[003] Differences in Communication Styles and Cultures | High-Context vs. Low-Context Cultures

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Do you like natto?
I like natto, but my friend hates it.
One day, my friend asked me this question.
“Do you like natto?”
I answered, “Yes, I do.”

Then, my friend was surprised and said,
“Really? I mean, natto. It smells awful. You don’t really like it, right?”

I was confused by the answer and said, “Hmm???????”
My friend then asked, “So, you really like natto?”
I answered again, “Yes, I do.”

Finally, my friend said, “I don’t think so. You don’t like natto, do you?”
And I replied again, “Hmm???????” (Huh?).

• Friend:　Do you like natto?
• Me:　　　Yes, I do.
• Friend:　Really? I mean, natto. It smells awful. You don’t really like it, right?
• Me:　　　Hmm???????
• Friend:　So, you really like natto?
• Me:　　　Yes, I do.
• Friend:　I don’t think so. You don’t like natto, do you?
• Me:　　　Hmm???????

Even though I’ve been studying English for years, I can’t answer simple questions with a simple yes or no.

Have you ever had this experience?

But don’t worry.

By reading this blog post, you can learn the following:

1. You will learn the difference between “Yes” and “No” and “Yes” and “No”!
2. You will learn important points in business and translated document creation!
3. You will be able to understand the cultural differences in Japanese and English communication!
4. You will be able to deepen your knowledge of intercultural communication!

This blog is packed with information like this that you cannot get anywhere else.

Please take your time to read it.

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Introduction

There is a fundamental difference between the English “Yes, No” and the Japanese “Hai(Yes), Iie(No)”.

The English “Yes” and “No” are words used to express one’s opinion or position, and convey “affirmative” or “negative” based on one’s own thoughts, regardless of the questioner’s intention.

On the other hand, the Japanese “Hai(Yes)” and “Iie(No)” are words used to show “agreement” or “disagreement” with what the other person says.

This reflects the major cultural difference in communication style.

[Japanese thinking]

For example, let’s say you like surfing.

When your friend asks you, “Do you surf?” you answer, “Yes.”

The “Yes” here shows that you agree with your friend’s question.

If your friend then follows up with, “You don’t really surf, do you?” you answer, “No.”

This “No” shows that you don’t agree with what your friend says.

“Agree” Yes: You’re right.
“Disagree” No: That’s not what you say.

• Friend:　Do you surf?
• Me:　Yes, I do. “Agree”
• Friend:　You’re not tanned, but you don’t look like it. You don’t really surf, do you?
• Me:　No. I do. “Disagree”

Here’s another example.
Let’s say you’ve just finished eating with a friend and you’re full.

When your wife asks you, “Are you hungry?” you answer, “Hai(Yes).”
This “Hai(Yes)” shows that you agree with your wife’s statement that you’re not hungry.

However, if your wife continues with “You’re not hungry, are you?”, you reply “Iie(No).”

This “Iie(No)” shows that you don’t agree with what your wife says.

• Wife:　Are you not hungry?
• Me:　　Yes, I’m not hungry. “Agree”
• Wife:　Don’t be shy. You’re not hungry, are you?
• Me:　　No, I’m not hungry. “Disagree”

In this way, the Japanese “yes” and “no” express agreement or disagreement with the other person’s question, so they change depending on the content and context of the question.

However, there is no such concept in English.

In English, “Yes” shows that you are in a positive position on the matter, and “No” shows that you are in a negative position.

For example, if you like natto, you would always answer “Yes” to the question “Do you like natto?”, no matter how the question is asked.

On the other hand, if you don’t like natto, you would always answer “No” no matter how the question is asked.

