52
Evidence Of Facework Done By The Press
A number of face strategies is evident in the sample. In face-enhancing situations to China or her people, the strategy is usually elaboration of the performance of the athletes, or highlighting the successful performance of them. For the latter, the most obvious is the use of the front page.
Earlier in this paper, it has been found that themes that are enhancing to China are found to be in larger proportions than the other three, but the proportions of face-enhancing China sentences to those threatening her are similar to those concerning other countries in the four Games (see Table 9). In the tabulation of front page articles, the picture is quite different (Table 13). The proportion of face-enhancing sentences to China is much larger, and the ratio of enhancing versus threatening sentences is different between those concerning China and those concerning other countries. The ratio in the former shows a much more enhancing picture.
TABLE 13. Cross-Tabulations Of Event By Theme In Front Page Articles
Face Situations (Theme) Threatening China Enhancing China Threatening Others Enhancing Others Total 1984 Olympics 22 33 35 9 299 7.4% 11.0% 11.7% 3.0% 1985 Universiade 14 3 3 3 23 60.9% 13.0% 13.0% 13.0% 1986 Asian Games 174 11 16 5 206 84.5% 5.3% 7.8% 2.4% 1987 Universiade 34 4 2 3 43 79.1% 9.3% 4.7% 7.0% Total 414 51 56 20 571 Row% 77.8% 8.9% 9.8% 3.5%Legend: cf. Tables 9 & 10
52
Evidence Of Facework Done By The Press
A number of face strategies is evident in the sample. In face-enhancing situations to China or her people, the strategy is usually elaboration of the performance of the athletes, or highlighting the successful performance of them. For the latter, the most obvious is the use of the front page.
Earlier in this paper, it has been found that themes that are enhancing to China are found to be in larger proportions than the other three, but the proportions of face-enhancing China sentences to those threatening her are similar to those concerning other countries in the four Games (see Table 9). In the tabulation of front page articles, the picture is quite different (Table 13). The proportion of face-enhancing sentences to China is much larger, and the ratio of enhancing versus threatening sentences is different between those concerning China and those concerning other countries. The ratio in the former shows a much more enhancing picture.
TABLE 13. Cross-Tabulations Of Event By Theme In Front Page Articles
Face Situations (Theme) Threatening
Count Row %
Enhancing
China
China
Others
Enhancing Threatening Total
Others
1984 Olympics
222
33
35
9
299
742%
11,0%
11 7%
3.0%
1985 Universiade
14
3
3
3
23
609%
130%
130%
13 0%
1986 Asian Games
174
11
16
5
206
84.5%
5.3%
78%
2.4%
1987 Universiade
34
4
2
3
43
79.1%
93%
47%
70%
Total Row%
414
51
56
20
571
77.8%
89%
98%
35%
Legend: cf. Tables 9 & 10
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