Level: Advanced. Please check Japanese Culture for simpler, basic information.
Japanese Communication Style
| Self-Conception | Interdependent (e.g., I belong to… statements) |
| Ingroup/Outgroup boundary | Strict (Company, school, circle, family members are treated very differently) |
| Wa (Harmony) | Omnipresent |
| Enryo (Conformity) | High (Self-deprecating statements are encouraged, harmony requires conformity) |
| Context Effects | High Context/Implicit (e.g. Do you think it is hot in here?) |
| Uncertainty Avoidance | High (e.g. different things should be avoided) |
| Power Distance | High ( huge gap between superiors and subordinates) |
| Masculinity/Femininity | Masculine (Male dominant society, same sex friendships) |
| directness | Indirect(Cautiousness and indirectness needed for harmony, synthetic thinking (focusing on the whole) vs analytic thinking) |
| Ingroup/Outgroup Conversation | Honorifics and different words used for outsiders. Honne vs tatemae, uchi vs. soto |
| Purpose | Information Transmission (persuasiveness should always be avoided) |
| Topic Management and Turn taking | Take turns evenly, use aizuchi |
| Silence | Presence of seniors, outsiders, different gender make it hard to talk. Silence has different meanings. |
| competence | Low confidence in English skills, purpose is instrumental (to get a job) |
| Uncertainty Reduction | Focus on nonverbal behaviour and group membership, background info. |
| Self-disclosure | Low self-disclosure, might not reveal the truth (Honne/tatemae) |
| Nonverbal Aspects | Positive emotions are displayed more often |
| Relationship Development | Amae and sasshi are important in all stages, co-worker and class-mate relationships are more intimate than family relationships |
| Privacy | Use passive-withdrawal when privacy is threatened |
| Communicaton Style | Relaxed, passive criticism, expression of own limitations when admired someone, no explanations after an apology |
| Predispositions twd. Verbal Behavior | More assertive, response, talk longer,erabi world view. |
| Emotional Expression | No actions needed to deal with emotional feeling |
| Face Negotiation and Conflict Resolution | Losing face when disappointing group members. Dominating and integrating negotiations. |
| Expectations | A person who is not direct, not dominant in conversation and tolerating silence |
American Communication Style
| Self-Conception | Independent (e.g., I am … statements) |
| Ingroup/Outgroup boundary | Loose (comm. with strangers does not have distinctive patterns |
| Wa (Harmony) | Not so important |
| Enryo (Conformity) | Low (independence is a virtue) |
| Context Effects | Low Context/Explicit (e.g., Can you open the window? Sentences starting with I and words like absoluteley, certainly…) |
| Uncertainty Avoidance | Lower (e.g. different things are waiting to be discovered) |
| Power Distance | Low (superiors and subordinates communicate the same way) |
| Masculinity/Femininity | (Relatively)Feminine (Males and females are more equal, friendships with opposite sex) |
| directness | Direct (subject Centered, analytic thinking (focusing on parts)) |
| Ingroup/Outgroup Conversation | No Distinctive comm. Between outgroup members |
| Purpose | Persuasion (language can be used to convince others, threats are not unusual) |
| Topic Management and Turn taking | conversation starter makes most of the talk, questions and comments instead of backchanneling |
| Silence | words are used to control situation, silence is not liked |
| competence | Fluent Japanese speakers are uncommon and usually not much appreciated.(the law of inverse returns) |
| Uncertainty Reduction | Focus on verbal communication and individual ideas opinions |
| Self-disclosure | High disclosure, ask more questions (not age and marital status). |
| Nonverbal Aspects | Negative emotions (distress, anger) displayed more often.More eye contact and more touching |
| Relationship Development | No amae-sashi in advanced relationships, co-worker relationships are not necessarily seen intimate |
| Privacy | Use active-aggressive strategies |
| Communicaton Style | Attentive, active criticism, direct admiration, explain own behavior after an apology |
| Predispositions twd. Verbal Behavior | Less assertive, talking a lot is looked down, awase world view. |
| Emotional Expression | Emotions are experienced for longer time and with higher intensity, explicitly stated |
| Face Negotiation and Conflict Resolution | Losing face when personally fail in an individual activity.Avoidance used to resolve conflict |
| Expectations | A person who is expressive and has a sense of humour but not self conscious. |
Source: Gudykunst & Nishida, 1994.
Japanese lessons for kids