How face as a system of value-constructs operates through the interplay of mianzi and lian in Chinese: a corpus-based study

This study aims to explore how face as a system of value-constructs operates through the interplay of its two forms mianzi and lian in the Chinese language and culture, based on the data analysis of V+mianzi and V+lian collocations drawn from a Chinese oral corpus. The major findings permit three observations. First, face operates as an inseparable whole of mianzi and lian representing a system of value-constructs which exerts constraints on its representations. Mianzi tends to be more positively evaluated aspects of face, while lian tends to be more negatively evaluated aspects. Second, mianzi, is other-oriented as a social self; it represents the public self-image, capability, dignity, and reputation as the salient components of its internal value-constructs. Reputation is a distinguishing component of mianzi and public self-image is its most salient component. In contrast, lian is self-oriented as a personal self; it represents the public self-image, capability, dignity, and morality as the salient components of its internal value-constructs, and has morality as a distinguishing component. Third, face operates as a dual unity of other-related mianzi and self-oriented lian which interact with each other to determine face gain and face loss via self- or other-judgments or evaluations of people's behaviors or conducts based on the values assumed in social interaction. In addition, there is a large proportional overlap between the value-constructs of mianzi and lian which coexist and depend on each other to meet individual, relational, and collective face needs.