跨文化交际作业
The differences in “ Face” between China and the west
The differences in “ Face” between China and the west
All Asians have this quality of face , honor , integrity and pride . In return , all Asians respect the face of their people, family
etc. Their values are to be truthful but discreet and considerate; caring without being weak ;and never lose your face or cause an Asian to lose face . Face cannot be underestimated. Asians have long memories, and any loss of face will be remembered.
How can we Chinese measure Face ?
Face is the measure of one’s self pride, integrity, character and good name, but it is much more than personal pride; it involves the entire group (the family, the school, the neighborhood, the work place, the city and the country). Face keeps relationships in order as it allows the longevity of group harmony, and it promotes group solidarity. It measures the social standing of the person within the group and the social standing of the group as well. If one person loses face, the whole group loses face, so it is much deeper and stronger than a simple embarrassment. The theory of face allows the group to have social control over the behavior of the individual. It is most evident in communication between superiors and subordinates.
Do Westerners have Face ?
Westerners have a face component in their society, but appear to place more value on privacy as they have ever written books on privacy and adamantly guard their right to it. Through the actions of many Westerners, the absence of the Asian—type face is visible. There is no timidity with a Westerner in regards to speaking their
mind, asking questions in the classroom or challenging their superiors, to say an outright no to friends or colleagues, this end result of their actions does not affect the group in any manner, just the individual. Westerners sometimes refer to having a loss of face as a form of slight awkwardness, but shame is usually not a large part of it. When a Westerner does something wrong, he or she feels more guilty than shame. If an individual does something wrong, he will take full responsibility for himself .Thus the group is not held responsible for the action of the individual. Westerners think it is an important part of a democratic culture where every individual has his own personal rights.
The reason analysis of different attitudes towards Face
The different attitudes towards Face between Chinese and westerners reflect two different values: “ We-culture” and “I-culture”, also called Collectivism and Individualism.
The Confucian ideal for handling the relationship of the country and the individual is: self—cultivation for the harmony of the family, for the order of the country and for the peace of the world. What’s more, this ideal has become a belief and practice of the whole Chinese people. Influenced by this tradition, Chinese tend to maintain the collective interest even by sacrificing his own
interest. Thus, one must take the responsibility for the family, society, race and nation. It is also embodied in the famous couplet: Concern for the world comes first, joy for the self comes last.
Western tradition cultivates the Individualism , the essence of culture values in western countries. In western history and culture , Individualism is praised as high as liberty, democracy, freedom and human rights.
It is obvious, when we think about it, that people of different cultures and backgrounds , have different values, attitudes and behaviors towards the same thing.
关键词：面子 集体主义 个人主义 儒家文化 传统哲学
民主 平等 自由 人权
中文摘要：
以中国为代表的亚洲人重视面子和荣誉，他们也同样尊重家
人和他人的面子，在公共场合，尤其谨慎，不轻易表露自己的感情和态度，以免自己丢面子，同时造成家人或单位乃至集体跟着没面子。但相对于东方的重面子而言，西方人更注重个人自由，他们没有亚洲人的那种“面子情结”，只是将丢面子看作轻微的尴尬。
本文通过中西方对待面子问题的不同态度和观点进行分析，折射出中西方在价值观上的文化差异，即“集体主义”与“个人主义”，又称“我们文化”（ We-culture）与“我文化”（ I-culture）的不同。
长久以来受中国“天人合一”的整体宇宙观及儒家“修身齐家治国平天下”的传统哲学的影响，中国人注重集体利益和整体价值，认为集体主义至高无上。这种集体主义价值观要求个人发展与集体发展相统一，并树立起了中国人对家庭，社会，民族和国家强烈的责任感，义务感和使命感，自觉担起各种社会职责。
西方的传统文化孕育了个人主义，它是西方社会文化价值观的实质，并渗透在西方社会生活的各个方面。在西方特定的历史和文化中，个人主义是一个褒义词，是与民主，平等，自由，人权相对等的。
