Higher Context Research Articles

Decoding Silence in Digital Cross-Cultural Communication: Overcoming Misunderstandings in Global Teams

This study investigates the role of silence in digital cross-cultural communication, emphasizing its potential for misinterpretation due to cultural differences and the absence of non-verbal cues. Silence, often perceived differently across high- and low-context cultures, plays a crucial role in conveying emotions and intentions. In digital spaces, the lack of immediate feedback and non-verbal richness increases the complexity of silence interpretation. This research employs a comprehensive literature review to explore how silence is used in virtual communication platforms like Zoom and Slack and its impact on global teams. The study analyzes various existing research on silence in intercultural communication and digital communication tools. Key findings reveal that silence in high-context cultures, such as Japan and China, is seen as reflective and respectful, while in low-context cultures like the United States, it is often interpreted negatively, leading to miscommunication. Furthermore, the absence of non-verbal cues in digital environments exacerbates these misunderstandings. The study also explores the potential of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to mitigate these communication barriers by detecting and interpreting silence more effectively. The results underscore the need for cultural sensitivity in virtual teams and highlight the limitations of current AI tools in understanding cultural nuances. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on improving intercultural communication in digital settings, offering practical implications for global teams and suggesting future directions for AI integration in digital communication platforms.

The Role of Language in the Media During the 1994 Rwandan Genocide

In 1994, around 800,000 people were killed in 100 days of genocide in Rwanda. The primary targets of the genocide were the minority Tutsi, but many moderate Hutus were killed as well. In order to facilitate mass participation in the genocide, the ruling elite created and promoted media tools to disseminate anti-Tutsi propaganda and convince ordinary Rwandans to take part in the killings. The media instruments used included the RTLM radio station and newspapers such as Kangura. Using excerpts from radio broadcasts, as well as scholarly works by journalists, broadcasters, and media experts, this paper explores the role of the media in the genocide, including the formation of the media outlets and the various types of language used in the media, (such as high context and low context language), in addition to explaining how this language was used to promote genocide, and making recommendations for the prevention of the use of hate media in future conflicts.

The Spiritual Journey of Chinese Americans Viewed from the Cultural Connotation of The Joy Luck Club

Chinese-American writers who live in both Chinese and American cultures are the most sensitive to cultural conflict and integration. Amy Tan is one of those writers who probe deeply into the relationship between the Chinese and American cultures. The Joy Luck Club, a novel that tells stories of four Chinese mothers and their American-born daughters, has caused a great sensation inside and outside the United States and made Tan a famous writer. From the perspective of intercultural communication, Cultural conflicts between four couples of mother and daughter, between husbands and wives arising from the difference in cultural background are looked into from the angles of Chinese obedience to parents and American independence and democracy, Chinese women’s submissiveness and American women’s independence, Chinese family’s honor and American individual achievement, Chinese high-context culture and American low- context culture, Chinese superstition and American science. The causes of the conflicts are also discussed in the aspects of Chinese culture and American culture. Chinese mothers are deeply influenced by the concept of "Three Obedience and Four Virtues", "Resign oneself to Adversity", Etc. However, American daughters are born in the culture that emphasizes "Individualism, Equality, Independence and Freedom." In this thesis, it is also put forward that despite the conflicts, mutual compatibility of two cultures is unavoidable and an inescapable tendency, which reflects the development from the clash to the coexistence of the two cultures in the context of globalization.

Supplier Communication and Performance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Nairobi City County,Kenya

The study investigates the relationship between supplier communication and the performance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Supplier communication was found to play a pivotal role in the operational efficiency and overall performance of MSMEs, especially in dynamic markets. Despite adopting Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) practices, many MSMEs continued to experience challenges such as poor record management, unclear expectations, and a lack of timely feedback. These communication issues contributed to delays, misunderstandings, and increased costs, which negatively impacted business growth. The study applied the Communication Accommodation Theory to explain how MSMEs adapted their communication styles in both high-context and low-context cultures. Using a cross-sectional research design, the study collected data from 373 MSMEs under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) program. The results revealed a significant positive relationship between supplier communication and performance, with regression analysis showing that supplier communication explained 58.7% of the variance in MSME performance. The findings aligned with previous studies, emphasizing the importance of communication for successful supplier collaboration and supply chain management. The study concluded that frequent, transparent communication with suppliers improved product and service delivery and operational efficiency. Recommendations included investing in technologies that enhance communication and developing policies to support ongoing supplier relationship management. Further research could explore the impact of digital technologies on supplier communication and how communication with international suppliers influences MSME performance.

