FACEFACE

Goffman’s FaceGoffman’s Face

Erving Goffman was intrigued by what lay behind everyday Erving Goffman was intrigued by what lay behind everyday expressions such as ‘losing face’, ‘saving face’ and ‘being shamefaced’.expressions such as ‘losing face’, ‘saving face’ and ‘being shamefaced’.

He saw that without politeness, conversation didn’t work and that the He saw that without politeness, conversation didn’t work and that the need for politeness was rooted in ‘need for politeness was rooted in ‘savingsaving faceface’:’:

‘[face is…] the positive social value a person effectively claims ‘[face is…] the positive social value a person effectively claims forfor

himself by the line others assume he has taken during a himself by the line others assume he has taken during a personal personal

contact’contact’

Goffman recognised that whenever we talk, we need to feel ‘liked’. Goffman recognised that whenever we talk, we need to feel ‘liked’.

As a consequence, conversations are sites for potential ‘As a consequence, conversations are sites for potential ‘loss of faceloss of face’ ’ and that ‘and that ‘face workface work’ must, therefore, be a part of talk if ‘’ must, therefore, be a part of talk if ‘loss of faceloss of face’ is ’ is to be avoided and co-operation is to be maintained.to be avoided and co-operation is to be maintained.

Co-operation is vital to conversation, but without

politeness, all is lost.

‘‘Negative’ and ‘Positive’ Negative’ and ‘Positive’ FaceFace

‘‘Negative’ FaceNegative’ Face

The desire to feel The desire to feel unimpededunimpeded, i.e. the , i.e. the freedom from feeling imposed upon by the freedom from feeling imposed upon by the interaction.interaction.

‘‘Positive’ FacePositive’ Face

The desire to feel The desire to feel approved ofapproved of , i.e. to , i.e. to maintain a positive and consistent self-image maintain a positive and consistent self-image during the interaction.during the interaction.

Brown and Levinson developed Goffman’s ideas into the concepts of ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ face.

‘‘Negative and Positive Negative and Positive Face’Face’

‘‘Face Threatening ActsFace Threatening Acts’ (’ (FTAsFTAs) ) conversational turns thatconversational turns that risk a ‘loss of face’. risk a ‘loss of face’.

Positive politeness ‘face workPositive politeness ‘face work’’ addresses ‘positive face’ concerns, addresses ‘positive face’ concerns, by showing by showing

concern for the other’s faceconcern for the other’s face. .

Negative politeness ‘face work’Negative politeness ‘face work’ addresses ‘negative face’ concerns, addresses ‘negative face’ concerns, by by

acknowledging the other’s face is threatened.acknowledging the other’s face is threatened.

‘‘Face Threatening Face Threatening Acts’Acts’

‘‘Close your mouth when you eat, you fat swine’.Close your mouth when you eat, you fat swine’.~ A A baldbald FTA FTA

‘‘You have such beautiful teeth. I wish I didn’t see You have such beautiful teeth. I wish I didn’t see them when you eat.’ them when you eat.’ ~ An FTA using An FTA using positive politenesspositive politeness

‘‘I know you’re very hungry and that steak is a bit I know you’re very hungry and that steak is a bit tough, but I would appreciate it if you would chew tough, but I would appreciate it if you would chew with your mouth closed.’ with your mouth closed.’ ~ An FTA using An FTA using negative politenessnegative politeness

‘‘I wonder how far a person’s lips can stretch yet I wonder how far a person’s lips can stretch yet remain closed when eating?’ remain closed when eating?’ ~ An ‘An ‘off recordoff record’ or ‘’ or ‘indirect’ indirect’ FTAFTA

The ‘Politeness Principle’The ‘Politeness Principle’ Geoffrey Leech proposed the need for Geoffrey Leech proposed the need for ‘politeness ‘politeness

maxims’maxims’ as a prerequisite for conversational co- as a prerequisite for conversational co-operation. operation.

In the absence of politenessIn the absence of politeness,, Leech suggested, Leech suggested, it will it will be assumed that an attitude of politeness is absent.be assumed that an attitude of politeness is absent.

Each maxim has two forms: positive and negative.Each maxim has two forms: positive and negative.

Each maxim has a lesser ‘sub-maxim’ that recognises Each maxim has a lesser ‘sub-maxim’ that recognises the general law that the general law that negative politenessnegative politeness – – that we that we seek to minimise discordseek to minimise discord – is more important than – is more important than positive politenesspositive politeness – – that we seek concordthat we seek concord..

Leech’s Politeness Leech’s Politeness Maxims (1)Maxims (1)

1.1. TactTact: minimise the cost to others : minimise the cost to others [‘sub-maxim’: maximise benefit to [‘sub-maxim’: maximise benefit to others]others]

2.2. GenerosityGenerosity: minimise benefit to : minimise benefit to self [maximise cost to self]self [maximise cost to self]

3.3. ApprobationApprobation: minimise dispraise : minimise dispraise of others [maximise praise of other]of others [maximise praise of other]

Leech’s Politeness Leech’s Politeness Maxims (2)Maxims (2)

4.4. ModestyModesty: minimise praise of self : minimise praise of self [maximise dispraise of self][maximise dispraise of self]

5.5. AgreementAgreement: minimise disagreement : minimise disagreement between self and others [maximise between self and others [maximise agreement between self and other]agreement between self and other]

6.6. SympathySympathy: minimise antipathy : minimise antipathy between self and others [maximise between self and others [maximise sympathy between self and other]sympathy between self and other]