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

2. 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.
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3. 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.”
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4. 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.
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5. 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

6. 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.
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7. Context Scale High-context Low-context Asian Arab Southern European
African
South American
Northern European
Australian
North American
Scandinavian
German
Swiss
Low-context
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8. 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
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9. 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”
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10. 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
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11. 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
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12. 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.
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13. 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