic |
Polychromatic |
|
Time Orientation |
Present-Future |
Past |
|
In/Out-Groups |
Flexible and Transient Grouping Patterns |
Strong Distinctions Between In and Out-Groups |
|
Identity |
Based on Individual |
Based on Social System |
|
Values |
Independence and Freedom |
Tradition and Social Rules/Norms |
|
Business |
|
|
|
Work Style |
Individualistic |
Team-Oriented |
|
Work Approach |
Task-Oriented |
Relationship-Oriented |
|
Business Approach |
Competitive |
Cooperative |
|
Learning |
Knowledge is Transferable |
Knowledge is Situational |
|
Sales Orientation |
Hard Sell |
Soft Sell |
|
View of Change |
Change over Tradition |
Tradition over Change |
Figure 4.1 is derived from Cultural Characteristics and Communication in Interpersonal Communication Copyright © by Jason S. Wrench; Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter; and Katherine S. Thweatt available at Interpersonal Communication – Simple Book Publishing licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
Table 4.1 is adapted from Cultural Characteristics and Communication in Interpersonal Communication Copyright © by Jason S. Wrench; Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter; and Katherine S. Thweatt available at Interpersonal Communication – Simple Book Publishing licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
This section is adapted from Cultural Characteristics and Communication in Interpersonal Communication Copyright © by Jason S. Wrench; Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter; and Katherine S. Thweatt available at Interpersonal Communication – Simple Book Publishing licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
