PART 3PART 3

HIGH & LOW CONTEXT CULTURE

CULTURAL CONTEXTCULTURAL 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

Chinese Tiger MotherChinese Tiger Mother

Tiger MotherTiger MotherIs there any truth to Chinese Is there any truth to Chinese

raising more competent children?raising more competent children?Should a child be called garbage if Should a child be called garbage if

they’re disrespectful? they’re disrespectful? Is it wrong to choose a child’s Is it wrong to choose a child’s

future for them? To ignore their future for them? To ignore their interests?interests?

Is it smart to deny your child to Is it smart to deny your child to participate in sports and theatre?participate in sports and theatre?

The Tiger MotherThe Tiger Mother

SPO #4SPO #4LOW CONTEXT CULTURESLOW CONTEXT CULTURES

(North America, Sweden, (North America, Sweden, German)German)

COMMUNICATION SPO #4COMMUNICATION SPO #4

Words send most of the message

Value ladenWords are extremely important

and carry explicit meaning. Communication process less important

Language has less emotion

COMMUNICATION SPO #4COMMUNICATION 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 primary language spoken in

the U.S. is English in which the the U.S. is English in which the structure of words sends most of structure of words sends most of the messagethe message

– Even though born in the U.S., your Even though born in the U.S., your communication process may be communication process may be inherited from parents or inherited from parents or grandparents who came from low grandparents who came from low or high context culturesor high context cultures

VALUESVALUES

Family structure is predominantly nuclear

Importance of individualism– Personal accomplishments– Competition

VALUESVALUES

Constitutional rights, laws and responsibilities are very important

More importance usually placed on centralized government than on family, village or city rules or laws

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

American)American)

COMMUNICATION SPO #4COMMUNICATION 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

COMMUNICATION SPO #4COMMUNICATION 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

VALUESVALUESExtended familyFamily unit is more important than

the individualCollectivism is importantFamily rules and

honor are extremely important

VALUESVALUES

RespectFamily and community rules may

be more determinate of values, ethics and laws than centralized government

Time is not as important as completing a task