High- and Low-context Communication Styles Lecture 7 High- and Low-context Communication Styles COM 340

Overview The “context“ is the information that surrounds an event and is strongly connected with the event. The elements that combine together to give meaning to an event are different depending on the culture. It is possible to order the cultures of the world on a scale from low to high context. COM 340

High-context Communication In high-context cultures the members’ messages are implicit. The bulk of the message resides either in the physical context or is internalized in the communicators. The message is one in which most of the information is already “in the person.” Relatively speaking, very little information is transmitted “in the message.” COM 340

High-context Communication (con’t) Any words used depend on the setting, past experiences with each other, age, gender, etc. Members read nonverbal cues skillfully and are capable of understanding facial and bodily movements, subtle gestures, and environmental signs. Example: Two twins who have grown up together can and do communicate very economically. There is a high amount of context which they share and which need not be explicitly stated. COM 340

Low-context Communication In low-context cultures the member’ messages are explicit. The bulk of the information is “in the message” rather than “in the person” and usually comes in elaborate detail, clearly communicated. The burden of communicating lies in the use of words and phrases. COM 340

Low-context Communication (con’t) Members are not as skilled in comprehending nonverbal cues. Consequently, people are talkative and often redundant. Example: Two lawyers communicating during a trial have very “low” amount of context which they share. All information and communication must be explicitly stated. All the information is in the message. COM 340

Context Scale High-context Low-context Asian Arab Southern European African South American Northern European Australian North American Scandinavian German Swiss Low-context COM 340

High-context Cultures Nonverbal communication important Information flows freely Rely on physical context for information Environment, situation, guides, gestures, mood, cues, hints are all taken into account Maintain extensive information network Accustomed to interruptions COM 340

Low-context Cultures Less aware of nonverbal cues, environment, and situation Lack well-developed networks Need detailed background information Tend to segment and compartmentalize information Control information on a “need-to-know” basis Prefer explicit and careful directions from someone who “knows” COM 340

Low-context Languages If what one has to say is complex, then one needs a complex language and grammar to express it. Relatively speaking, these languages are complex and have a large number of words: German Russian & Slavic Scandinavian languages English COM 340

High-context Languages With high-context language, the grammar can be very simple and efficient. The information exchanged is not in the words, but rather in the context and in the shared meaning and experiences. Examples: Air traffic controller language Football team language Policeman language Prisoner language Military language COM 340

Meeting of High and High At times it is very difficult to go from one high-context culture to another high-context culture. Even though they are both “high”, the context is different. COM 340

Meeting of High and Low When “high” meets “low”, you can’t meet in the middle. Rather you must go lower than the low. Everything must be spelled out verbally Once a certain amount of shared experiences are had, then the context level can be raised. COM 340