International Marketing Assignment: Communication Context Analysis

This essay delves into the realm of international marketing, specifically focusing on the concepts of high and low context communication cultures as defined by Edward T. Hall. The author, identifying with a low-context communication culture, analyzes the characteristics of both cultural approaches, highlighting the emphasis on explicit communication in low-context cultures and implicit communication in high-context cultures. The essay discusses Hall's theory, which emphasizes the role of context, relationships, and implicit understanding in high-context cultures, contrasting it with the direct and explicit communication style of low-context cultures. The author then reflects on their personal communication patterns, aligning with Hall's theory and providing examples to support the characteristics of a low-context culture, such as short-term relationships, directness, and individualistic approaches. The essay concludes by acknowledging the implications of these cultural differences in international business and communication.

Running head: INTERNATIONAL MARKETING
International Marketing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Question: Discuss whether you come from a high or a low context communication culture.
Personally, do you think your own communication is mostly high or low context? Thinking of
your own communication patterns, do you agree with Hall’s theory of high and low context
communication?
The culture I belong to is a low context communication culture. According to personal
insight, the pattern of the communication of my culture is low context. The concept of the low
and high context was established by Edward T. Hall. In his book Beyond Culture of 1976, he
states different ways the cultures in the world initiate communication (Burgoon, Guerrero and
Floyd 2016). According to his concepts, the high context communication culture includes
implicit communication practices. In this culture, the value of context and relationships are far
higher than effective communication practice, hence the exchange of words in this culture is
comparatively low. On the other hand, in case of low context cultures, the practice of effective
communication is far more valued and practiced and messages are conveyed only by the means
of words and communication. Hence it needs to be explicit in nature. Hall’s theory states that the
internal data that is used to interpret is termed as B, whereas the original message of
communication is termed as A (Barkema et al. 2015). In his theory, he states that the high
context cultures depend on intimate personal relationships, traditions, and established
hierarchies. The low context cultures do not necessarily have the same traditional depth and
include more short-term relationships and shallower connection. To summarize, the high context
cultures includes physical context and internalization by an individual in the culture, whereas it
is just the opposite in case of low context cultures (Kittler, Rygl and Mackinnon 2011).
Considering my own communication patterns, the Halls theory totally justifies the concept and
factors of low communication culture. In our cultural communication practice, the mass of data

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is conferred by explicit codes. Some of the notable characteristics of the low context culture that
the theory of Hall stated justify our culture. These include the tendency to make shorter and
shallow relationships, the requirement of explicit communication practices because they lack
additional context (Knapp, Hall and Horgan 2013). Besides this, in our culture, the practice of
communication is more direct and confrontational. Some other notable features include
individualistic approaches, the capability to identify faults and lies and tendency of frequent
alteration. Another of the related aspect in the context of culture is the perception of time. The
low context cultures use monochromic perceptions (Barros 2017). The time is observed as
sequential and tangible. There are far-reaching implications of the high and low context cultural
practices. The culture I belong from is a low context culture, the people in our culture generally
tends to behave in a way that is generally considered as rude, incompetent and ignorant in front
of the high context culture. Thus it can be said that there lies a wide range of difference between
the high context and low context communication cultures around the globe. The Halls theory
justifies the factors and pointed out the notable nature of the two cultures in one platform.

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References
Barkema, H.G., Chen, X.P., George, G., Luo, Y. and Tsui, A.S., 2015. West meets East: New
concepts and theories. Academy of Management Journal, 58(2), p.460.
Barros, M.S., 2017. How Does High-/Low-Context Communication Influence Advertisement
Perception?.
Burgoon, J.K., Guerrero, L.K. and Floyd, K., 2016. Nonverbal communication. Routledge.
Kittler, M.G., Rygl, D. and Mackinnon, A., 2011. Special Review Article: Beyond culture or
beyond control? Reviewing the use of Hall’s high-/low-context concept. International Journal of
Cross Cultural Management, 11(1), pp.63-82.
Knapp, M.L., Hall, J.A. and Horgan, T.G., 2013. Nonverbal communication in human
interaction. Cengage Learning.