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These cultures also tend to have individualistic socio-economic systems that value competition and self-reliance. They do not expect members to share a common background and therefore require explicit communication. Individualism: Low-context cultures are said to value individualism, responsibility, & personal achievement.There are no subtle cues as the members are not expected to have deep knowledge of each other’s backgrounds. Unlike high-context cultures, low-context cultures rely on direct and precise messages. Straightforward tone: The explicit use of language combines with a direct and straightforward tone in low-context cultures.Communication primarily depends on the words rather than the context (comprising shared values, perspectives, and history of the group) or non-verbal cues (such as facial expressions, tone of voice, etc.). Clear & explicit language: In low-context cultures, language is used clearly and explicitly.Summary of Differences Low Context Culture Their communication is less-task oriented, and their decision-making is driven by relationships, shared experiences, and emotions.Įxamples of high-context cultures include China, India, and many non-Western societies. Since they value collectivism and interdependence, it makes sense that their communication requires an understanding of the community’s shared values.ĭue to this shared understanding, high-context cultures are slightly more informal. Unlike low-context cultures, high-context cultures prioritize the group over the individual (Hofstede, 1984).

Their communication is often indirect and requires a nuanced understanding, so outsiders might find it more difficult to enter their culture. High-context cultures rely heavily on non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, etc. High-context cultures, on the other hand, depend on both the spoken words and the context of the situation-including the shared values/assumptions of the group-to convey meaning. Low-context cultures rely on explicit communication. But we can also use them to talk about smaller groups, such as corporate cultures or a specific setting like the airport. The terms “low-context” and “high-context” usually refer to language groups or nationalities. Low-context and high-context culture are anthropological concepts that describe the level of explicit information and the importance of context in a culture’s communication. An in-depth understanding of cultural norms is not required because the communication is explicit. Moreover, their communication is often task-oriented and driven by rational decision-making, which can further add to their “formality.”įor an outsider, it is easier to enter into low-context cultures because one does not need to be aware of the shared history/values of the group. Low-context cultures can seem slightly more formal due to the explicit & precise nature of their messages. They often use written contracts and agreements to clarify expectations (Gudykunst & Ting-Toomey, 1988). Low-context cultures tend to focus more on the individual than the group, which is why they value individualism and autonomy.

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Instead, they depend on the explicit code of the words and written rules to convey meaning. They rely less on the shared values/assumptions of the group and the context of the situation. In other words, people communicate explicitly in low-context cultures. “most of the information is either in the explicit code or readily available elsewhere” (Hall, 1976). Hall describes low-context culture as one in which: Sourabh Yadav (MA) Low Context Culture DefinitionĮdward T.

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