The Influence of Cultural Differences Between High and Low Contexts on Oral English Communication

Abstract

This paper aims to explore how cultural differences between high and low contexts aff ect oral English communication. The theory of high and low context culture, originally proposed by anthropologist Edward Hall, describes the differences in the degree to which diff erent cultures rely on context when communicating. In high-context cultures, the transmission of information depends on non-verbal factors such as body language and environmental context, while in low-context cultures, the direct expression of information is more important. This difference is particularly important in cross-cultural communication, especially in the use of English, which is widely used in international communication. Understanding these cultural differences is crucial to improving the effi ciency and accuracy of cross-cultural communication, especially in today’s increasingly globalized world. Therefore, through theoretical analysis and practical cases, this paper will discuss in detail the specifi c impact of cultural differences between high and low contexts on oral English communication and how to communicate effectively under diff erent cultural backgrounds. Through this research, the aim is to provide insights and strategies for the practice of cross-cultural communication.