HIGH-CONTEXT

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 495.

In high-context cultures, most of the meaning exchanged during an encounter is often not communicated through words. One reason that meanings frequently do not have to be stated verbally in high-context cultures is because there is normally a strong level of similitude among the people. This leads to similar perceptions, experiences, and societal expectations, which produces well defined social protocols. Because high-context cultures are usually quite traditional, they change little over time and produce consistent responses to the social environment. “As a result, for most normal transactions in daily life they do not require, nor do they expect, much in-depth background information” [86] Because meaning is not necessarily contained in words, in high-context cultures, information is provided through inference, gestures, and even silence.

People from high-context cultures tend to be attuned to their surroundings and can easily express and interpret emotions nonverbally. Meaning in high-context cultures is also conveyed “through status (age, sex, education, family background, title, and affiliations) and through an individual's informal friends and associates” [87]. Because of the subtle “messages” used by high-context cultures, members of these groups often “communicate in an indirect fashion” [88]. They rely more on how something is said, rather than what is said, and are acutely aware of nonverbal cues.