Question

Recognize the cultural context of communication (focus on study of Black and White persons searching for an apartment)

Answer 1

Answer: Communication is a process of sharing information verbally, non verbally, or in written form. Culture plays an important role in shaping the mode of communication. Cultural context effects our perception and that ultimately shapes our communication and same way tells us about normal, abnormal or right, wrong ways o communication. In other words every aspect of communication is affected by cultural contexts. There are two types of cultural context depending upon communication: high –context culture and low -context culture. Both contexts are different in following ways:

1. High uses non verbal communication while low uses verbal communication.
2. High gives indirect and implicit messages while low gives direct, clear and simple messages.
3. High has low reliance on written communication while low-context has high reliance on written communication.
4. In high -context cultural communication is based on intuitions and feelings while low –context cultural communication is based on facts and evidences.
5. In high –context relations are more important than schedule thus have long term relationships while in low- context schedule is important over relationships so have short term relationships.
6. High –context culture have strong distinction between in- group and out- group while low –context culture is flexible and open.

In context to Black and White persons searching for an apartment, as per studies on black and white populations in context of cultural context communication, Black population indicate towards high-context communication while White are towards low- context communication. Also because of cultural and communication differences, both groups avoids communication and have reduced communication to protect own cultural norms and values. While searching for residence or housing, a study on Black and White was conducted by Maria Krysan in 2008, and this study shows that strategies used for searching residence was similar for both Black and Whites, though Black renters used more informal strategies and networks than White do. Analysis of results showed that on the basis of objective and subjective questions asked during search, Blacks were at disadvantage as compared to Whites. Blacks reported more difficulties while searching accommodation because of racial differences. Results also concluded that while searching White mostly looked for white communities while Black searched in variety of communities. Communication was different for White and Black people during apartment search and studies showed that Black found it hard as compared to Whites.

There are many other studies can be included to explain the cultural contextual communication.