A very strong element of our cultures is context. This refers to our environment, particularly how much of it is
significant during communication.
In terms of context, there are two types of cultures, i.e., high context cultures and low context cultures. High context
cultures assign a lot of importance to the environment surrounding a message. Some cultures usually put into this
category include the Japanese, Han Chinese, and Gulf Arab. High context speakers may not state a message very directly.
The meaning of the message is implied, not expressed. In order to understand what is being said, the listener must
understand the situation and his or her relationship to the speaker. In different situations, a given statement could
have very different meanings.
In contrast, low context cultures (such as German and American cultures are said to be) place the highest
importance on the message itself, which is often quite explicit. External factors like interpersonal relationships or family histories do not usually alter the message very much. In such cultures, it is common to send a message to a large number of people and expect them all to understand the message in the same way. 【題組】50 According to the passage, which of the following is true about high context cultures?
(A) People place the highest importance on the statement itself.
(B) The meaning of a statement is always explicitly expressed.
(C) The environment surrounding a statement does not alter the meaning very much.
(D) Part of the meaning of the statement depends on the situation and the interpersonal relation.
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