I. Intercultural low-context and high-context communication framework

A. Defining low-context and high-context communication

1. Low-context communication (LCC): intention or meaning is best expressed through explicit verbal messages

a. Communication patterns of direct verbal mode

b. Speaker is responsible for clear message decoded easily

2. High-context communication (HCC): intention or meaning is best conveyed through the context and nonverbal channels

a. Communication patterns of indirect verbal mode

b. Receiver assumes the responsibility to infer the hidden or contextual meanings of the message

c. May be understated to emotionally animated in tone

B. Low-context and high-context communication examples

1. LCC: speakers say everything on their minds with no restraints

2. HCC: indirect hints, nonverbal signals to preserve face and relationship

II. Low-context and high-context verbal style comparisons

A. Direct and indirect verbal styles

1. Direct: statement in forthright tone clearly reveals speakers intentions

2. Indirect: statement in softer tone camouflages speakers actual intentions (no need for hurt feelings)

B. Complementary, animated, and understated verbal styles

1. Complementary: matter-of-fact tone in delivering verbal message

2. Animated: conveys emotional expressiveness and vitality

3. Understated: displays more emotional restraint or stoicism

C. Informal and formal verbal styles

1. Informal: upholding informality, and casualness, and role suspension

2. Formal: status-based, formal interaction reflects large power distance

D. Beliefs expressed in talk and silence

1. High-context cultures: silence (ma) can make understanding possible           

2. Western rhetorical model: silence viewed as empty pauses

III. Intercultural conversation process: self-disclosure

A. Self-disclosure: verbal revealment versus concealment

1. Self-disclosure: deliberate revealing of significant information about oneself that would not normally be known

2. Social penetration theory: two dimensions of self-disclosure

a. Breadth: number of topics a person is willing to share

b. Depth: level of intimacy or emotional vulnerability shared 

B. Johari window: information about oneself is depicted as a window with four panels:

1. Open panel: known to self and generalized others or a specific person

2. Hidden panel: known to self but unknown to others

3. Blind panel: not known to self but known to others

4. Unknown panel: not known to self or others

IV. Intercultural persuasion process

A. Linear-logic versus spiral-logic persuasion

1. Linear persuasion style has two forms:

a. Factual-inductive: present facts, then draw conclusion

b. Axiomatic-deductive: present general principles then move to fill in specific details

2. Spiral persuasion style ranges from the dramatic to the subtle

a. Dramatic style: effusive metaphors, adjectives, stories

b. Subtle style: hints, implicit analogies, subtle nonverbal gestures

B. Self-credentialing and self-humbling verbal modes

1. Self-credentialing: draw attention to ones abilities, accomplishments

2. Self-humbling: verbal restraints, hesitations, and use of self-deprecation concerning ones performance

C. Face-negotiation and requesting strategies

1. Face: a claimed sense of social self-worth a person wants others to have  of her or him

2. Two types of face concerns in conversations:

a. Self-face concern: interest in upholding our own identities and favorable self-images

b. Other-face concern: interest in providing identity respect and support for the other persons interests or needs

3. Facework: verbal and nonverbal behaviors to maintain or restore face loss and to uphold and honor face gain

a. Face loss: treated in a way that challenges, threatens, or ignores our identity claims

b. Face-saving issues: how to protect our own or others face from being embarrassed

4. Requesting strategies:

a. U.S. managers: open invitation, promises, direct compliments

b. Japanese managers: altruistic strategies or appeals to duty

V. Intercultural toolkit: Recaps and checkpoints

            Understand the following points to develop intercultural verbal sensitivity:

A. Fundamental differences exist between LCC and HCC patterns

B. Individualists tend towards LCC, collectivists tend towards HCC

C. Individualists tend towards self-face orientation and collectivists tend towards mutual-face and other-face orientations

D. Individuals who use LCC prefer direct verbal style, matter-of-fact mode, self-credentialing enhancement and talkativeness

E. Individuals who use HCC prefer indirect verbal style, emotionally understated mode, self-humbling talk, and silence

F. Knowledge of verbal and nonverbal communication is needed to communicate across cultural and ethnic boundaries

G. Collaborative dialogue: intercultural parties try to suspend their assumptions regarding how to conduct smooth conversations