The effectiveness of using visual communication in teaching vocabulary to non-English majors students at the Foreign Languages Center of Nguyen Tat Thanh University

Due to the essence of English vocabulary learning and its challenges, teachers tend to be in search of effective pedagogical techniques. The current case study aims to explore the usefulness of visual media in teaching vocabulary at Nguyen Tat Thanh University. A total of 240 non-English majors completed an online survey to express their opinions on using visual media in vocabulary class. Findings revealed the benefits, such as interesting learning conditions, stronger word memorization, improved learning strategies, high contexts for word practice, and convenient word meaning presentation. The perceived reasons were interesting, memorable content, different kinds of visualizations, interactive and extensive exercises, and the use of many senses. The results have a few applications to EFL vocabulary teaching and learning at the university. This study could make contributions to future studies as its findings delineated that visual media adapted from the coursebook can facilitate students’ vocabulary learning and foster their learning motivation. ® 2024 Journal of Science and Technology - NTTU

Conflict styles within individualistic, low power distance, and low context nations: a four nation comparison

ABSTRACT This study compared conflict styles approaches of four nations with similar cultural dimensions. Prior literature assumes similar cultural dimensions produce similar approaches to conflict. Four nations were examined: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. Results reveal the conflict approaches of individuals from these nations differ despite similar cultural dimensions. In addition, the four nations scored relatively high on solution-oriented approaches to conflict (integrating and compromising). This is the first study to compare conflict styles across traditionally individualistic, low-context, independent self-construal, and low power distance nations.

Higher reading spans mitigate context effects on lexical processing by low-proficiency L2 learners: a self-paced reading study

AbstractThis study examines context effects on lexical processing by low-proficiency Japanese learners of English during sentence comprehension, and the role of individual differences in verbal working memory (WM). Thirty Japanese learners of English as a second language (L2) and 27 speakers of English as a first language (L1) were recruited for a self-paced reading task with high and low context sentences to assess lexical processing abilities, and a reading span task to measure WM capacities. Bayesian modeling indicated that, at the group level, L2 learners had slower lexical processing times for low context sentences compared to high context ones, especially in the spillover region, while L1 speakers showed no difference. At the individual level, higher WM capacities among L2 learners appeared to mitigate these context effects, supporting the interactive-compensatory model (Stanovich in Read Res Q, 10.2307/747348, 1980; Remedial Spec Educ 5(3):11–19, 10.1177/074193258400500306, 1984). The findings highlight context effects on L2 lexical processing and the crucial role of WM in managing these effects among L2 learners.

Employee Voice in the Digital Void: Navigating Contextual Challenges in a High-Context Culture

Employee Voice in the Digital Void: Navigating Contextual Challenges in a High-Context Culture

Employees’ Attitudes toward Life and their Happiness at Work: Examining Government Organizations in the UAE

Although there is a wealth of happiness literature from both Western and Eastern experiences and perspectives, research on happiness in the workplace especially within the Arab region and high-context cultures—is limited. This study is an attempt to encourage happiness research in workplaces in the Middle East. Focusing on government organizations in the United Arab Emirates, this study aims to influence government organizations’ strategy planning and implementation regarding long-term impact on happiness levels. In particular, this study investigates how government organization employees’ personal attitudes toward life affect their feelings toward work. The research employed a quantitative analysis (questionnaire), thereby providing a detailed analysis of questionnaire responses across four government organizations at the functional level. Data were collected from 140 employees in four government organizations in the UAE over a period of four months. By performing data analysis using a quantitative tool to recognize the gaps between attitudes toward life and happiness levels at work in a high-context culture, this study makes recommendations to increase happiness levels across organizations in the long run. The study results reveal that participant employees largely exhibited a positive life outlook, which can be attributed to the UAE’s HC culture. Social life in the UAE is always active, with numerous family gatherings and social occasions, which can be considered a source of happiness. This study’s findings emphasize the necessity of correlating how individuals’ life attitudes positively or negatively influence their happiness levels at work.

