High Context vs Low Context cultures?

[afro-elf]

Which cultures in ME do you think were high context and which do you think were low context?

AE

[GrayMouser]

Wow, long time no see :)

And do you want to flesh that out a bit:confused:

[Earniel]

Yes, what exactly is 'high context'? Cultures on which Tolkien wrote and elaborated a lot, cultures that are very integrated into the world? Or am I missing the meaning completely?

[afro-elf]

A high-context culture is a culture in which the individual has internalized meaning and information, so that little is explicitly stated in written or spoken messages. In conversation, the listener knows what is meant; because the speaker and listener share the same knowledge and assumptions, the listener can piece together the speaker's meaning. China is a high-context culture.

A low-context culture is one in which information and meaning are explicitly stated in the message or communication. Individuals in a low-context culture expect explanations when statements or situations are unclear, as they often are. Information and meaning are not internalized by the individual but are derived from context, e.g., from the situation or an event. The United States is a low-context culture.

I see Elves having a High context culture while Hobbits I see having a low context culture.

[afro-elf]

I have been popping in recently as the latest and beyond a shadow of a doubt the best official pen and paper LOTR RPG is now out and I am brushing up on my Tolkien lore.

Nice to 'see' some old faces around here.

AE

[Valandil]

Interesting AE.

By your definition, I might actually suppose the Shire to be 'high context'. Or - since those from different parts of the Shire may not understand one another so well, maybe each town would be more 'high context', while the Shire as a whole would be 'low context' (or medium - if there is such a thing) from corner to corner and part to part.

I suppose high context comes from commonly shared experiences and commonly shared notions. Also, it seems like isolation would contribute to high context. A 'sameness' about things - which really, in general, sounds very 'shire-ish' to me. Is this accurate conjecture about the context level of a society? I'm not a sociologist, so I'm trying to project only from the definition you've given above.

Lower-context cultures in Middle Earth - I would suppose trade centers. Tharbad, before its ruin, the capital of Gondor (when not under seige), Pelargir, Umbar - maybe Laketown, Dale - and even Bree, for its small size.