| This article defines and explores communication styles | | | | Beijing said. Some ethnic Chinese in Canada made |
| as they pertain to Chinese culture. Perhaps one of the | | | | similar complaints about the distrust they perceived |
| most difficult aspects of Chinese culture for people | | | | from Canadian companies `We thought it was a |
| new to China to grasp is the vast difference in | | | | wonderful idea, but the Canadian company was very |
| communication styles. Understanding how the Chinese | | | | suspicious of what we said`. The Canadian manager |
| communicate with one another, and with foreigners, is | | | | later revealed that `the evidence (they) produced did |
| crucial to understanding Chinese people. | | | | not seem to be convincing enough.` |
| Some Chinese have complained about difficulties | | | | From the point of view of a low-context person, such |
| communicating with foreigners new to China, perhaps | | | | as a Westerner, the recommendation made by a high |
| still participating in their TESOL Course, and that their | | | | context person, such as a Chinese person, may not |
| recommendations and suggestions are often ignored | | | | register as a recommendation. It might be barely a |
| by foreigners. This seems to have something to do | | | | comment because it is not backed up by supporting |
| with the different communication patterns used by | | | | evidence. |
| Chinese and Westerners. | | | | Therefore, to communicate effectively with a high |
| While the Chinese often use high context patterns, | | | | context person, foreigners, after completing their |
| Westerners are more inclined to use low context | | | | TESOL Course, have to encourage the high-context |
| patterns. A typical Chinese way of making a | | | | person to elaborate his/her idea further and to provide |
| suggestion is through less formal conversations. One | | | | the reasons behind the thinking. To communicate |
| suggestion might be `I think it is going to be better if we | | | | effectively with a low context person, a high context |
| do it this way.` Often the Chinese are unwilling to share | | | | person has to be prepared to answer questions and |
| the rest of information which they may or may not | | | | inquiries. |
| have. Some reasons may be because the information | | | | Better yet, a high context person needs to be more |
| or tip came from personal connections, or Guanxi, | | | | explicit about the process as well as the conclusion |
| which the Chinese person has. Another reason may | | | | and result. One Chinese manager learned that |
| be that they don`t want to cause anyone to lose face. | | | | essentially, this is the only way to deal with low context |
| A Westerner may want to explore further by asking | | | | North American managers: `the only way to deal with |
| the Chinese person to provide supporting evidence, but | | | | this frustration is to collect more information and try to |
| the Chinese may be embarrassed and annoyed by | | | | convince the foreign manager again`. |
| such questioning because it could be interpreted as | | | | In addition, guanxi and relationships with Chinese help to |
| distrust. `It is frustrating when we see opportunities and | | | | erase psychological distance the Chinese have with |
| make suggestions to our American managers and | | | | foreigners and help the Chinese become more straight |
| they decide to ignore them so that the opportunity is | | | | forward with foreigners. |
| lost,` a Chinese manager in a Sino-US joint venture in | | | | |