A study in scarlet: cultural memory of the tropes related to the color red, female countenance, and onstage makeup in the Sinophone world

Abstract In a high-context culture like Chinese, the linguistic code encompasses only part of the message and is incomplete without context. One of the implicit codes embedded in high-context communication is color tropes. Highly recognizable in the Sinophone world, color tropes often manifest themselves in the forms of metaphor, metonymy, allusions, and similes and are often related to the conveyance of emotional content. This paper provides a selection and discussion of such color tropes, demonstrates that color in a language inspires associations and connotations that are often very subtle and determined by deep cultural memory, and, giving several Chinese examples, shows how the primary semasiology of a color term often influences its subsequent semantic extension.

Visual metaphors and white space: How the visual rhetorical language in advertising influences consumer responses to paradox brands

Paradoxical brands are very common in the marketplace, and increasing the appeal of paradoxical brands to consumers is not only an important challenge for marketers but also a key issue for scholars. Based on psychobiological dual system theory, the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, and high-low context culture theory, this study examines the effects, mechanisms, and boundary conditions of visual metaphor ads with extended white space on consumers' responses to paradoxical brands. The results of the three experiments showed that visual metaphor ads with extended (vs. limited) white space increased consumers' favorable evaluations and preferences for paradoxical brands by serially increasing their aesthetic pleasure and cognitive flexibility. In addition, these indirect effects were more pronounced in high-context cultures and were not observed in low-context cultures. This study not only makes important theoretical contributions but also provides new managerial insights into how managers can effectively promote paradoxical brands.

Insights into Prime Editing Technology: A Deep Dive into Fundamentals, Potentials, and Challenges.

As the most versatile and precise gene editing technology, prime editing (PE) can establish a durable cure for most human genetic disorders. Several generations of PE have been developed based on an editor machine or prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA) to achieve any kind of genetic correction. However, due to the early stage of development, PE complex elements need to be optimized for more efficient editing. Smart optimization of editor proteins as well as pegRNA has been contemplated by many researchers, but the universal PE machine's current shortcomings remain to be solved. The modification of PE elements, fine-tuning of the host genes, manipulation of epigenetics, and blockage of immune responses could be used to reach more efficient PE. Moreover, the host factors involved in the PE process, such as repair and innate immune system genes, have not been determined, and PE cell context dependency is still poorly understood. Regarding the large size of the PE elements, delivery is a significant challenge and the development of a universal viral or nonviral platform is still far from complete. PE versions with shortened variants of reverse transcriptase are still too large to fit in common viral vectors. Overall, PE faces challenges in optimization for efficiency, high context dependency during the cell cycling, and delivery due to the large size of elements. In addition, immune responses, unpredictability of outcomes, and off-target effects further limit its application, making it essential to address these issues for broader use in nonpersonalized gene editing. Besides, due to the limited number of suitable animal models and computational modeling, the prediction of the PE process remains challenging. In this review, the fundamentals of PE, including generations, potential, optimization, delivery, invivo barriers, and the future landscape of the technology are discussed.

DESIGN THINKING FOR BUSINESS INNOVATION IN ASIA: THE CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

As a human-centered innovation approach, design thinking (DT) has been widely applied in a variety of industries and spheres to create new and enhance existing products, services and processes by organizations around the globe. DT is highly collaborative, involves direct communication/feedback and requires cross-functional/cross-hierarchical participation. DT is also iterative, necessitating embracing risk and ambiguity of the experiment and instead of penalizing ‘failures’, learning promptly from them. Nevertheless, Asian countries are often described as high power distance, high uncertainty avoidance, collectivist cultures in which high context and indirect communication are implied. This conceptual article includes analysis of academic research articles, reports, interviews and books by design thinking experts to analyze advantages of design thinking for business innovations, discuss major cultural characteristics of Asian countries using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and respective challenges in applying design thinking. It concludes by providing practical recommendations, limitations of the analysis and suggesting aspects for future research.

