Communication Style and Cultural Features in High/Low Context Communication Cultures : a Case Study of Finland, Japan and India

3.1 – Explain how individuals from a different backgrounds may use communication methods in a different way

Different social, professional and cultural contexts may affect relationships and the way people communicate due to of a lack of understanding or knowledge of one another’s background and culture. This could be through their race, religion, ethnicity or where they come from. Each one of these can have similar or very different ways to communicate. For example

Communication involves more than exchanging words between people. Gestures, postures, facial expressions and even eye contacts are important during communication. Both verbal and nonverbal cues are important during communication and can help a person understand the speaker or listener’s emotions, attitudes or status. Understanding the existence of various cultures is necessary since different cultures have varying ways of communication (Lustig & Koester, 2012). Therefore, a communication style that is perceived as bad by a culture may be good in another culture. Besides, characteristics that may be essential for a particular culture may be quite irrelevant for another. In line with this dissimilarity, individuals need to adapt carefully and understand communication preferences and desires among cultures.

Explain how people from different backgrounds may use and/ or interpret communication methods in different ways

They are often described as loud, and interruptions are expected. Also, they tend to be eloquent. There is rarely a moment of silence during the conversation. Italian has characteristics of both Hall’s low and high context cultures. Northern Italy and Southern Italy differ by region, as the south is more collectivist, and the north is more individualistic. Northern Italy follows Hall’s high context culture, and southern Italy follows Hall’s low context culture. A high context communication style is one in which “most of the information is either in the physical context or internalized in the person, while very little is in the coded, explicit, transmitted part of the message.” It is a communication derive much information from non-verbal and environmental cues, which indicates there are less words of a message. On the other hand, low context culture audiences derive more meaning from the language in a message rather than the context the message is being delivered in. In fact, Italian is more prone to “high-context” messages, they do not need messages to be “high-context” to derive the message meaning (Republic of Italy). They are more open to a “high-context because they perceive messages more than words; for instance, a color or a scenario might change the meaning of the words completely. They are very expressive, and there is an intensive use of hand gestures when speaking in order to convey their opinions. This is

Explain how people from different backgrounds may use and/or interpret communication methods in different ways

3.1 Explain how people from different backgrounds may use and/or interpret communication methods in different ways

My personal communication philosophy includes two factors that will support improved comprehension among those attempting to connect. The following paper will discuss these two elements: merging communication styles to aid in understanding and communication intent vs. perception.

Communication is an ongoing process in which individuals exchange messages whose meanings are influenced by the history of the relationship and the experiences of the participants. (Adler, p.384) Communication depends on relationships between the people who are communicating, and on common basics between them. Problems in communications between people may arise due to differences in cultures, perceptions, values, and expectations from life.

Scholars attribute that communication phenomenon involves the exchange of information from a communicator to the recipient. The exchange requires a contextual understanding of the message between the recipient and communicator. The message is usually encoded in the means of communication and has to be decoded by the recipient to understand. Subsequently, a phenomenon that is located in an interaction-oriented by a speaker to a recipient can be deemed as a communication phenomenon (Goldhaber,20). A common question that communication phenomenon scholars ask is that, how do people communicate? People communicate through talking and behavioral bodily gestures accompanying that talk. Talking is thus regarded as the primary

Intercultural communication: A discourse approach attempts to explain the discourse approach and points to the authors ' distinction between cross-cultural communication and intercultural communication. The chapter underlines the authors ' approach and theory to intercultural communication. It covers several explanations and the distinction between cross-cultural communication and intercultural communication. The chapter discusses the many varieties of culture that exist. It also clarifies that intercultural communication can occur in conversations not necessarily when two people are from different countries.

Two of the most prevalent forms of communication styles are direct and indirect communication; these two communication styles impact how members of a culture interact with each other (Morreale & Pearson, 2008). According to Craddock (2002), Kierkegaard, regarded direct communication, “as the mode for transferring information and considered it totally appropriate to the fields of history, science, and related disciplines” (p. 70). Direct communication can be defined as, “speech that specifically states and directs an action. When someone hears direct speech, they know immediately what needs to be done. There is no question about who is in charge, and usually no need for discussion” (Gaddis, 2006, p. 11). On the other hand, Kiergaard believed that, “the indirect was the mode for eliciting capability and action from within the listener, a transaction that did not occur by giving the hearer some information” (Craddock, 2002, p. 70). Unlike direct communication, “a indirect style of speech is not typically authoritative, rather it encourages input from the listener” (Gaddis, 2006, p. 11). The direct and indirect communication styles are often used in different fields, disciplines, and industries ranging from education, workplace, literature, and entertainment, to church services (Morreale & Pearson, 2008). For example, the population relies on the news media as the main source of information and the basis on which they form their opinions and voting decisions” (Fog, 1999, p.

Before we go deeper into the communication aspect, let us analyse the general cultural values from these two major ethnic in Malaysia. The Hofstede Model of Cultural Dimensions can be a great use when it comes to analyzing cultures. Hofstede basically treats all Malaysian cultures equally. However, as based on the Hofstede Model of Cultural Dimensions, to compare both the Malaysian Malay and Indian cultures, both of these cultures actually falls under the high-context culture. High-context communication involves emotions and close relationships while low-context interactions use the logical part of the brain and are less personal. However, this does not mean these two cultures are equally the same with one another as there are similarities and differences between these two cultures.

Cross-cultural communication is the process of exchanging meaningful and unambiguous information across cultural boundaries, in a way that preserves mutual respect and minimizes antagonism, that is, it looks at how people from differing cultural backgrounds endeavour to communicate. The study of cross-cultural communication was originally found within businesses and the government both seeking to expand globally. Communication is interactive, so an important influence on its effectiveness is our relationship with others. All communication is cultural -- it draws on ways we have learned to speak and give nonverbal messages. We do not always

In low-context culture, the content of the speech should be clear and unambiguous message that the speaker is really up to the listener. Countries that use the spoken language English (Anglo-Saxon) such as Canada, United Kingdom, United States and Germany are examples of countries that have a low-context culture.