Dimension 6 of 11
D6: Communication
When someone says something, where is the message? Understand it, and a lot of confusing conversations suddenly make sense.
What is Communication?
Communication describes how much of a messageâs meaning is carried by explicit words versus by context and relationship. Neither end is better. Each is a different answer to the question, âHow do I know what you mean?â
Two ends of one spectrum
Direct
Low-context. Meaning is expected to live in the words. People say what they mean plainly, spell out expectations, and prize clarity over reading between the lines.
Indirect
High-context. Meaning is carried by context, relationship, tone, and shared history. High-context does not mean vague: the precision just lives in what is implied.
Same lean, different reasons
Two regions can both be indirect for different reasons. Reading the reason matters.
Confucian Asia: harmony
Indirect largely to preserve harmony. Indirectness protects group cohesion and avoids the embarrassment blunt disagreement could cause. Japanâs nemawashi is a named example.
Arab world: relationship and honor
Indirect largely out of relationship and honor. Meaning lives in the relationship between speakers, and communication protects the honor of both parties.
Anglo and Germanic Europe: say it plainly
Direct. Anglo is the Low-context baseline, and Germanic cultures are direct too, as in âsometimes one has to talk Germanâ: stop beating around the bush.
Three things to keep in mind
1. High-context isnât vague
Meaning is encoded differently, and a high-context speaker can be extremely precise. Listen for whatâs implied, whoâs speaking, and the relationship around the words.
2. Same lean, different why
Confucian Asia protects harmony; Arab cultures protect relationship and honor. Ask whatâs being protected before you decode the silence.
3. Direct isnât rude
Low-context cultures put meaning in the words, so plain speech is the polite form. Say it clearly and kindly, and donât read blunt as hostile.
Communication, from the pages and the screen
Direct feels like
Hermione Granger (Harry Potter), who corrects people bluntly.
Indirect feels like
Dumbledore (Harry Potter), cryptic and withholding until the time is right.
Indirect feels like
Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter), who speaks in riddles and symbolic language.
Take the one-page D6 guide with you
A free, printable Culture-Ready Guide to Communication: the two ends of the spectrum, a world map, three key principles, character cameos, and quick Doâs and Donâts. Grab it free, along with all 11 Dimension guides.
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Centered ⢠Curious ⢠Considerate ⢠Confident
Dimension 6 of the 11 Dimensions of Culture