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Low-Context Culture
First introduced by the anthropologist Edward T. Hall in his book Beyond Culture (1976), this concept refers to a culture where communication is more explicit than implicit as in a high-context culture. This culture of communication stems from a context of short-term relationships where proper actions or behaviors have to be spelled out for new members. Understanding comes directly from consciously codified external verbal communication. In this culture, the specific task is more important than continuing, long-term relationships with implied meaning in communications. Verbal communication is direct and elaborate, with little room for conjecture on the part of the interlocutor. Edward T. Hall uses the American court system as a prime example of low-context culture. He discusses the inadmissibility of contexting testimony in courts ...