Cross Cultural Communication
High and low context in regard to cultures refers to those cultures which are young compared to those which are ancient. The idea being that traditions and practices emerge over time and become expectations within a given society or group. Consider the 60 year old country of Israel where government officials might wear open necked shirts or shorts to the office, and have officers and subordinates in the military who address each other by first names. Korea is 5000 years old, and from birth, Korean chldren are instructed on what is important and what is required in their culture. In one movie about sales it was said, everyone should live in New York, but move before you get too hard, and everyone should live in California but move before you get too soft. Often natives of California don't understand why things such as "wedding etiquette" mean so much to the family, "back east".
High context and low context Cultures
High context Cultures: (everything matters)
- Formal
- Consider dress and manners very important
- Have high regard for title and authority
- Who you are and who you know is important
Low context Cultures: (Its casual)
- Informal
- Lack of protocol is not intended reject or dishonor
- Usually prefer you use their name rather than title
- What you know is more important than who you know or who you are