(Patrice had a little mic trouble for the first third of this episode. Please bear with us until about minute 13, when she mysteriously shifts to much better audio quality)
“Saving face” is an idea that is very difficult to grasp for people who don’t grow up around it. It is a collectivist, high-context concept that we do our best to navigate in this episode. We would love to hear from any listeners with first-hand experience with it! In a nutshell, it is the idea that your actions have a strong effect on your reputation and the reputation of your family and all groups in your life, and others’ actions also affect these groups. Confused? Check out the episode to hear us be confused, too! We try to bring a little clarity.
Here are some of the resources we used for this episode:
- Giving and taking away face: https://www.internations.org/china-expats/guide/29464-culture-shopping-recreation/understanding-the-chinese-culture-17526
- Saving face in Korean culture: https://web.uri.edu/iaics/files/03-Kun-Ok-Kim.pdf
- Face in business culture: https://www.advisorperspectives.com/commentaries/2013/03/07/guanxi-mianzi-and-business-the-impact-of-culture-on-corporate-governance-in-china
In Language News, “youthquake” was the word of the year last year from the Oxford Dictionary. Wonder what it will be this year!!
Major props to Matt from Southwestern Pennsylvania in the US for submitting his Lost in Translation moment!! Go submit yours in our contact section!
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