1. Hall’s Classification of Cultures
1
ISTANBUL BILGI UNIVERSITY
PRESENTED BY
C.M. HERRINGTON, MAA, MAT

2. Introduction
2
This lecture is about the views of Dr. Edward Hall, an
anthropologist who has specialized in how cultures
related to one another. Some of his work has focused
on the different assumptions that people have
regarding such basic belief systems as attitudes toward
time, space, and other people.

3. The Personal Space Test
3
1. Two people have a conversation during which Person A
continues to move gradually closer to Person B, whole
Person B remains standing in the same spot. Person A
continues to move closer until Person B says that he or she is
uncomfortable with the closeness.
2. The conversation *test should begin with the participants
approximately three feed apart, and Person A should move
closer at increments of 3 inches.
3. Measure the distance between Persons A and B when Person
B says that he or she is uncomfortable. The experiment
should be repeated , by the two people switching roles.

4. Discussion-post activity
4
Discuss with the class how you felt during this
experiment
 How did you feel when your conversation partner was too close?
Too far?
 Did you notice difference between how people judged what was too close or too
far?
 Do you think that culture has anything to do with people’s expectations of
personal space?
Try this experiment with someone from a different culture
than you outside the class and see what happens .

5. Personal Space
5

6. Attitudes toward Time
6
A. I get impatient when someone is late.
B. I am rarely late
Circle the number that C. I would be insulted if someone was
suppose to meet me at 10 and arrived
corresponds to your feelings at 10:15 and didn’t apologize or give
me a good excuse.
about each statement. Use the
D. If I have a party and invite people for
following scale. 7, I expect them to really show up at
7, not 7:30.
1-disagree strongly E. I believe the expression “Time is
2-disagree somewhat money” has some truth to it.
F. I get upset when I feel as if I’m
3-neither agree nor disagree wasting time.
G. I always wear a wristwatch
4-agree somewhat H. I try to do as much as possible in one
5- agree strongly day and I get frustrated if something
(e.g. traffic) prevents me from doing
what want.

7. Calculate Your Score
7
 What does your score tell
you about your attitude
toward time?
 Do you think there are
great variations in scores
in the
class/Turkey/world?
 Do you think any of the
variations are due to
cultural attitudes?

8. Attitudes toward Interpersonal Relationships
8
A. If I enter into a verbal contract with
Circle the number that someone, I always keep my word.
corresponds to your feelings about B. If someone enters into a verbal contract with
each statement. me, I trust them and do not feel it is
Use the following scale. necessary to get it all on paper.
C. I would not marry a person who came from a
disreputable family.
1-disagree strongly D. I would never do something that would
2-disagree somewhat shame my family, even if I believed it was
3-neither agree nor disagree right.
E. If there is corruption in a company, I believe
4-agree somewhat that the head of that company should take
5- agree strongly responsibility , even if she or he was not
involved.
Share your responses and justify F. In decisions involving what is best for me as
an individual versus what is best for my
your reasons. family as a whole, I will always decide on the
side of my family.

9. Discussion
9
What do the following two statements mean?
Do you agree or disagree? Why?
A. All human beings are captives of their culture.
B. What we think of as mind is really internalized culture.

10. Prediction
10
The title of the reading/lecture is
“Hall’s Classification of Cultures.”
What do you expect it to be about?

11. Listening to the Lecture- Hall’s Classification of Cultures
11
As you listen take notes using the note
taking template provided.
Link to listening
We will be doing this in chunks with tasks at
each part.
Note taking
template
next slide.

12. The speaker will sum up everything he has covered so far in his lecture.
As he does so, fill in the blanks.
[You may refer to the notes you’ve taken in previous sections, if necessary.]
12
Introduction
High Context cultures
A. Definition
B. Examples/interpersonal relationships
C. Examples/attitudes toward time
D. Examples/attitudes toward personal space
Low Context cultures
A. Definition
B. Examples/interpersonal relationships
C. Examples/attitudes toward time
D. Examples/attitudes toward personal space
Conclusion/final
thoughts

13. Hall’s Classification of Culture
13
List the 10 nationalities you hear and
place them on the continuum.
Share on the white board.
Instructor will repeat this section and ss’s
will do the task while listening. Answers
on next slide. 

14. Hall’s Continuum
14
Low context
High context

15. Comprehension-Based on the reading/listening, discuss/ note
down your answers to the following questions in pairs.
15
1. In your own words, explain what you think the
terms high context and low context culture mean?
2. Explain how time is viewed by people in high
context and low context cultures?
3. Explain how space is viewed by people in high and
low context cultures?
4. Explain how interpersonal relationships are viewed
by people in high and low context cultures?

16. Answers:
1. A. High context culture is a culture in which the context of the message, action , or event
carries a large part of its meaning and or significance.
B. A low context culture is one in which the message, event or action is seen as something
separate , having meaning unto itself.
2. Time-
A. High Context- polychronic attitude. People believe that people , things, and events each
have their own time.
B. Low Context –monochronic attitude. Linear attitude about time. Emphasize punctuality.
No waste of time,
3. Space-
A. High- people stand closer when talking, touch a lot, pay more attention to body language.
B. Low- personal space is needed , minimal distance around one’s body . Tendency to feel
violate when personal space is invaded.
4. Interpersonal Communication-
A. High- less focus on legal contracts and more on social relationships, one depends more on
the power and influence of established networks than on the individual characteristics.
B. Low- contracts are more important than spoken words and everything is usually written .
Legal means are more relied upon that social bonds. People sometimes “pass the buck”
16

17. Defining Vocabulary
17
The following words we used in the lecture. You will
hear an example of each word in context.
After listening, circle the letter of the definition that
most closely matches what you think the word or
expression means. Pages 11-13 of your course pack.

18. 18
Apply Hall’s theories to the following:
1. How might culturally different expectations
Post Reading
explain the different reactions and
Discussion
perspectives of business executives/teachers
from Turkey and North American or the
UK?
a. Would you consider Turkey a high or low
context culture ? Why? Explain your
answer.
b. Do you think that Hall’s classification
system is valid? Do you see any problems
with it. If so, what are they?

19. 19
 In pairs, compare notes. What
Do NOW information do you have that your
classmate doesn’t? What
information do they have that you
don’t?
 Rewrite your notes on a clean A4
sheet of paper using the same
format of the note taking
template. You should write a
summary of the notes in one
paragraph as the conclusion.
MUST be in YOUR own WORDS!