It is one thing to notice cultural differences; it is quite another to be able to explain them. Why, for example, might Germans seem very blunt and direct as they speak, whereas the Japanese may seem never to get to the point? Scholars have identified seven major communication variations¹ across cultures: high-and low-context cultures, collectivist and individualist orientations, comfort with uncertainty, masculine and feminine orientations, approaches to power distance, time orientation, and value of emotional expression (Hall, 1976; Hofstede, 1984, 2001; Matsumoto, 1989).

These seven variations are often treated like opposites, so you may think that your culture must be one or the other. However, these variations actually play out along a spectrum: your culture may be masculine in some ways and feminine in others. Also, within any culture, there is great variance among different groups in terms of where they fall on the spectrum. Finally, there are always differences among individuals as well—some people are more like their dominant culture than others. With these caveats in mind, let’s consider each variation more closely.