High vs low context cultures

Communication is concise, straight forward, explicit, simple and clear

• Low Context Cultures

• High Context Cultures

Requires attention to the literal meanings of words than to the context surrounding them .

• High Context Culture

• Low Context Culture

Communication is indirect, implicit, subtle, layered and nuanced

• Low Context Culture

• High Context Cultures

Non verbal cues like tone of voice, eye movements, gestures and facial expressions carry a great deal of meaning

• High Context Culture

• Low Context Culture

The purpose and outcome of the communication takes precedence over interpersonal relationships.

• High Context Culture

• Low Context Culture

During meetings, do not summarise the key takeaways or follow it up with written communication with the implicit assumption that everyone got their part right

• High Context Culture

• Low Context Culture

Often exhibit less-direct verbal and nonverbal communication, utilizing small communication gestures and reading more meaning into these less-direct messages.

• Low Context Culture

• High Context Culture

Direct verbal communication is needed to properly understand a message being communicated and relies heavily on explicit verbal skills.

• Low Context Culture

• High Context Culture