1. Hall

1. American anthropologist (1914–2009)

2. Developed the concept of proxemics (study of personal space)

3. Studied how culture influences communication

4. Famous quote: Culture is communication

Monochronic Cultures:

• One task at a time

• Punctuality & planning are key

• Work is a priority

• Clear work-life separation

• more short term relationships

  
  

Polychronic Cultures:

• Many things at once

• time schedules are not so important

• people are very important

  more time spent on building up relations with

  family/friends/business partners

• more life long relationships

• Blurred work-life boundaries

1. Context = information that surrounds an event.

2. The cultures of the world can be compared on a scale from high to low context

3. High-context: most of the information in the person (Arabs, Japanese, Mediterranean peoples)

   high contect communication assumes a prior relationship

4. Low-context: just the opposite. The information is in the explicit code (Americans, Germans, Swiss, Scandinavians)

   
   

"Space" refers to the physical distance individuals need to feel comfortable and to protect their privacy.Edward T. Hall called this concept proxemics.

Germany, USA, UK, Northern Europe) These cultures value physical and psychological boundaries.

• Closed doors are a sign of privacy and respect.

• Private offices and partitions are preferred.

• Interruptions are seen as disruptive or disrespectful.

e.g. Mediterranean countries, Latin America, Middle East)

These cultures are more comfortable with closeness and shared spaces.

• Open doors are common – openness = friendliness.

• Interruptions are normal and not seen as rude.

• The line between private and public space is blurred.