CROSS-CULTURAL VERBAL COMMUNICATION STYLES

 Hall (1976, 1987)’s low-context culture and high-context culture

 Low-context=Direct verbal styles
(1) the situational context not emphasised; (2)
important information usually carried in explicit verbal
messages; (3) self-expression, verbal fluency, and
eloquent speech are valued; and (4) people tend to
directly express their opinions and intend to
persuade others to accept their view points.
..
Low Context communication styles: direct, person-oriented, self-
enhancement, importance of “talk”
-Explicit personal thoughts/opinions/ feelings
Scene 1 (Jane & Diane; pp.24- 25): possible low- context interpersonal
conflict: no restraints, direct, blunt
-Common idioms about low-context communication: “say what you mean”,
“don’t beat around the bush”, “get to the point”
……
High-context communication styles: indirect, self-effacing (restraint,
modest talk, self-deprecation), status-oriented, importance of nonverbal
signs & silence
(1)Explicit messages not emphasised;
(2) Important information usually carried in contextual
cues (e.g. place, time, situation, and relationship);
(3)Harmony highly valued, ambiguous language,
silent in interactions;
(4) People tend to talk around the point, and to avoid saying “no” directly.
……………….
Scene 2 ( One possible high-context way of resolving interpersonal conflict: 2
Japanese housewives; pp.25):
 - Note: A not directly expressessed concern over the noise=> keep face &
relationships with B
- A uses indirect hints
- B reads between the lines of A’s message, apologizes
…………………………………………..
Direct & Indirect interaction
Examples: making request
Scene 1 (2 US Americans, direct request, p. 27)
Scene 2 ( 2 Chinese, indirect request, p.27)
Note: how in Scene 2 how requests are likely to be
implied; usually implicit understanding between speaker
& hearer; indirectness help save face & maintain
harmony; speaker may drop the request if s/he
recognizes the cue from hearer ( decides to reject, not
responding to request/ changes topic)
…………………
Possible intercultural misunderstanding due to different cultural scripts brought
to communication
Scene 3 (Chinese & American, Request dialogue, p. 28)
Each interlocutor in the dialogue communicates in his/her
own cultural style; the American speaker using the direct
style, the Chinese one the indirect/ implicit style.
The American speaker ASSUMES the Chinese will make a request DIRECTLY
if she wants a ride to the airport.
The Chinese ASSUMES the American will IMPLICITLY understands her
intention.
……………
 Mediation
 One needs to understand the underlying intention of a writer/speaker to
translate effectively (Katan,1999,p. 126)
 When absence of information in the source text may cause
misunderstanding or difficulty in understanding for the target text
audience, the translator/ interpreter needs to make explicit that kind of
information by referring to the CULTURAL CONTEXT. It can be a
cultural fact, a cultural value/ belief, or culturally-influenced
communication style ( direct/indirect, person-oriented or status-oriented,
self-enhancement or self-effacement, emphasis of talk or silence)