Instructions:
In this activity, you will read a PPT that explores uncertainty avoidance.
Expectations: You should read it carefully and take notes on the key points and concepts. Finish the following quiz.
阅读这个PPT文档，您可以理解高低语境的特征和影响。
高低语境
巩固练习
1 Which of the following best describes a low-context culture?
a) Indirect communication style where meaning is implicit
b) Rules and procedures are strictly followed
c) Direct communication style where meaning is explicitly stated
d) Nonverbal cues and context are highly important
2 In high-context cultures, contracts and documented agreements are:
a) Very detailed and exhaustive
b) Not as important as relationships and trust
c) Only used for major business deals
d) Considered rude if presented too early
参考答案：
1 Answer: C
Explanation: Low-context cultures rely on explicit, direct verbal communication to convey meaning and information.
2 Answer: B
Explanation: High-context cultures build trust through relationships rather than formal contracts. Written agreements are less important.
Question and Answer
3 Compare how you would expect a business negotiation to go between representatives from a high-context culture vs. a low-context culture. What differences might you see in communication styles and approaches?
4 Think of a situation where a misunderstanding occurred between people from different context cultures. What went wrong and how could it have been prevented? Discuss strategies for bridging such cross-cultural communication gaps.
5 Is your own national culture generally considered high or low context? How does this impact your communication style and approach to relationships? Provide examples if possible.
Sample answers
3 Sample Answer: In a high context culture negotiation, the representatives may take more time building a relationship and getting to know each other before business discussions. Communication may be more indirect and interpret meaning from facial expressions, tone of voice, and other nonverbal cues. In a low-context culture negotiation, the representatives would likely get right to business matters in a direct, explicit way. Communication would focus on verbal content rather than nonverbal signals. The low-context negotiators may seem blunt or aggressive to high-context negotiators who expect more diplomacy and relationship-building.
Explanation: High-context cultures rely heavily on nonverbal communication and reading meaning from the context. Low-context cultures prioritize clear, concise verbal communication. These differing approaches can lead to miscommunications and misunderstandings in cross-cultural business negotiations.
4 Sample Answer: A Japanese business person may have been offended by an American company's direct, factual presentation without first building a relationship. This could have been prevented by the American team taking time to socialize, make introductions, and establish common ground before getting down to business. To bridge the gap, both sides should research communication norms in advance, be patient, clarify meanings frequently, and not make assumptions. Adapting communication styles to align better with the other's cultural expectations shows respect.
Explanation: Misunderstandings often occur because high-context cultures infer meaning from the situation while low-context cultures focus primarily on the explicit content of words. Adjusting approaches to accommodate the other culture's style and asking clarifying questions can help prevent issues.
5 Sample Answer: Coming from the U.S., which is typically low context, my communication style tends to be very direct. I value clarity and explicit verbal communication in both relationships and work situations. However, this can come across as blunt or impersonal to high-context cultures that expect more subtle, indirect meanings. For example, when giving critical feedback to a Japanese colleague, I had to tone down my directness and take time to provide positive context, in order to follow norms he was more comfortable with.
Explanation: One's own cultural background shapes communication patterns and norms. Being aware of how your native culture aligns with context culture theory can provide useful insights for cross-cultural interactions. Using specific examples is helpful.
注意：
While indirect communication is common in high-context cultures, it is not used exclusively. There is flexibility based on relationships, individual factors, and situational contexts. It's not an absolute rule that communication must be indirect.
While direct communication is the norm in low-context cultures, it's not an absolute rule. There is flexibility based on relationships, individual factors, and situations. The key is that low-context cultures rely relatively less on indirect/nonverbal communication compared to high-context ones. But a variation on the directness spectrum exists in all cultures.