The effect of music to encourage responsible health-related behaviours among reluctant tourists: analysis of high – and low-context cultures

ABSTRACT The tourism sector is known to suffer significant volatility associated with safety issues. Among the factors that influence tourists’ decisions in this regard are health-related concerns about the destination country. However, when it comes to taking responsibility for their own health, there is a gap in the literature regarding effective communication strategies for motivating tourists who are reluctant to perform desirable health-related behaviours, such as getting vaccinated. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of music in communicating implicit messages about such responsible behaviours to reluctant tourists. To this end, two factors are experimentally manipulated: the type of communication stimulus (verbal/musical) and the cultural context of the tourist (high/low). The main findings are that: music exerts a greater effect on reluctant tourists than ‘average’ tourists; music is capable of conveying referential as well as emotional messages; and music’s effectiveness in this kind of communication is greater in high-context cultures.

English as a foreign language lecturers’ language power bases in the high context culture of Toraja

<span lang="EN-US">This study overviews the English as a foreign language (EFL) lecturers’ language power bases in the high-context culture of Toraja. The writer applied a qualitative study method with a case study design. The writer applied purposive sampling and the subjects of this study are three EFL lecturers. The writer got the data through video observation and interviews. The data analysis technique used is using transcription and coding. It is revealed that the characteristics of lecturers’ behaviors and communication strategies associated with the five bases of power-referent power, coercive power, reward power, legitimate power, and expert power-were observed in the high context culture of Toraja, a common cultural practice among the Toraja learners. Referent power was evident when the lecturer was able to establish a connection with the learners based on shared cultural norms. Coercive power was demonstrated when the lecturer used guilt to pressure learners who were unwilling to do a class presentation. Reward power was characterized by the lecturer providing incentives to learners who complied with requests. Legitimate power was observed when the lecturer maintained strict control over the classroom. Additionally, expert power was identified when the lecturer shared their knowledge and expertise in addressing gaps in the study area.</span>

Motives and Communication Style from Begalan Performers at Banyumas Area

The presence of Begalan in wedding traditions is heavily reliant on the communication style of Begalan performers in introducing and preserving Banyumasan culture and language. The purpose of this research was to analyse and comprehend the motivations and communication styles of Begalan performers in the wedding tradition in the Panginyongan area of Banyumas. The qualitative descriptive research method is used in this study. Data collection entails observing, interviewing Begalan performers, and researching relevant literature. According to the findings of this study, 1) the motives of the Begalan performers in carrying out the wedding tradition in the Panginyongan area are ritual, entertainment, and professional motives; and 2) the communication style of the Begalan performers in the wedding tradition in the Panginyongan area of Banyumas tends to use a low context communication style. Another finding in this study is that there are obstacles experienced by Begalan performers, including diverse audiences with different cultures, lack of attention and appreciation from the audience, and lack of availability of the tools used in carrying out the Begalan procession. To overcome these obstacles, Begalan performers innovate using Indonesian and Banyumasan languages, adding to the audience's appeal by making jokes and preparing to get Begalan tools.

Cross-cultural communication across STEM disciplines

Collaboration across cultures in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields has become increasingly common. This means many STEM professionals in US-based companies now work with professionals from other cultures. In this global context, cross-cultural knowledge is crucial for effective communication. Without this knowledge, there can be misunderstandings and discomfort. Different cultures use different communication styles, which has been studied by the field of communication. The concept of high and context low-context culture is used to discuss the role of contextual cues in communication. High-context cultures rely on implicit language and contextual and situational cues, while low-context cultures use explicit language. Although no culture is strictly high or low context, this concept is important as it helps us understand how our communication style can be influenced by cultural characteristics. There is a growing need to support and encourage students to become interested in pursuing careers in STEM fields. Many STEM programs in the United States have emphasized the importance of collaboration to meet this need. However, effective collaboration requires effective communication, and students often lack opportunities to explore how they can communicate effectively with collaborators from other cultures and countries. To bridge this gap, this article proposes incorporating communication into STEM courses for undergraduate students. The course will include learning opportunities about low and high-context cultures and guest speakers. This article aims to provide insights into how communication content can prepare undergraduate students to become culturally competent STEM professionals.