Let’s look at a specific example.
[If you like natto]

• Friend:　　Do you like natto?
• Me:　　　Yes, I do. (Affirmative)
• Friend:　　Really? I mean, natto. It smells awful. You don’t really like it, right?
• Me:　　　Yes, I do. I like it. (Affirmative)
• Friend:　　So, you really like natto?
• Me:　　　Yeah, I do. (Affirmative)
• Friend:　　I don’t think so. You don’t like natto, do you?
• Me:　　　Yes, I do. I love natto. (Affirmative)

[If you don’t like natto]

• Friend:　　Do you like natto?
• Me:　　　No, I don’t. (Negative)
• Friend:　　It’s healthy, though. You really don’t like natto?
• Me:　　　No, I don’t. I told you I don’t. (Negative)
• Friend:　　Well, maybe you like natto with hot rice, don’t you?
• Me:　　　No, I don’t. Natto smells terrible. (negative)
• Friend:　　You really don’t like natto?
• Me:　　　No, I don’t. I hate it. (negative)

In this way, Yes and No in English express your opinion and are not affected by how the question is asked.

Even at the beginning of your English studies, you will notice that there are big differences between Japanese and English communication styles in the use of Yes and No.

Understanding this difference will help you reduce misunderstandings in intercultural communication and communicate more effectively.

Differences in communication styles between Japanese and English

Are you familiar with the concepts of “high-context culture” and “low-context culture”?

This was proposed by cultural anthropologist Edward T. Hall in the 1970s, and is a way of thinking to explain the characteristics of communication styles in different cultures.

First, let me explain high-context culture.

In high-context cultures, non-verbal elements, such as context, situation, gestures, and facial expressions, are very important.

In this culture, it is assumed that the speaker and listener have a common understanding, and a lot of meaning is contained in what is not said.

Countries such as Japan, Korea, and China are typical examples of high-context cultures.

On the other hand, low-context cultures place importance on the meaning of the words themselves.

In this culture, it is necessary to clearly state what you want to communicate, and there is little reliance on what is not said.

In other words, to avoid misunderstandings, people clearly express what they want to communicate.

Representative countries of low-context cultures include the United States, Germany, and Sweden.

These two communication styles are very different.

For example, in high-context cultures, it is important to read the atmosphere, and subtle nuances and non-verbal elements are the key to communication.

Conversely, in low-context cultures, it is required to put everything into words to avoid misunderstandings.

This difference also has a significant impact on translation and interpretation work.

Translators and interpreters must not simply replace words, but must take into account the cultural background and context and devise ways to convey their message to the other person.

For example, in high-context cultures, translators must consider the context and nuances contained in the original sentence and choose appropriate expressions.

Conversely, in low-context cultures, precise and clear expressions are required.

However, by understanding the difference between high and low contexts, you can grasp the key points of intercultural communication, reduce misunderstandings, and communicate more effectively.

Understanding these cultural differences and responding appropriately can also make intercultural exchanges and business go more smoothly.

This understanding is very important not only for translators and interpreters, but for everyone involved in communication with different cultures.

“High-context Culture” and “Low-context Culture”

A “high-context culture” is a culture that places importance not only on the words themselves in conversations and writings, but also on non-verbal information such as the background and context, the values ​​and feelings of the other person, etc.

In this culture, in addition to the words spoken and the written text, body language, tone of voice, and even the status and position of the speaker or writer may be included.

Japanese is a perfect example of this language.

Cultural anthropologist Edward T. Hall classified countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and South America as high-context cultures.

In these regions, there is a tendency to place more importance on indirect expressions and nuance than direct expressions.

For example, in Japan, it is often considered a virtue to understand the other person’s feelings and not express things too clearly.

On the other hand, a “low-context culture” is a culture that places importance on the words themselves.

In this culture, conversations are clearly conducted through words, the grammar is clear, and there is little ambiguity.

Formal words and ornamented expressions are not needed much, and problem solving and communication are required to be done clearly using words.

Hall categorizes North American and Western European countries as low-context cultures, and cites English as a representative example.

According to Hall, Japanese, which is a high-context culture, and English, which is a low-context culture, are languages ​​with very different communication styles, and the differences can be described as extreme.

For example, imagine a situation where a Japanese and an American are working together.

Between Japanese people, it is natural for them to be able to infer a lot from just a little information, but with an American, even if you explain something in detail, they may not fully understand.

