Face Constituting Theory

Abstract

Connection with and separation from one another is a productive alternative conceptualization of what is known cross-culturally and in the social sciences as “face.” It follows that conceptualizing relating as conjointly co-constituting operative interpretings of both connection and separation is equivalent to conceptualizing relating as conjointly co-constituting face. Constituting connection with and separation from one another is a viable culture-general conceptualization of face, as apparent in considering the culture-specific construals of the dialectic in several cultural groups. Chapter 8 provides a formal statement of Face Constituting Theory, and against that background examines how researchers go about “finding face” in social practices in everyday interacting, compares the theory with six prior accounts of face, and considers participants’ evaluations of their interpretings of relating and face, of threat, and of im/politeness.