3. PART 3 HIGH & LOW CONTEXT CULTURE

4. CULTURAL CONTEXT The context of a culture is a way to examine how language is used How information is communicated from one person to another How do members of a given culture handle information Context is on a continuum from low to high

5. Chinese Tiger Mother

6. Tiger Mother Is there any truth to Chinese raising more competent children? Is there any truth to Chinese raising more competent children? Should a child be called garbage if they’re disrespectful? Should a child be called garbage if they’re disrespectful? Is it wrong to choose a child’s future for them? To ignore their interests? Is it wrong to choose a child’s future for them? To ignore their interests? Is it smart to deny your child to participate in sports and theatre? Is it smart to deny your child to participate in sports and theatre?

7. The Tiger Mother

8. SPO #4 LOW CONTEXT CULTURES (North America, Sweden, German)

9. COMMUNICATION SPO #4 Words send most of the message Value laden Words are extremely important and carry explicit meaning. Communication process less important Language has less emotion

10. COMMUNICATION SPO #4 Eye contact is commonly more direct Language deals primarily with the who, what, where, when, why and how. Language is based on linear thinking that is structured and direct – The primary language spoken in the U.S. is English in which the structure of words sends most of the message – Even though born in the U.S., your communication process may be inherited from parents or grandparents who came from low or high context cultures

11. VALUES Family structure is predominantly nuclear Importance of individualism – Personal accomplishments – Competition

12. VALUES Constitutional rights, laws and responsibilities are very important More importance usually placed on centralized government than on family, village or city rules or laws

14. SPO #4 HIGH CONTEXT CULTURES (i.e. Muslim/Arab, Somalian, Asian, Hispanic, African and Native American)

15. COMMUNICATION SPO #4 Words send only part of the message Value Laden The process of communication is just as important as the words used and may bury the implicit meaning of the words used or the intended message Emotion, posturing and gesturing may be part of the communication process

16. COMMUNICATION SPO #4 Less direct eye contact The message that is spoken has to be understood in the whole context of the culture. Absent a cultural understanding, the communication may be lacking nuances of the community in that culture may send the wrong message

17. VALUES Extended family Family unit is more important than the individual Collectivism is important Family rules and honor are extremely important

18. VALUES Respect Family and community rules may be more determinate of values, ethics and laws than centralized government Time is not as important as completing a task