This is due to differences in communication styles depending on the culture.

As such, when communicating with people from different cultural backgrounds, it is important to understand the characteristics of each culture and respond appropriately.

Differences between high-context and low-context cultures as reflected in documents

How do the differences between high-context and low-context cultures manifest themselves in writing?

First, in high-context cultures, writing is written on the assumption that the reader already understands the background and the situation before and after.

As a result, detailed explanations are not often given in the text.

Authors often omit explanations, assuming that the reader will understand without being told.

However, readers who are encountering the culture for the first time or who do not know the background may take time to understand the text.

On the other hand, in low-context cultures, readers tend to take the content of the text literally.

Authors strive to describe all information clearly and eliminate ambiguity.

For example, in high-context Japanese culture, the expression “read between the lines” is often used, but people in low-context cultures will often wonder, “Where is that information written?”

This difference can also cause problems in business documents.

In particular, contracts written in high-context cultures often omit detailed explanations, assuming that the reader will naturally understand.

This can lead to misunderstandings and mistakes when someone from a low-context culture reads the contract.

Conversely, contracts written in low-context cultures may be overly detailed and straightforward, which people from high-context cultures may find lacking in consideration and rude.

As you can see, cultural differences have a big impact on writing style and interpretation, and it is important to understand these differences, especially in business settings.

The importance of creating documents that take into account cross-cultural differences

What should we pay attention to in order to ensure that people from different cultures can accept documents without misunderstanding?

First of all, it is important to fully respect and understand the other person’s culture and its characteristics.

When writing, it is necessary to choose expressions and phrases that are appropriate for the other person’s culture.

For example, you can refer to documents written in that culture in the past and use them as templates.

It is also very effective to have someone who is familiar with the other person’s language and culture check the document and receive feedback.

When communicating in a global environment, it is essential to recognize whether the other person belongs to a high-context culture or a low-context culture.

Translators and interpreters need to not only translate words, but also understand the other person’s cultural background and communication style and choose expressions that match them.

Furthermore, even in modern domestic communication, the use and understanding of words can differ between generations and regions.

In this way, it is important to understand that words inherently contain many elements rooted in the culture and historical background.

Understanding the other person’s culture and creating appropriate documents will help avoid misunderstandings and enable smooth communication.

Summary

This time, I have explained in detail the differences in communication styles and cultures.

As mentioned in the main text, it is very important to be aware of the differences in communication styles on a daily basis.

This perspective is especially important when conversing in English with people from different cultural backgrounds.

Here, I will summarize the contents of this time again and explain the important points.

• The English words “Yes” and “No” and the Japanese words “Yai” and “No” are used differently.
  The English words “Yes” and “No” are words used to express one’s opinion or position, and convey positive or negative based on one’s own thoughts, regardless of the questioner’s intention.
  On the other hand, the Japanese words “Hai(Yes)” and “Iie(No)” are words used to indicate agreement or disagreement with the other person’s statement.
• The differences in communication styles are also clearly reflected in writing.
  The way words are used and interpreted varies depending on the culture.
  As a result, there are also large differences in the way documents are expressed.
• In high-context cultures, readers need to understand the background and context in advance.
  Writing in high-context cultures is often written with the assumption that the reader knows the background and situation, so it can be difficult for first-time readers to understand.
• In low-context cultures, readers interpret documents literally.
  In low-context cultures, all necessary information is clearly stated, and readers focus on the meaning of the words as they are.
  There is little need for implicit understanding or background knowledge.
  It is important for translators to research and understand not only the meaning of words, but also the cultural background.
• Translators are not only required to translate words, but also to understand the cultural background and communication style of the other party.
  This allows for more accurate and effective communication.
• Even in native languages, high and low contexts exist depending on generation and region.
  Even among people who speak the same language, there are differences in communication styles depending on generation and region.
  This can lead to different interpretations of the same words.

By understanding the above points, you can understand the challenges of intercultural communication and translation, and lay the foundation for more effective communication.