Since globalisation leads us to interact more with people from all over the world, it is a logical consequence that we get in touch with an increasing number of people from different cultural backgrounds. Therefore, it is important to be aware that every person has their own concept of face, which refers to one’s values, belief system and behaviour. Thus, it is of critical significance to analyse to what extent the different concepts of face of certain people differ in order to make clear why intercultural misunderstandings might appear.
As culture is one of the most significant factors that have an impact on a person’s concept of face, this term paper is going to deal with the connection of culture and face and will provide a comparison of the German and Japanese face concepts. Following this analysis, a model developed by Claudia Finkbeiner will be introduced to demonstrate how these cultural differences including one’s concept of face might be overcome in order to ensure successful intercultural encounters.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Culture and Cultural Difference
3. Politeness and Face
3.1 The Concept of Face
3.2 Face-Threatening Acts (FTAs) and Politeness Strategies
4. Face in the German and Japanese Culture
4.1 Power Distance Index
4.2 Individualism versus Collectivism
4.3 Masculinity versus Femininity
4.4 Uncertainty Avoidance Index
4.5 Long-Term Orientation versus Short-Term Orientation
5. Developing Intercultural Competence
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between culture and the individual concept of "face," specifically comparing German and Japanese cultural perspectives. It seeks to explore how divergent cultural values contribute to intercultural misunderstandings and how models of intercultural competence, such as the "Human GPS," can be utilized to navigate and mitigate these communicative challenges in an increasingly globalized environment.
- The link between cultural background and the sociological concept of face.
- A comparative analysis of German and Japanese face concepts using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions.
- Identification of communicative conflict sources arising from high-context vs. low-context cultural behaviors.
- The application of the "Human GPS" model to enhance intercultural competence and reduce misunderstandings.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 The Concept of Face
Face is a sociological and, according to Neuliep (2018), a universal concept that can be described as "[a] person’s sense of favorable self-worth or self-image experienced during communicative situations" (p. 437), which is why it can be seen as "an emotional extension of the self-concept" (p. 437). The notion of "face" has Chinese origins and is a literal translation of míanzi and liân (Ho, 1975; Mao, 1994). It first appeared in the English language among the English community in China as "to save one’s face" (Mao, 1994). This expression refers to the ways or strategies the Chinese commonly adopted in order to avoid incurring shame or disgrace (Mao, 1994). According to Goffman (1972), "[t]he term face may be defined as the positive social value a person effectively claims for himself by the line others assume he has taken during a particular contact. Face is an image of self-delineated in terms of approved social attributes" (p. 5). Furthermore. Oetzel & Ting-Toomey (2003) expanded this theory stating that there are three types of face. The self-face, which solely concentrates on one’s own image, the other-face, which focuses on other people’s images and the mutual-face, which combines the previous notions and concerns both parties’ images (p. 603). These notions of face are important when conflicts arise in intercultural communication as they require a resolution and people from different cultures concentrate on saving either their own prestige, their interlocutor’s face, or both. This process is affected by cultural, individual and situational variables, as the following chapter is going to demonstrate.
Chapter Summary
1. Introduction: Outlines the significance of intercultural communication, the sociological concept of face, and the specific focus on comparing German and Japanese cultural perspectives.
2. Culture and Cultural Difference: Defines culture using various academic perspectives and introduces Hofstede’s dimensions as a framework for differentiating cultures.
3. Politeness and Face: Explores the theoretical definition of politeness and the concept of face as an emotional extension of self-concept, including face-threatening behaviors.
4. Face in the German and Japanese Culture: Provides a comparative analysis of Germany and Japan using Hofstede's dimensions (Power Distance, Individualism, etc.) to highlight unique facework strategies.
5. Developing Intercultural Competence: Examines strategies such as the "Human GPS" to improve awareness and handling of intercultural encounters.
6. Conclusion: Synthesizes the main findings, emphasizing that face concerns are culturally determined and critical for successful intercultural interaction.
Keywords
Intercultural Communication, Concept of Face, Germany, Japan, Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions, Face-Threatening Acts, Politeness Strategies, Human GPS, Intercultural Competence, Collectivism, Individualism, Power Distance, Facework, Miscommunication, Cultural Scripts
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work examines how distinct cultural backgrounds influence an individual's concept of "face" and how these differing concepts lead to misunderstandings in intercultural communication between Germans and Japanese.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
Key themes include the sociological definitions of face, politeness theory, Hofstede's cultural dimensions, and the practical application of intercultural competence models.
What is the main research question of the study?
The paper asks to what extent German and Japanese concepts of face differ and how these differences can be managed in professional and social interactions to prevent intercultural misinterpretation.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The author uses a comparative analysis approach, applying Hofstede’s six dimensions of culture to both German and Japanese societal behaviors and communication styles.
How is the main body of the text structured?
The text is organized into theoretical foundations regarding culture and face, followed by an applied comparative analysis of Germany and Japan, and finally, a discussion on developing intercultural competence.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Central terms include Intercultural Communication, Concept of Face, Hofstede’s Dimensions, Facework Strategies, and Individualism vs. Collectivism.
How does the author explain the difference between German and Japanese face management?
The author identifies German culture as individualistic and low-context, focusing on the self-face, whereas Japanese culture is described as collectivistic and high-context, prioritizing mutual-face and group harmony.
What is the "Human GPS" metaphor used for in the paper?
The "Human GPS" is a metaphor for a multi-perspective process that helps individuals navigate diverse sociocultural realities by re-evaluating their own values through the incoming data of others.
Why can positive feedback be a face-threatening act in Japan?
In Japan, positive feedback may be interpreted as "homegoroshi" (killing by praise) or ridicule because it may disrupt group harmony or contradict the expected indirect communicative norms.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2020, The Connection of Culture and Face and the Role of Intercultural Competence, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1266587
