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Facework
Bridging Theory and Practice



May 2006 | 248 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
"By "granting the other specificity," authors Domenici and Littlejohn successfully uphold the important values of human dignity, honor, and respect as anchoring points in which the story of the book evolves."
Stella Ting-Toomey, California State University at Fullerton

"The book is written in user-friendly language, well planned, well executed, and packed with useful ideas on building positive facework in diverse contexts."
Stella Ting-Toomey, California State University at Fullerton

"The advantage of this text is its consistent, strong, and thoroughly researched focus on Communication. The benefits for readers come from this focus, as well as from the accessible language, vivid examples, and engaging suggestions."

—Liliana Castañeda Rossmann, California State University, San Marcos    

"Written in an accessible and engaging style, there is much to recommend this text as an excellent illustration of practical theory."
—William R. Cupach, Illinois State University  

Written in a clear, engaging style Facework: Bridging Theory and Practice introduces a new paradigm that identifies facework as the key to communication within the management of difference. Authors Kathy Domenici and Stephen W. Littlejohn illustrate how facework is a central process in the social construction of both identity and community.  

Key Features:
  • Goes beyond traditional understandings of face to enrich the concept of facework: This book formulates a new practical theory of facework and provides principles of practice derived from the theory. Skills and methods appropriate for a face-centered practice of communication in the management of difference are addressed.
  • Offers a wide spectrum of examples: Building dignity, honor, and respect is an ongoing accomplishment within the conversations and episodes of group life, in relationships, organizations, communities, nations, and international relations. This book includes cases on the personal, organizational, societal, and global levels.
  • Demonstrates a fresh perspective in a clear, engaging, and accessible style: The book honors the research literature on facework and presents key findings in a meaningful way.  

Intended Audience:
This is an excellent text for undergraduate and graduate courses in Intercultural Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Management Communication, and Group Communication, among others. It is also a valuable resource for management consultants, mediators, facilitators, trainers, and organizational development professionals.


 
Preface
 
Introduction
 
Part I: The Social Construction of Face
 
1: Identity and Facework: A Theoretical Perspective
Accomplishing Identity

 
The Metaphor of Face

 
Constructing a Frame

 
Focus of Attention

 
Contexts of Action

 
Principles for Practice

 
 
2: Creating an Environment for Constructive Facework: A Practical Perspective
Facework and the Communication Environment

 
Creating a Constructive Environment

 
Skills for Positive Facework

 
Principles for Practice

 
 
Part II: Realms of Practice
 
3: Facework in the Personal Realm
Communication Acts

 
Integrating Facework Into Conversation

 
Episodes of Facework

 
Personal Face and the Lifescript

 
Principles for Practice

 
 
4: Facework in the Relational Realm
Thinking About Relationships

 
Facework in the Relationship

 
Communication Acts in the Relationship

 
Conversations and Episodes of Relational Life

 
The Relational Lifescript

 
Principles for Practice

 
 
Part III: Facework and the System
 
5: Facework in the Community
Communication Acts in the Community

 
Community Conversations

 
Episodes in Building Community

 
Lifescripts and the Community

 
Principles for Practice

 
 
6: Cultural and Global Issues
The Culture of Facework

 
Putting a Face on International Relations

 
Principles for Practice

 
 
Part IV: Principled Practice
 
7: Toward a Practical Theory of Facework
Practical Theory

 
A Theory of Facework

 
Facework as Transcendence

 
Putting Facework Into Practice in Uganda

 
 
8: Guidelines From Artisans
Slogan 1: I'm Not Here to Call You a Thug

 
Slogan 2: Don't Open Presents in Front of Others

 
Slogan 3: The Ball Is Over the Fence

 
Slogan 4: It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

 
Doing Facework That Matters

 
 
References

"By "granting the other specificity," authors Domenici and Littlejohn successfully uphold the important values of human dignity, honor, and respect as anchoring points in which the story of the book evolves."
—Stella Ting-Toomey California State University at Fullerton

"The book is written in user-friendly language, well planned, well executed, and packed with useful ideas on building positive facework in diverse contexts."
Stella Ting-Toomey California State University at Fullerton

Stella Ting-Toomey
California State University at Fullerton
Facework: Bridging Theory and Practice
Key features
  •  Formulates a new practical theory of facework and provides principles of practice derived from the theory.
  • Written in a clear, engaging, and readable style and maintains an applied, practical focus. 
  • It honors the research literature on facework and presents key findings in an accessible way, going beyond traditional understandings of face to enrich the concept of facework.
  • Addresses skills and methods appropriate for a face-centered practice of communication in the management of difference. 
  • Is based on social science research and theory and on the authors' experience as practitioners, maintaining an applied, practical focus
  • Includes a wide spectrum of personal, organizational, community, societal, and international cases and examples.
  • Each chapter includes engaging sidebar material such as:  Praxis—sophisticated activity showing the impact of the material in practice; Pause—a story or question that suggests an exception, qualification, or counterpoint to the material; Difference—story or description that shows a cultural difference in the matter be discussed.
  • A Theory Appendix provides more technical information about the theoretical background of the book.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1

Chapter 3

11004_book_item_11004.pdf


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