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Research on Face in Communication Studies

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Negotiating multiple identities

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to review the literature on face in communication studies and related fields and suggest two points.

First, it is important to shed light on affective aspects of face. Goffman is often regarded as a forerunner of research on face, and he contributed a great deal to the field of communication studies in that he perceived a dynamic nature of communication processes. However, his main interest was to explore how people manage impression and how interpersonal communication is governed by ‘interaction rituals’. In any conflictual situation or negotiation setting, how the emotions involved are treated is an important element in the relationship between communicators. By looking at the origin and functions of face in China and Japan, the necessity of exploring the affective aspects of face is suggested.

Second, the relationship between the two terms, face and identity/identities, should be further explored. The term face tends to be treated either as a synonym of identity or as a dependent variable of identity. In the former case, the two terms face and identity are used interchangeably. In the latter case, face needs and facework depend on whether an individual views himself/herself as independent of the situation or interdependent in the situation. Moreover, in both cases, face is treated statically. In this book, face is neither a dependent variable nor an independent variable in a causal relationship but may be the core part of an individual in developing his/her identities.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In the present study, ‘China’ refers to the mainland of China until PRC was established basically, while the People’s Republic of China (PRC) refers to the country established in 1949 on the mainland of China. Moreover, ‘Chinese’ refers to those who have Chinese as ethnicity. Depending on necessity, extra notes will be added.

  2. 2.

    It is worth noticing that with other scholars, Rom Harré paid attention to affective factors later and created the positioning theory, which goes beyond the perception of ‘identities’ to include emotional states such as ‘I am sad’ and ‘I am saddened by him’ (Harré & Monghaddam, 2003; Harré & van Langenhove, 1999).

  3. 3.

    While ‘dialectic’ generates unity and the creation of something new out of opposing components (Ting-Toomey, 1993), Cupach and Imahori (1993) use the term ‘dialectic’ to mean ‘conflicting’. Therefore, I use this term to refer to ‘opposing’ or ‘conflicting’ in the present study.

  4. 4.

    The definition will be given later in Chap. 4.

  5. 5.

    This Chinese document was translated into Japanese by Professor Emeritus Shizuka Ide at Aoyama Gakuin University for me.

  6. 6.

    Guanxi means a reciprocal interpersonal relationship where people exchange gifts, foods and mental support (Yang cited in Sonoda, 2001).

  7. 7.

    I modified Figure 2-1 in Sueda (2002, p. 22).

  8. 8.

    Yabushita (2004, p. 283); the original Japanese version was written by Sueda (1993).

  9. 9.

    According to the governmental census, the number of cases of school bullying that took place and were acknowledged in primary and secondary schools including schools for those who need special education in 2010 was 39,520. If the case becomes very serious, it may lead the bullied person to commit suicide (Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 20, 2012b).

  10. 10.

    According to Sechiyama (1996), Confucianism is retained in its original form more in South Korea or Japan than the People’s Republic of China, where Confucianism was discouraged during the Cultural Revolution.

  11. 11.

    Hakuhodo, one of the major advertising companies in Japan, conducted a survey on Japanese aged between 18 and 69 and found that ‘Enthusiastic about helping students find a job’ is ranked as the top reason for being considered as a ‘good’ university (Asahi Shimbun, July 14, 2012a).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan

    Kiyoko Sueda

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Sueda, K. (2014). Research on Face in Communication Studies. In: Negotiating multiple identities. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-008-7_2

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