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First, context is very important to understanding intercultural communication. There are two ways individuals use context in communication: one is low-context and the other is high-context. Low-context communication is like a computer program; everything must be specified in the coded message or the computer program will not run. In a low-context culture like the United States, individuals must express themselves as explicitly as possible for effective communication to occur. High-context communication, in contrast, is like communication between twins who were raised together. Twins intuitively understand each other and use shortened sentences and words when they talk. If Chinese do not understand the low-context system used in the United States and Americans do not understand the high-context system used in China, misunderstandings will occur. Understanding cultural norms and rules such as the way we are expected to greet others, the way we are expected to dress, the way we are expected to eat, and the way we are expected to answer questions also are important in improving communication with people from other cultures. For example, if you greet an American by asking him or her "where are you going?" or "have you eaten yet?", the American might feel very uncomfortable because asking these questions could be interpreted as an invasion of privacy. But in the Chinese culture, these are appropriate greetings which do not invade the other person's privacy. These examples do illustrate the importance of studying the influence of culture on communication if we are to overcome culture barriers to effective communication. |
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