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facework as alignment approach to conversational analysis. (9.4). Finally, I shall
provide a conclusion (9.5).
9.1 Review of the Study
I began the study by introducing the concept of face as developed in the
work of Erving Goffman (1967) and Brown and Levinson (1987). In terms of the
former, I paid emphasis to the notion of equilibrium as a process of mutually
supportive facework practices where face was claimed, ratified, and sustained
over the flow of interaction. In terms of the latter, I highlighted the conceptual
import afforded by the positive - negative reading of face needs and facework
strategies. I then moved on to consider the concept of face as a possible
universal by drawing on cross-cultural literature, particularly that focusing on
Asian cultures (e. g. Matsumoto 1988; Mao 1994; Morisaki and Gudykunst 1994;
Scollon and Scollon 1994). Here I highlighted amongst other things the concept
of the self-construal as providing some conceptual import for an understanding
of the concept of face as a universal. I then moved on to consider other non
Anglo-American cultures to show how conversational behaviour which ran
prima facie contra to face work a la Goffman or politeness a la Brown and
Levinson but which nevertheless was perceived by persons in certain cultures
as non face-threatening or not impolite ( e. g. Blum-Kulka 1987; Wierzbicka
1985; Katriel 1986; Tannen 1981 a; 1981 b; Schiffrin 1984). Drawing on Goffman
I concluded the chapter by suggesting that the considerable variety of
conversational practices in a range of cultures could be conceived of similarly,
as evidencing the collaborative achievement of ritual equilibrium, albeit
culturally variant in its conversationally manifest form.
Next, in Chapter 2,1 drew on a range of studies which focused
specifically on English - German differences in what I referred to generically as
communicative style (e. g. Blum-Kulka and House 1989; Byrnes 1986; Fetzer
1996,1997; Friday 1994; Hellweg, Samovar, and Skow 1994; House 1979,
1982a, 1982b, 1982c, 1989; House and Kasper 1931; Kotthoff 1989,1991,
1993,1994; Straehle 1997; and Watts 1989). A salient set of differences were
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