Today I found this paragraph about him in an EFL textbook that focuses on cultural identities:
Edward Hall has spent his life studying cultural differences, but Hall doesn't study traditional food, clothes, art, or music. Instead, he is interested in "hidden" cultural differences. For example, if you go to a foreign country and feel that people are often late of in a hurry, it's probably because of a cultural difference in how time is used. Other hidden differences include communication styles, values, and body language.
Hidden differences often cause more trouble in intercultural communication than "visible" cultural differences. For example, learning to use chopsticks or eating different food doesn't usually create serious problems. On the other hand, according to Hall, hidden differences "influence behavior in the deepest and most subtle ways" and cause more conflict between people.
The key to good intercultural relations is for people to understand and accept both the visible and the hidden cultural differences of other cultures. Learning about other cultures helps us to understand the hidden parts of our own culture better. According to Hall, only by experiencing cultural differences can we truly understand ourselves.
"Identity", by Joseph Shaules, Hiroko Tsujioka, Miyuki Iida, OUP 2004, Unit 1, page 5.
