Today we are going to define some important terms. In a previous post, we have spoken about the term of communication and its different forms. Communication transactions always take place within different contexts.
what do we mean by Contexts?
Definition :
Contexts mean the different environments where the communication takes place.
There are four types of communication contexts.
Types of Communication Contexts
1) The Cultural Context : Cultural influences are an inherent aspect of all communicative transactions. The term culture refers to “the sum of language, beliefs, values, habits and practices shared by a large group of people. These characteristics comprise the cultural context of communication. Understanding the cultural context contributes greatly to effective environmental management and mutual understanding. Without some appreciation of the cultural background, communication is hardly successful.
2) The Sociological Context : It is true that each person belongs to a culture but it is also true that each person belongs to many groups within the culture itself. The sociological context of communication refers to all the person’s group memberships and the different roles he plays within these memberships.
3) The Physical Context : Depending on the specific location where the communication occurs, there will be different degrees of competing stimuli and different degrees of “openness” on the part of the communication participants. For example, your communication transaction while having coffee in a short-time break will surely be different from the communication transaction while having a leisurely dinner at nice restaurant in town. The way people are seated during meetings will also determine – or at least affect – the communication transaction in a way or another.
4) The Psychological Context : Here, the time of the communication transaction does affect the context. If the communication occurs too early in the morning, receivers may not be as alert as they will be later in the day. On the other hand, communication very late on the day may be influenced by the listeners who are simply too exhausted to accurately receive and understand the message.
What is Culture?
Definition :
Culture is the way people think, act, live and communicate.
Culture is communication. A culture develops as a result of interpersonal communication that takes place between people. At the same time, the form and nature of culture result from the interaction of the people and the place and the time in which they live. “The Interaction of People” I what we mean by communication. Living together, working together and relating to one another is all communication. We are always communicating or attempting to communicate.
As a result of living in different societies, environments and climates, people develop special needs and acquire habits and customs peculiar to themselves. We need to know about people and their background if we are to understand their communication. It is important for you to remember that people in different cultures and countries do not do things as e do them in our country. For example, before you do business with foreigners, you should check carefully on their local customs, cultures and communication. Also, always remember that people communicate in terms of their own experiences, so do not be offended when something out of the ordinary happens.
Click Here Ten Tips on Arab Culture for Successful Business
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Source : Pathways into Higher Education Project, Communication Skills, Dr Inas Abo-Youssef.
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