A Comparative Study on the Difference of “Face” in Western and Chinese Cultures
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DOI: 10.25236/icallh.2018.81
Author(s)
Man Zhang, Xiaoxiao Chen
Corresponding Author
Xiaoxiao Chen
Abstract
Intercultural communication is a communication activity among people in different cultures and different language backgrounds. Pragmatics investigates how language expressions are applied in concrete communication situations. Therefore, intercultural communication problems can be studied by adopting pragmatic theories. This research studies the cross-cultural difference of “face” through speech acts. With a purpose to reveal the differentiations of the concept of face ingrained in these two distinct cultures, this research is of importance in clearing conflicts and misunderstandings, and is also important to eliminate obstacles in real time interactions.
Keywords
Intercultural communication, Cultural difference, Face, Speech act.