Recently, I have been thinking a lot about challenges that language learners face when communicating. Learning vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation are obviously difficult tasks, but I think something else can be just as challenging.
Context and culture.
Words and grammar are not the only way that we communicate. The world isn’t always direct and clear. In fact, some cultures and parts of the world rely extensively on context to communicate meanings.
Today, we are going to discuss culture and context in language learning. We’ll discuss low-context cultures, high-context cultures, and how this affects English learning and English usage!
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Vocabulary
- Context (Noun): The background information, situation, or setting that helps you understand the meaning of something.
- Without context, it’s difficult to understand the true meaning of her words.
- Direct (Adjective): Expressing something in a clear and straightforward manner.
- He gave a direct answer to the question without hesitation.
- Indirect (Adjective): Not saying something openly or explicitly; implying a meaning rather than stating it clearly.
- Instead of refusing directly, she gave an indirect response by changing the topic.
- Explicit (Adjective): Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion.
- The teacher gave explicit instructions on how to complete the assignment.
- Implicit (Adjective): Suggested or understood without being directly stated.
- His apology contained an implicit acknowledgment that he had made a mistake.
- Communication style (Noun): The way in which people express their thoughts and interact through language.
- Her communication style is very formal, which sometimes makes casual conversations difficult.
Context and Communication
Have you ever had a conversation where someone seemed to understand your meaning without you saying much? Or maybe you’ve experiences the opposite. Where a person explains every little detail clearly and directly, even when you already knew the context?
It is really common to face differences in communication style when you learn a new language. They way people talk in English is very different to how people talk in Japanese or in German.
German speakers, for example, tend to be quite direct and clear when speaking. Japanese speakers, on the other hand, use a lot of context to communicate.
The same is true even within a language. While English in general tends to be quite a direct language, American English speakers are far more direct than British speakers.
Obviously, this is talking in generalisations. Individual people have their own communication styles, but cultures can tend towards certain communication styles overall.
One of the most useful ways to understand communication styles across cultures is through the concept of high-context and low-context cultures.
Context is going to be a word you will hear a lot in this episode. Context is the background information, situation, or setting that helps you understand the meaning of something.
One of the biggest mistakes that language learners often make is forgetting context when studying. You could learn all the grammar and vocabulary in the world, and train extensively with pronunciation tools, but without understanding culture and context you will struggle to communicate.
I live in Japan, and I am still learning different contextual and cultural rules. My mother-in-law (wife’s mother) often complains that I speak too formally with her. I learn formal versions of Japanese verbs in all of my textbooks, but this is not how your supposed to communicate in casual conversation.
It also took me a while to realise that people don’t often directly or strongly state their opinions or meanings in Japan. The best example is that it is rare for someone to say “no” when they are refusing something.
If my friend asks me if I want to go to the gym, I will say “yes” or “no.” If I ask my Japanese friend, and they want to refuse, they will say something like “let’s see how my work goes” or “I might be too busy” or “it might be difficult.”
Culture influences communication. As I mentioned earlier, there is some attempt to divide cultures into high-context and low context-cultures.
Of course, there are problems in such a categorisation. There are variations in communication styles within a “culture” (the way someone in a norther English city like Leeds communicates is different to a southern English town in Surrey), individuals have their own styles, and there are many cultures that don’t fit in high or low categories.
However, I think they are an interesting concept, so let’s take a look at what high-context and low-context culture means.
What Are High-Context and Low-Context Cultures?
High-Context Cultures
High-context cultures are cultures which use a high amount of context in communication. Their communication styles rely on background information, the situation, and nonverbal information (things that are not said).
This means that not everything is said explicitly. Much of the meaning comes from context rather than direct words.
Imagine you’re in Japan, China, or the Middle East. In these cultures, people often communicate indirectly.
I gave the example of “no” earlier. Instead of saying “No,” they might say, “It’s a little difficult” or remain silent. The expectation is that the listener will read between the lines and understand the true meaning.
You are supposed to understand (from the context) the meaning of their words, rather than from the words directly. People rely on tone of voice, body language, and sometimes silence to convey messages.
