Journal Entry 4

The Maximizing Study Abroad book defines context cultural dimension as identifying and understanding low- and high-context communication. Learning how to distinguish between low- and high-context messages will help inform on how to better observe and interpret different social situations. Being able to decide whether communication is low- or high-context, this will help one be able to exemplify their own communication style. People of different cultures and countries communicate in different ways and recognizing different communication styles isn’t about the level of one’s language fluency, though it is about understanding different communication styles through interpretation of context. Low-context communication is one that holds low reliance on cues from context. People tend to be straight-forward and use verbal language to express their emotions or meanings. For example, the United States uses low-context communication because people are more direct and sincere. The United States is a very diverse country with many different cultural backgrounds and with that said, Americans have a tendency to rely heavily on verbal communication and to be explicit. The United Kingdom also uses low-context communication, meaning that they tell people what they need to know in order to understand them. In a low-context situation, people do not assume understanding will come automatically from the situation, the context, or the person we are speaking with. Although the non-verbal communication style is important in a low-context situation, the verbal or written message is found to be even more important. On the opposite side of the spectrum is the high-context communication style, where there is a high reliance on cues from the context. A high-context communication style is used by cultures that depend on social cues to get their message across. With that said, there is a higher reliance on nonverbal communication where people pay more attention to the situation, the environment and who they are communicating with. For example, Japan and China are found to use high-context communication where they don’t have to worry so much about explaining every detail about something, people will just understand their meaning from the context of the situation. Non-verbal cues are highly important for conveying meaning in high-context cultures, rather than having to thoroughly explained through verbal or written communication. If a student from the United States were to study abroad in Japan, they would have a more difficult time communication in social situation because they depend on a heavy practice of high-context communication. A student from the United States studying abroad in the United Kingdom would have a much easier transition because people of the United Kingdom are known to socialize in low-context communication style situations. Being able to understand the aspects of both low- and high-context communication can help one when attempting to communicate in cross cultural dimensions.