variation (N)

a change in amount or level:

It takes time for individuals to adapt to any variation in their normal experience with touch and space, or any other aspect of non-verbal communication. (I1)

Other word forms: to vary (V)

complicated (adj.)

involving a lot of different parts, in a way that is difficult to understand:

Although this sounds a bit complicated, it means any act not using words that we

intend to display or not.

Other word forms: complication (N) [C or U] and to complicate (V)

on purpose (phrase)

If you do something on purpose, you do it intentionally, not by accident:

I didn't do it on purpose - it was an accident.

Sometimes I suspect she arrives late on purpose just to annoy me.

absence (n.)

when someone or something is not where they are/it is usually expected to be:

One of the main differences is the presence or absence of a hierarchy.

Other word forms: absent (adj), absenteeism (N) and absentee (N)

to adapt (V)

to become familiar with a new situation:

For example, some cultures see people as a part of nature and believe that we should

adapt to it. (I 3)

It takes time for individuals to adapt to any variation in their normal experience with

touch and space, or any other aspect of non-verbal communication. (I 4)

Other word forms: To adapt something (V) (to change something to suit different

conditions or uses), adaptable (ADJ), adaptability (N) and adaptation (N)

bond (n.)

a close connection joining two or more people:

You have friends that change over time and commitments to other people are less

important than individual commitments. Therefore the bonds between people are not

as strong as in high-context cultures.

People in high-context cultures have much tighter people bonds, they are very

committed to the people in their in-group.

Other word forms: to bond (V) and bonding (N)

communication (N)

the act of communicating with people

flexible (ADJ.)

able to change or be changed easily according to the situation:

In low-context cultures, relationships are flexible. (I 3)

And finally, time in high-context cultures is much more flexible. (I 3)

Other word forms: flexibility (N)

to admire (V)

to respect and approve of someone or a group for their behaviour, or to find someone or something attractive and pleasant to look at:

Collective societies emphasise group goals and mutual dependence where

individualistic societies admire independence and personal freedom. (I 3)

Many foreign visitors also admire this American handyman emphasis. A visitor from

Vietnam commented, “Americans are handy people. They do almost everything in the

house by themselves. (I 4)

Other word forms: admirable (ADJ), admirably (ADV) and admiration (N)

to classify (V)

to divide things into groups according to their type:

Hierarchies are significant in classifying a culture’s social orientation. (I 3)

Edward T. Hall was the first researcher who classified cultures as low or high context.

(G 2)

Indian culture is high-context and Malaysian culture can also be classified this way.

(O 2)

Stewart has come up with some ways of addressing cultural difference, but he

classifies things a bit differently than Hall. (I 3)
Other word forms: Classification (N)

commitment (N)

the act of giving your time and energy to something that you believe in, or a promise or

firm decision to do something:

You have friends that change over time and commitments to other people are less

important than individual commitments. (I3)

Other word forms: to commit to sth (V) and committed to sth (ADJ)

to achieve (V)

to succeed in finishing something or reaching an aim, especially after a lot of work or

effort:

In the U.S., it appears, one is not concerned so much with how you are feeling as much

as with what you have achieved. To mainstream Americans, the concepts might be

synonymous because we often draw our self-worth from what we do, not from who we

are in a broader sense. (I4)

Other word forms: achievement (N), achieveable (ADJ)

comment (N)

something that you say or write that expresses your opinion:

My wife made a comment. (I4)

These comments sure show a strong realization that these participants live in a doing

culture. (I3)

to make a comment:

A visitor from Vietnam commented, “Americans are handy people.’’ (I 4)​

to offend (V)

to make someone upset or angry:

In Costa Rica nobody ever corrected my body language. I think they are way more

relaxed. I probably offended people by being too uptight! (I 2)

A Japanese person might be offended by being kissed on the cheek by a new

acquaintance in France whereas someone from Turkey might find New Zealanders

very “cold” due to their lack of physical contact. (I 2)

I think people tried very hard to help me so that I wouldn’t embarrass myself or offend

them. (I 2)

offensive (ADJ): causing offence:

I never started out studying it in Turkey, but I started learning more about as time went

by. I guess like Sara, I did some offensive things so people