Overview
This lecture explains Edward Hall's concept of high and low context cultures, describing how these cultural differences affect international business communication.
Edward Hall and Intercultural Communication
- Edward Hall is an anthropologist who founded intercultural communication studies in 1959.
- Intercultural communication is the sharing of information across different cultures and social groups.
High vs. Low Context Cultures
- Hall developed the high context and low context culture framework for understanding communication differences.
- High context cultures value indirect communication and use non-verbal cues and implicit messages.
- In high context cultures, understanding a message requires substantial background information.
- Typical high context cultures include Asian, African, Arab, Central European, and Latin American societies.
- Low context cultures prefer explicit, direct communication where information is clearly spelled out.
- Western European-rooted societies, such as the United States and Australia, are examples of low context cultures.
Importance for International Business
- Recognizing whether a culture is high or low context is essential for successful negotiation and intercultural understanding.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Intercultural Communication — exchanging information between people from different cultures or social groups.
- High Context Culture — a culture where communication relies on implicit messages and shared background knowledge.
- Low Context Culture — a culture where communication is direct, explicit, and detailed.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review examples of high and low context cultures for upcoming discussion.
- Reflect on your own cultural background and communication style.