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conversational data from both cultures, I shall identify what I shall refer to as certain salient sociable selves routinely mobilised by participants in German and English sociable settings. These conversational selves shall be posited as being necessary symbolic resources to both engage in the sociable style demonstrated in each respective culture, and allow for the claiming and ratification of prevailing positive social values. Fundamentally, such selves shall be demonstrated to be the symbolic resources through which participants are able to achieve both positive and negative alignment, and thus, over the flow of the conversation have both positive and negative face needs met within a wider reciprocal framework of mutually supportive ritual equilibrium. In Chapter 8,1 shall draw these theoretical threads and empirical snapshots together, to conduct a more thorough and detailed analysis of two extended excerpts of sociable conversation drawn from both German and English sociable episodes for their facework as alignment features. The aim of this final analytic chapter shall be twofold: First, to demonstrate the analytical purchase afford by a facework as alignment approach to the analysis of sociable conversation; and second to demonstrate how German and English participants in sociable episodes variously draw on effectively institutionalised sociable selves in the achievement of facework as alignment. Although differing in their symbolic and conversational manifestation, such practise shall be shown to allow participants in each sociable milieu to achieve and sustain what I shall term sociable equilibrium. Finally, in Chapter 9,1 shall conclude the thesis. Here I shall review the chapters one by one, before moving on to consolidate the theoretical propositions advanced over the course of the study, and assess the usefulness of facework as alignment approach. In terms of the specific research questions set out in Chapter 4,1 shall consider in how far the facework as alignment approach has advanced our understanding of the bases for English - German differences in communicative style, in particular those practices routinely and normatively engaged in within sociable settings. Finally, I shall suggest areas for further research, 10
including the application of the facework as alignment approach in contexts other than sociable ones, possible extensions to and developments on the facework as alignment approach, and implications for cross-cultural research, particularly between those cultures where - as I noted in Chapter 1- extant frameworks and conceptual isations have proved inadequate. In the first instance, this thesis stands as a single document. Each successive chapter serves to lead the reader through the various stages of the study by providing the necessary conceptual and theoretical background, considering the empirical data, before concluding the study and suggesting areas for further research. However, it is possible to read each chapter independently of the others, depending on the reader's particular interest or familiarity with one or the other part of the thesis. With a wide and varied audience in mind, I have attempted to write the thesis in a way that makes it as accessible to as wide an audience as possible, whilst not compromising the academic rigour required of such a study. A Plea for an Instructed Reading As I outlined above, the study as it appears in its final form comes as a result of much musing over conceptual, analytical, and methodological contingencies associated with the analysis of face as a concept and its realisation in discourse as facework. Consequently, in an attempt to resolve some of these issues, a wide and rather eclectic body of literature, and concepts and propositions therein have been employed. These varied elements have then been drawn together in the hope of arriving at-a workable 'way' of dealing with the specific research problem. The thesis as a whole will hopefully stand as at least as equal to the sum of these parts. As this thesis is as much exploratory as empirical, the reader is asked to consider in quite general terms the usefulness of the central concepts and propositions developed over the course of the chapters, as 11
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- Page 35 and 36: etween self and other). Conversatio
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- Page 43 and 44: Table 1.3 Individualist (LCC) and C
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- Page 55 and 56: CHAPTER 2 ANGLO-SAXON CHALK AND TEU
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conversational data from both cultures, I shall identify what I shall refer to<br />
as certain salient sociable selves routinely mobilised by participants in<br />
German and English sociable settings. These conversational selves shall<br />
be posited as being necessary symbolic resources to both engage in the<br />
sociable style demonstrated in each respective culture, and allow for the<br />
claiming and ratification <strong>of</strong> prevailing positive social values.<br />
Fundamentally, such selves shall be demonstrated to be the symbolic<br />
resources through which participants are able to achieve both positive and<br />
negative alignment, and thus, over the flow <strong>of</strong> the conversation have both<br />
positive and negative face needs met within a wider reciprocal framework<br />
<strong>of</strong> mutually supportive ritual equilibrium.<br />
In Chapter 8,1 shall draw these theoretical threads and empirical<br />
snapshots together, to conduct a more thorough and detailed analysis <strong>of</strong><br />
two extended excerpts <strong>of</strong> sociable conversation drawn from both German<br />
and English sociable episodes for their facework as alignment features.<br />
The aim <strong>of</strong> this final analytic chapter shall be tw<strong>of</strong>old: First, to demonstrate<br />
the analytical purchase afford by a facework as alignment approach to the<br />
analysis <strong>of</strong> sociable conversation; and second to demonstrate how<br />
German and English participants in sociable episodes variously draw on<br />
effectively institutionalised sociable selves in the achievement <strong>of</strong> facework<br />
as alignment. Although differing in their symbolic and conversational<br />
manifestation, such practise shall be shown to allow participants in each<br />
sociable milieu to achieve and sustain what I shall term sociable<br />
equilibrium.<br />
Finally, in Chapter 9,1 shall conclude the thesis. Here I shall review<br />
the chapters one by one, before moving on to consolidate the theoretical<br />
propositions advanced over the course <strong>of</strong> the study, and assess the<br />
usefulness <strong>of</strong> facework as alignment approach. In terms <strong>of</strong> the specific<br />
research questions set out in Chapter 4,1 shall consider in how far the<br />
facework as alignment approach has advanced our understanding <strong>of</strong> the<br />
bases for English - German differences in communicative style, in<br />
particular those practices routinely and normatively engaged in within<br />
sociable settings. Finally, I shall suggest areas for further research,<br />
10
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