从面子礼貌体系角度探析中西方面子观的差异

面子是一种普遍存在的社会文化现象。介绍Penelope Brown和Stephen C.Levinson的面子礼貌理论,据此阐述中西方维护面子的差异:中国文化倾向于对正面子的维护,西方文化偏重保全交际者的负面子。从历史、价值观体系角度分析造成中西方面子观差异的根源:中国文化中面子观根植于群体意识和儒家文化,而西方文化中面子观受个人主义价值观和契约精神的影响很深。在跨文化交际日益增加的今天,要尽力避免文化差异造成的误解和冲突,使跨文化交际顺利进行。

Analysis on difference of Chinese and Western face concepts from perspective of face politeness system

Face is an universal social and cultural phenomenon. The face politeness theories of Penelope Brown and Stephen C. Levinson are introduced, and the differences of maintaining face between China and Western countries are illustrated： Chinese culture tends to maintain the positive face, while Western culture pay more attention to the negative face of communicators. The oringin of difference of Chinese and Western face concepts is analyzed from perspectives of history and value system： Chinese face concept is rooted in collectivism and Confucius culture, while Western face concept is deeply influenced by individualism values and contract spirit. Nowadays, along with the increasingly development of cross-cultural communication, misunderstanding and conflict caused by cultural difference should be tried to avoid, in order to gurantee cross-cultural communication to run smoothly.