Face It! Face Matters when Communicating. A crash course in the concept of face and how it affects us as we communicate across cultures.

Transcription

1 Face It! Face Matters when Communicating A crash course in the concept of face and how it affects us as we communicate across cultures.

2 Introductions Matthew Loehrer International Student & Scholar Advisor Keri Toma Global Programs Manager

3 Objectives Understand the concept of face and how it differs between different cultures. Recognize common situations when face plays an important role. Raise awareness of our own expectations of face and how it may be different than others around us. Identify strategies for negotiating face to improve communication.

4 Agenda 1. Introductions 2. Defining face 3. Cultural Variables 4. Navigating face 5. Facework Scenarios 6. Benefits of Facework 7. Q&A

5 What is face? What sayings include the word face?

6 Definition of face Face refers to a claimed sense of favorable social self-worth that a person wants others to have for him or her. It is a vulnerable identity-based resource because it can be enhanced or threatened in any uncertain social situation. Ting-Toomey, S. & Kurogi, A. (1998) p. 187

7 Definition of facework Facework refers to a set of communicative behaviors that people use to regulate their social dignity and to support or challenge the other s social dignity. Ting-Toomey, S. & Kurogi, A. (1998) p. 188

8 Face Terminology Facework Face negotiation Maintain face Face loss Face gain Lose face Give face Self-face Other-face Mutual-face Face-saving Face-honoring Face-threatening

9 Cultural Variables

10 Individualism vs Collectivism I identity We identity

11 Low Context vs High Context Start Main Point Cultural context Start Main Point Direct Communication Tone Body language Indirect Communication

12 Individualist + Low Context Collectivist + High Context Self-Face Oriented Other-Face Oriented

13 Where are you on the continuum? Individualist + Low Context Collectivist + High Context Self-Face Oriented Other-Face Oriented

14 Navigating Face

15 Strategies For Communication Facework Management Silence Directness Individualists Low Context Self-Face Give Face Embrace Silence Hedging Collectivists High Context Other-Face Save Face Don t Wait for Silence Verbal Feedback Adapted from Ting-Toomey, S. (1993).

16 Facework Management Individualists Low Context Self-Face Collectivists High Context Other-Face Give Face Restrain the desire to talk about sensitive issues (conflict) too directly. Leave room for the other person to exit a situation gracefully (offer an excuse). Save Face Don t be afraid to defend your position. Avoid emotion and rely on facts and examples, similar to the way you argue a thesis. Adapted from Ting-Toomey, S. (1993).

17 Be Mindful of Silence Individualists Low Context Self-Face Collectivists High Context Other-Face Embrace the Role of Silence Silence plays an important role in HC communication in that it allows for conversational turn taking and thought formulation. Don t Wait for Silence LC speakers may not instinctively allow for turn taking during a conversation don t wait for one. Adapted from Ting-Toomey, S. (1993).

18 Directness Individualists Low Context Self-Face Hedging In sensitive situations hedge your language with qualifiers, disclaimers, and tag questions. Avoid using a hard no. Convey objection with a softer/implicit response such as Perhaps we can try or Yes, but. Collectivists Verbal Feedback High Context Don t rely on the other speaker s ability to intuit a Other-Face situation. Reframe what you think the speaker is saying, verify what you understand to be the facts. It s okay to express your feelings if something is unclear. Adapted from Ting-Toomey, S. (1993).

19 Scenarios

20 Tuition Payment Issues You are a low-context administrator working with a student from a high-context culture on the issue of tuition payments. The student hasn t paid his tuition and is unlikely to be able to do so. He is at risk of not being able to register for the semester. You ask the student, Are you going to be able to pay tuition this semester? What kind of answer can you expect to hear from that student? How can you communicate in a face-sensitive way the importance of paying their tuition and being registered?

21 Co-worker Communication Issue You are a high-context speaker in a low-context office. In your opinion, staff meetings seem very hostile because everyone is so direct in voicing their opinions about each other s work, not hesitating to point out when they feel someone else is wrong. Whenever you raise an issue, it seems everyone talks over you and won t let you finish speaking. You often just back away from the conversation feeling frustrated. What can you do to make your voice heard? What are some things your co-workers could do to better accommodate all communication styles in the office?

22 Why does facework matter?

23 Benefits of Facework Develop trust & cultivate relationships Students view your office as welcoming & a place where they can talk Communicate more effectively & appropriately Avoid unnecessary conflict & miscommunication

24 Questions?

25 Resources Ting-Toomey, S. Theory reflections: Face-negotiation theory. NAFSA. Retrieved from Ting-Toomey, S. (1993). Managing intercultural conflict effectively. In L.A. Samovar, R.E. Porter & E.R. McDaniel (Eds), Intercultural communication: A reader (pp ). South Melbourne, Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Ting-Toomey, S. & Kurogi, A. (1998). Facework competence in intercultural conflict: An updated face negotiation theory. The International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 22(2), Ting-Toomey, S. (2004). A matrix of face: An updated face-negotiation theory. In W. B. Gudykunst (Eds.), Theorizing about intercultural communication (pp ). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

26 Thank you! Matthew Loehrer International Student & Scholar Advisor UC San Francisco Contact Information Keri Toma Global Programs Manager UC Santa Cruz