The Influence of Cultural Context in Japan’s Intercultural Negotiations: Analysis of the Drama Nihon Chinbotsu: Kibo no Hito

In the Japanese drama titled Nihon Chinbotsu: Kibo no Hito, Japan experienced a major disaster in the form of the sinking of the Kanto region into the ocean. From this disaster, Japan lost land, so its citizens had to be transferred to other countries. Japan is negotiating with various countries to transfer Japanese citizens through the immigration process. This article discusses Japan’s intercultural negotiations with China, the United States, and Australia. The Content Analysis method is used to interpret the film’s content related to Japan's intercultural negotiations with these three countries. By using the theory of Intercultural Communication, this study tries to describe the “cultural context” and values that underlie Japan’s intercultural negotiation process; and analyzes its influence on the negotiation process.From the results of a thorough analysis of the components in the drama, It can be concluded that “cultural context” plays an important role in the negotiation process, and this context is closely related to the distinction between high-context culture and low-context culture. Both high-context and low-context cultures show prominent basic values, which also influence the intercultural negotiation process. These values are (1) collectivism and individualism; (2) the level of intimacy of the relationship between Eastern and Western cultures, which includes uchi-soto, power distance in the social hierarchy, and reciprocal relations; (3) reciprocation (on’gaeshi); which overall affects the negotiation process. In addition, from the analysis, it is concluded that Japan and China have similar values, while the United States has similar values to Australia.

Assessing Healthcare Simulation Facilitation: A Scoping Review of Available Tools, Validity Evidence, and Context Suitability for Faculty Development in Low-Resource Settings.

Assessment tools support simulation facilitation skill development by guiding practice, structuring feedback, and promoting reflective learning among educators. This scoping review followed a systematic process to identify facilitation assessment tools used in postlicensure healthcare simulation. Secondary objectives included mapping of the validity evidence to support their use and a critical appraisal of their suitability for simulation faculty development in low-resource settings. Database searching, gray literature searching, and stakeholder engagement identified 11,568 sources for screening, of which 72 met criteria for full text review. Thirty sources met inclusion; 16 unique tools were identified. Tools exclusively originated from simulation practice in high-resource settings and predominantly focused on debriefing. Many tools have limited validity evidence supporting their use. In particular, the validity evidence supporting the extrapolation and implications of assessment is lacking. No current tool has high context suitability for use in low-resource settings.

Diaspora Communication Patterns and Plurality of Tolerance in Barcelona, Spain

The Indonesian Diaspora includes all Indonesian people who are abroad. Diaspora and migration are phenomena that are often encountered in the history of nations in the world. Barcelona is a multicultural city with people of diverse backgrounds, a lot of Indonesians are interested in living there as a diaspora with several motivations. The education system, cultures, diversity, and inclusivity that Barcelona has to offer are tremendously accommodating, which can be translated as a good destination for Indonesian diasporas to pursue a better life. This research focuses on using Indonesian diasporas in Barcelona as the research subject, finding out the communication pattern they use daily, specifically within their tolerance level for minority groups. This research uses a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach to discover the adaptation process of each subject and how the changes in their level of tolerance affect their communication pattern and the approach to those whom they deem tolerable. From this research, the author concluded that the diasporas’ communication pattern has changed from a high-context culture which they used to implement in Indonesia to a low-context culture due to the multiculturalism and its daily adaptation in Barcelona by the citizens. This is indicated by the increase of their tolerance level because of the exposure to diverse groups in Barcelona which the diaspora learned from and adapted as part of their life.