High-Context Communication

In high-context communication, what is not said can matter as much as what is said. A Japanese colleague saying "that might be difficult" may be signaling no without direct refusal. In many high-context settings, an avoided topic can be a cue to clarify gently instead of assuming silence means agreement.

In low-context communication, people say what they mean. A Dutch colleague who says "I disagree" is not being rude — they are being clear. Misreading directness as aggression is as common as misreading indirectness as evasiveness.