Some examples of high-context cultures include:
- East Asian cultures (Japan, China, Korea)
- Middle Eastern cultures (Saudi Arabia, UAE)
- Latin American cultures (Mexico, Brazil)
Low-Context Cultures
On the other hand, in low-context cultures, communication is much more explicit and direct. They use a low amount of context in communication.
Words carry most of the meaning, and people don’t rely as much on background knowledge or unspoken understanding.
Think about countries like the United States, Germany, or Australia. In these cultures, people say exactly what they mean. If someone disagrees, they will likely express it openly. Instructions, business meetings, and even casual conversations tend to be clear and to the point.
A key idea in low-context cultures is efficiency. Conversations should be straightforward so that everyone understands, no matter their background. While politeness still exists, people generally don’t expect the listener to guess their true intentions.
For example, if you ask an American or a German colleague, “Do you want to go to the cinema tonight?”, and they don’t want to go, they might simply say, “No, I’m busy” or “No, maybe another time.”
There is no hidden meaning.
Some examples of low-context cultures include:
- North America (USA, Canada)
- Western Europe (Germany, UK, Netherlands, Scandinavia)
- Australia & New Zealand
High-Context vs. Low-Context: A Spectrum
It’s important to note that most cultures exist somewhere in between high-context and low-context communication.
For example, British English is often more indirect than American English, but still more direct than Japanese. Similarly, some parts of Latin America may lean towards high-context communication, while others are more direct.
How Does This Affect English Learning?
The differences between high-context and low-context cultures can affect how you learn and use English.
English, especially in low-context cultures like the US, UK, and Australia, expects speakers to be clear and direct.
You need to use pronouns. We say things like “I think…” and “you should…” In some languages, like Japanese, you can avoid saying “I”, “you”, “we” and so on, but in English we need to use pronouns.
You should also practice being more direct in your opinions and requests. If you are in an English class, and the teacher asks, “do you understand?”, you should answer “yes” or “no”.
In English, we also tend to speak actively more than passively. “I record Thinking in English” rather than “Thinking in English is recorded by me”. I work with a Japanese Thinking in English Patreon subscriber on IELTS writing practice each month, and we quickly noticed that she would write far more passive sentences than the average native speaker.
If you come from a high-context culture, you might struggle with direct speech in English. Some English speakers may sound too blunt or even rude to you!
Or you might struggle with requests and refusals. You might think you are clearly asking for something, but the native English speaker might not understand that.
If you come from a low-context culture, you might struggle with the way some British people communicate.
For example, if you’re working with British colleagues and they say, “Would you mind looking at this when you have time?”, they are politely asking you to do something now, but they won’t say it directly. If you take it literally, you might think you can do it whenever you want (but this is not what they meant exactly).
How Does This Affect English Use in Real Life?
Importantly, context directly affects how you use English in everyday situations. I think there are two sides to this.
First, if you come from a high-context culture, you may need to adjust when speaking English, especially in business, academic, or international settings.
You should probably be more direct. Especially in low-context cultures like the US, people value clarity. Instead of hinting at something, say it clearly.
You should state your opinions clearly. Instead of expecting the listener to guess your meaning, express your thoughts openly.
And don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you don’t understand something, English speakers expect you to ask directly. In some cultures, this might seem impolite, but in English, it shows engagement.
However, there is another side to this. It’s not just about being more direct. English is a global lingua franca, you will interact with people from many different cultures, each with their own communication style.
British speakers often use polite, indirect language. “Would you be able to send that email when you have time?” might actually mean “Send the email now.”
American speakers tend to be more straightforward. “Can you send the email?” is a direct request, not a question.
Non-native English speakers from high-context cultures might use more implied meanings.
If you are from Germany, but you use English primarily with a group of Chinese colleagues, you should probably adjust your communication styles as well.
Final Thought
Understanding high-context and low-context cultures can help you navigate real-life communication more effectively.
If you come from a high-context culture, you may need to be more direct when speaking English. If you’re from a low-context culture, adapting to indirect communication styles, especially in international settings, can be useful.
Since English is a global lingua franca, understanding different styles will help you communicate clearly with people from diverse backgrounds. By being aware of cultural differences in communication, you can avoid misunderstandings and become a more confident English speaker.
What do you think? Do you come from a high-context or low-context culture? Have you ever experienced differences in communication styles?
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