Situational Context

Situational context describes the reason why something is occurring and the appropriate behavior and actions associated with the situation. It is one of the types of context that influence communication. Context is the situation, circumstances, or specific setting in which an event occurs.

Typically used in regards to communication, the situational context of speech influences what is considered socially appropriate and how the message is received. The situational context is defined by the event itself; you communicate differently in different settings. Think about how you talk in class, at a party, playing sports, and at a funeral. You use differing types and styles of communication in all of these settings. Imagine if a person used the same type of speech they did while playing an intense sports game at a funeral. This would not be appropriate at all. The situational context of these settings and scenarios both lead to differing types of communication.