Face-work negotiation
Face-work negotiation | Joe Alvaro | March 23rd, 2004
I am doing something on face-work negotiation in a cross-cultural setting. This is how two cultures (Asian and western in this case) use different strategies to negotiate face -- and how different cultures perceive the meaning of face. For example, Asians stereotypically laugh or smile to cover embarrassment whereas westerners might joke as a matter of course. But what happens when westerners who are unaware of this, read Asian laughter as indicating a key of relaxation or enjoyment...or what if Asian co-workers misread a relaxed, joking tone on the part of westerners as hiding embarrassment? This can lead to serious misinterpretations of meaning. How does all of this affect intercultural communication in the workplace?
Anyway, I am well into it, but I'd love to hear any suggestions/comments, readings, etc., that anyone might have. Thanks.
Joe Alvaro
Guangzhou, China
Re: IIC face-work negotiation | Jerry Talandis Jr. | March 23rd, 2004
Hello Joe,
I've just started IIC myself, and I'm curious about your assignment topic. How will you do all that? What will be your source of data, I mean? Will you videotape two people talking, or what? How are you planning on getting their reactions to their "performance?" Just curious as to how you'll be going about it.
Jerry Talandis Jr.
Toyama, Japan
Re: Face-work negotiation | Joe Alvaro | March 23rd, 2004
Hi, Jerry
Thanks for your question -- this has definitely been a 'learn-as-you-go' project for me and I can only tell you what I have actually done so far.
First off, I was really intrigued by the ninth unit in the IIC module entitled 'Cross-cultural communication'. I started to seek out literature on the subject and came across some good material. SInce I work at the British Council, it is definitely a cross-cultural setting. The data I am using are meetings and conversations I have around the office with co-workers. This is all because I wanted my investigation to be relevant to what I do. Most of the reference books I am using are from internationally known ethnic Chinese academics (Wong-Scollon, Stella Ting-Toomey, Amy Tsui, etc.) who really have a handle on the 'face thing'. I bounced my proposal off Keith and he thought it sounded OK...so here I am.
Basically, from the literature, I have identified certain particular little verbal face-saving strategies that take place in communication. Now I am in the process of dissecting the conversations I recorded as I look for these things within the text. Hard work? You bet. I don't know how much detail you want me to go into but I certainly could go small if you want me to.
In regards to your question about getting their reactions, I have also considered supplementing my work with questionnaires or interviews to triangulate my findings, but I haven't got that far yet and I am hoping that it will stand on its own without that. However, if it does need that, then I will probably use some form of questionnaire -- but then there is the gate-keeper problem. Well let's see how it all develops...
I hope that answers (or at least partially answers) your question...or perhaps get the ball rolling.
All the best with your IIC.
Joe Alvaro
China
Re: IIC face-work negotiation | Jerry Talandis Jr. | March 27th, 2004
Hello Joe,
Sorry for the late response... been busy this week.
Basically, from the literature, I have identified certain particular little verbal face-saving strategies that take place in communication .
Your project sounds great. Investigating your own context is where it's at. I live in Japan, and "face-saving" is a big thing over here, too. I was curious- what are some typical examples of face-saving in China? I'm wondering if they are similar to what Japanese people do.
Jerry
Re: IIC face-work negotiation | Joe Alvaro | March 28th, 2004
Dear Jerry,
Thanks for your note.
I am not really identifying Chinese face-work traits or anything like that. I am working from Geer Hofstede's 'dimension' of individualism/collectivism to show how Asians come from a 'we' perspective whereas westerners are quite individualistic. I wish it didn't all sound so 'out there' and all that. The truth is that I am sort of just groping my way through --reading a lot -- and hoping that I get things right. I thought it would be very very helpful to actually see examples of spoken discourse analyses done in some of the different traditions. I can send you a reference that Keith sent me and that has helped me to better distinguish. One thing that has stood out from my reading, is that analysts are becoming more eclectic in their approach as Mike points out.
Keith warns (unit 9) about the dangers of over-generalizing and stereotyping different cultures. This has been recognized by researchers and they have come-up with a thing called "self-construal" which is the variable dealing with the individual level differences between the people of one culture.
I could also mention that we seem to be encouraged to develop our own interests within the module and follow things that turn our key. Do you remember on the intro tape how they said not to get bogged-down if you try to ingest too much? -- well this is very good advice. In my case I have had to develop what interests me and sort of minimize the rest. I didn't even really read what I felt were two of the less-relevant units. It is all so interesting that you can just get snowed under.
Hope some of this has been helpful. Of course, I can only tell you what I have been doing and what I have learned from that. Let's keep in touch -- any way I can help, please let me know.
All the best,
Joe
Re: IIC face-work negotiation | Joe Alvaro | March 30th, 2004
Hi, Jerry.
That reference that I mentioned as being helpful in distinguishing the different approaches to discourse analysis is the one Keith lists in his latest letter to all:
Stubbe, M., C. Lane, J. Hilder, E. Vine, B. Vine, M. Marra, J. Holmes & A. Weatherall 2003 . Multiple discourse analyses of a workplace interaction , Discourse Studies 5(3) 351-388 .
Interestingly, one of the analyses is done through politeness theory (p. 362-367)
Best wishes,
Joe
China
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