High Context Culture and Low Context Culture

Purposive Communication Course Subject (Eng11)

Kalinga State University – College of Engineering and Information Technology
Differences of and similarities of the Types of Cultures

ACTIVITY 3: In a Venn Diagram, Illustrate the Differences of and similarities of the Types of
Cultures.

LOW CONTEXT CULTURE

HIGH CONTEXT CULTURE
• Relies only on implicit communication
• The information in a message is spelled
• Relies in both implicit and nonverbal cues
and defined.
• A message cannot be understood without a
great deal of background information. ASSOCIATION:
• Relationship begin and end quickly
• Productivity depends on procedures
ASSOCIATION: and paying attention to the goal.
• Relationship builds slowly and depend • Individuals identity is rooted in
on trust themselves and accomplishments
• Productivity depends on relationships SIMILARITIES • The social structure decentralized
and the group process INTERACTION:
• Individuals identity is rooted in groups • Nonverbal elements are insignificant
• The social structure and authority are • Verbal messages are explicit
Both refers to how a
centralized • Communication is seen as a way of
message is
exchanging information, ideas and
INTERACTION: communicated within
opinions.
• Nonverbal elements are significant cultures.
• Disagreement is depersonalized
• Verbal messages are indirect Both are ends of a • The focus is on rational (not personal)
• Communication is seen as a form of art continuum of how explicit solutions
of engaging someone the messages exchanged • A person is sensitive to conflict
• Disagreement is personalized in a culture are and how expressed in someone else’s
• A person is sensitive to conflict important the context is nonverbal communication
expressed in someone else’s nonverbal in communication. • An individual can be explicit about
communication another person’s bothersome
High and low context behavior.
TERRITORIALITY cultures typically refer
• Space is communal TERRITORIALITY
to language individual,
• People stand close to each other and groups, nationalities, or • Space is compartmentalized
share the same space. regional communities. • Privacy is important
TEMPORALITY
TEMPORALITY • Events and tasks are scheduled and
• Everything has its own time and time is not to be done at particular times
easily scheduled. • Change is fast and time is a
• Time is slow and time is a process that commodity to be spent or saved
belongs to others and nature. • One’s time is one’s owned
LEARNING LEARNING
• Multiple sources of information • One source of information is used
are used. • Thinking proceeds from specific
• Thinking proceeds from general to general.
to specific. • Learning occur by following the
• Learning occur by observing explicit directness and
others as they model or explanations of others.
demonstrate practicing. • Individual orientation is
• Groups are preferred and preferred and speed is valued
accuracy is valued.