Context In Communication
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Definitions Around The Web
11/26/2022
What does context in communication mean?
Context in communication refers to the way that communication is given meaning.
It is essential to effective communication.
Factors like:
the physical location and characteristics,
the culture associated with the communicators,
the relationships between communicators, and
the expected behavior based on past behaviors can influence the context.
What are the 4 contexts of communication?
The four contexts of communication are:
Cultural context: how culture impacts communication.
Temporal context: the expectations people have for communication based on past behaviors.
Social-psychological context: the feelings and relationships present.
Physical context: the area and physical aspects as communication takes place.
What Is Contextual Communication?
Contextual communication is defined as:
the bidirectional transfer of information between two parties,
where both sides are aware of the relational, environmental, and cultural context of the exchange.
Simply put, — it means that all entities involved know what the conversation is about.
There were only 1/3 of the attendees.
11/27/2022
Lack of Context:
Sarah: About how many people attended the conference?
Yu-na: *This year, there were only 1/3 of the attendees.
Sarah: I apologize. I don't understand.
Yu-na: *The annual conference usually hosts 5000 people.
Sarah: **So now you are going to make me do math? Okay, so 5000 people times 1/3 is...1,650.
Yu-na: That's right, about 1,600 people.
Sarah: Okay???
*The lack of context in Yu-na's answer makes it difficult for Sarah to understand.
**Although the conversation may be accurate, many American speakers may need clarification on the story.
....
— Instead, Think With Context! —
With Context:
Sarah: About how many people attended the conference?
Yu-na: *About 1,600 people.
Sarah: That's fantastic.
*With context, Yu-na's answer is easy for Sarah to understand.
....
— If Yu-na wants to show disappointment due to the low turnout, she can respond accordingly —
With context, followed by disappointment:
Sarah: About how many people attended the conference?
Yu-na: *About 1,600 people, which is 1/3 of the attendees. The annual conference usually hosts 5000 people.
Sarah: Oh, I am so sorry to hear that.
*With context, Yu-na's answer is easy for Sarah to understand, and Yu-na can share her disappointment due to the low turnout.
....
I took many coding classes in the past.
11/27/2022
Lack of Context:
George: Hey Dak-Ho, how are you?
Dak-Ho: Pretty good, George. How about you?
George: Not bad. What did you do today?
Dak-Ho: I had a coding class today.
George: How was it?
Dak-Ho: It was okay.
George: Just okay?
Dak-Ho: *I took many coding classes in the past. This is my 5th coding class.
George: I am sorry. I don't understand. Please tell me more.
Dak-Ho: My coding class is a bit boring.
George: **Oh, I get it. Because you had several coding classes in the past, your current coding class is a bit boring.
Dak-Ho: Yes.
George: I am sorry to hear that.
*Dak-Ho's sentence is very contextual. Here, George didn't equate that many classes in the past meant a boring class now.
**George could piece the story together and figure it out after Dak-Ho's explanation.
....
— Instead, Think With Context! —
With Context:
George: Hey Dak-Ho, how are you?
Dak-Ho: Pretty good, George. How about you?
George: Not bad. What did you do today?
Dak-Ho: I had a coding class today.
George: How was it?
Dak-Ho: It was okay.
George: Just okay?
Dak-Ho: *My coding class is a bit boring because I took many coding classes in the past. This is my 5th coding class.
George: I am sorry to hear that.
*Dak-Ho shares his feeling about his coding class, followed by 'because' and an explanation.
....
