高低语境跨文化交际.pdf

⾼低语境跨⽂化交际

1Highcontextculture（⾼语境⽂化）：

Culturesinwhichlesshastobesaidorwrittenbecausemoreofthemeaningisinthephysicalenvironmentoralready
sharedbypeoplearelabeledhighcontext.（在⾼语境⽂化中，在⼈们交际时，有较多的信息量或者蕴涵在社会⽂化环境和情
景中，或者内化于交际者的⼼中；相对地讲，明显的语码则负载较少的信息量。这也意味着，在强交际环境⽂化的⼈们对微妙
的环境提⽰较为敏感。）

Lowcontextculture（低语境⽂化）：

Culturesinwhichlittleofthemeaningisdeterminedbythecontextbecausethemessageisencodedintheexplicitcodeare
labeledlowcontext.（在低语境⽂化中，交际过程中所产⽣的信息量的⼤部分由显性的语码负载，相对地讲，只有少量的信
息蕴涵在隐性的环境和情景中。这也意味着，在低语境⽂化中的⼈们习惯⽤语⾔本⾝的⼒量来进⾏交际。）

2GeneralIntroductiontoHigh-contextandLow-contextCultures

AnthropologistEdwardT.Hall’stheoryofhigh-andlow-contextculturehelpsusbetterunderstandthepowerfuleffectculture
hasoncommunication.Akeyfactorinhistheoryiscontext.Thisrelatestotheframework,background,andsurrounding
circumstancesinwhichcommunicationoraneventtakesplace.

High-contextcultures(includingmuchoftheMiddleEast,Asia,Africa,andSouthAmerica)arerelational,collectivist,
intuitive,andcontemplative.Thismeansthatpeopleintheseculturesemphasizeinterpersonalrelationships.Developing
trustisanimportantfirststeptoanybusinesstransaction.AccordingtoHall,theseculturesarecollectivist,preferringgroup
harmonyandconsensustoindividualachievement.Andpeopleintheseculturesarelessgovernedbyreasonthanby
intuitionorfeelings.Wordsarenotsoimportantascontext,whichmightincludethespeaker’stoneofvoice,facial
expression,gestures,posture—andeventheperson’sfamilyhistoryandstatus.

AJapanesemanagerexplainedhisculture’scommunicationstyletoanAmerican:―Weareahomogeneouspeopleand
don’thavetospeakasmuchasyoudohere.Whenwesayoneword,weunderstandten,buthereyouhavetosaytento
understandone.High-contextcommunicationtendstobemoreindirectandmoreformal.Flowerylanguage,humility,and
elaborateapologiesaretypical.Low-contextcultures(includingNorthAmericaandmuchofWesternEurope)arelogical,
linear,individualistic,andaction-oriented.Peoplefromlow-contextculturesvaluelogic,facts,anddirectness.Solvinga
problemmeansliningupthefactsandevaluatingoneafter