Beyond High-Context and Low-Context Communication:

Re-examining Hall's Framework Through Indo-German Intercultural Interaction

Abstract

Edward T. Hall's distinction between high-context and low-context communication remains one of the most influential conceptual frameworks in intercultural communication. By demonstrating that cultures differ in the extent to which communicative meaning is conveyed through explicit linguistic expression or implicit contextual knowledge, Hall fundamentally reshaped how scholars understand cultural variation in communication. Despite its enduring influence, however, the framework offers only a partial account of contemporary intercultural interaction. While it successfully explains how communicative information is organised, it provides comparatively limited insight into the interactional processes through which communicative acts acquire interpersonal significance. This paper revisits Hall’s framework through the context of Indo-German intercultural interaction, drawing upon illustrative examples of everyday communicative practices alongside contemporary developments in intercultural pragmatics. It argues that many misunderstandings between German and Indian interlocutors arise not primarily from differing degrees of contextual dependence but from divergent interactional expectations concerning commitment, reciprocity, personal autonomy, relational responsibility, and appropriate social conduct. Building upon Hall's foundational insights and engaging with scholarship in interpersonal pragmatics, the paper proposes that interactional expectations provide an additional analytical lens for understanding intercultural communication. Rather than replacing Hall's high-context/low-context distinction, the study demonstrates how its explanatory capacity may be extended to account for the socially negotiated interpretation of communicative behaviour. In doing so, it contributes to ongoing debates concerning the relationship between contextual orientation, pragmatics, and intercultural understanding while reaffirming Hall's continuing relevance within contemporary intercultural communication research.