The Chinese ConceptulizationThe Chinese Conceptulizations of Faces of Face

Emotions, Communication and PersonhoodEmotions, Communication and Personhood

1. A Synchronic Interpretation: 1. A Synchronic Interpretation: interpretive framework of cultural interpretive framework of cultural

communicationcommunication Carbaugh’s cultural communication model:Carbaugh’s cultural communication model:

PersonhoodPersonhood CommunicationCommunication EmotionsEmotions

Three assumptions about communicationThree assumptions about communication Communication is the primary social processCommunication is the primary social process Communication involves structures and processeCommunication involves structures and processe

s of meaning makings of meaning making Communication is situated action, involving partCommunication is situated action, involving part

icular forms and functionsicular forms and functions

Four assumptions of culturesFour assumptions of cultures Culture is a system of symbols, symbolic forms Culture is a system of symbols, symbolic forms

and meaningsand meanings Culture systems have integrative and Culture systems have integrative and

transformative potentialtransformative potential The culture system is mutually intelligible, The culture system is mutually intelligible,

commonly accessible, and deeply feltcommonly accessible, and deeply felt Culture is also historically groundedCulture is also historically grounded

Commendable aspects of this modelCommendable aspects of this model See Handout p.49See Handout p.49

1.2 Emotion and Face1.2 Emotion and Face Human feelings in Chinese culture Human feelings in Chinese culture （七情）（七情）

Enjoyment Enjoyment 喜喜 Anger Anger 怒怒 Sorrowfulness Sorrowfulness 哀哀 Happiness Happiness 乐乐 Love Love 爱爱 Disgust Disgust 恶恶 Desire Desire 欲欲

Six sensesSix senses Visual, audial, smell, taste, touch, sense (Visual, audial, smell, taste, touch, sense ( 意意 ))

LianLian （脸）（脸） /mian zi /mian zi （面子） （面子） 给面子，给面子， givegive 增面子，增面子， addadd 挣面子，挣面子， earnearn 赏脸，赏脸， rewardreward 留面子 留面子 savesave

Situations concerning face:Situations concerning face: Fear of expressing loveFear of expressing love Fear of talking about sexFear of talking about sex Fear of talking with authority figuresFear of talking with authority figures Fear of revealing one’s own shortcomingsFear of revealing one’s own shortcomings Fear of speaking and performanceFear of speaking and performance

1.3 Communication and Face1.3 Communication and Face

The concept of face is deeply The concept of face is deeply interactiveinteractive Inseparable part of communicationInseparable part of communication A product of communicationA product of communication A motive and means for communicationA motive and means for communication The fewer written legal codes that people The fewer written legal codes that people

create for regulating a people’s interaction, create for regulating a people’s interaction, the more significant the unwritten concept the more significant the unwritten concept of face becomes in such a community. of face becomes in such a community.

Face functions as the barometer of the Face functions as the barometer of the communal check.communal check.

1.4 Personhood and Face1.4 Personhood and Face Lose face/lose personhoodLose face/lose personhood Face and deathFace and death

2. A diachronic interpretation of 2. A diachronic interpretation of the Chinese concept of facethe Chinese concept of face

Five StagesFive Stages The formative stage (before Confucius)The formative stage (before Confucius) The mature stageThe mature stage The anti-tradition stageThe anti-tradition stage The communist revolution stageThe communist revolution stage The free market economy stageThe free market economy stage