论文部分内容阅读
【Abstract】This paper aims to analyze the selection of apology strategies by Chinese students at different levels of linguistic proficiency， as compared with that of the native American speakers， finally revealing the similarities and differences among all the groups as far as the strategy selections are concerned.
【Key words】pragmatic transfer， similarities， differences， apology-making
1 Introduction
The categorization of apologies develops in linguistic history， which constitutes a significant part of apology speech act and is available to speakers across languages. There do exist some similarities and differences between Chinese and American apology-making.
2 Similarities
First and foremost， apologies are realized as stereotyped， formulaic social and linguistic routines in both cultures， that is， they are formulaic in structure. Each category consists of instances of patterned forms used by most speakers on most occasions. The expected linguistic form of the speech acts of apologizing is what， in fact， makes them routines in both cultures. The second similarity is the main function of apology in social interaction. To one degree or another， in both cultures making apologies aims to maintain or reestablish rapport between participants. Apology serves to reinforce a feeling of solidarity between speakers. A third common trait is in selecting apology strategies， especially the situation-specific strategies. For example， the belief that offers of repair are appropriate responses to damaged goods is common cross-culturally. Finally， the things that require an apology are quite universal， for example， they all apologize for possession offenses， inconvenience to others， time offenses， space offenses and etc.
3 Differences
Speech acts of apologizing differ cross-culturally along a number of dimensions. First of all， their frequency of occurrence and distribution are different. In American English， apologies occur in a wide variety of situations. For example， the formula “excuse me” are offered as territory invasion signals when addressing strangers （e.g.， prior to asking direction）， as announcements of temporary absence from ongoing interaction （e.g.， in order to answer the phone）， or upon virtual or real intrusion of another person’s physical space （e.g.， passing somebody in a narrow hallway）. Comments are often heard from non-native speakers that Americans are too ready to give apologies， but sometimes they lack sincerity. Chinese， however， don’t make so many ritualistic apologies. In their mind， coughing and sneezing don’t call for an apology， or does the interruption of the talk. That is because they think this kind of apologies is superfluous and they are more likely to apologize on formal occasions and follow rigid patterns， which can show their formality and seriousness.
【Key words】pragmatic transfer， similarities， differences， apology-making
1 Introduction
The categorization of apologies develops in linguistic history， which constitutes a significant part of apology speech act and is available to speakers across languages. There do exist some similarities and differences between Chinese and American apology-making.
2 Similarities
First and foremost， apologies are realized as stereotyped， formulaic social and linguistic routines in both cultures， that is， they are formulaic in structure. Each category consists of instances of patterned forms used by most speakers on most occasions. The expected linguistic form of the speech acts of apologizing is what， in fact， makes them routines in both cultures. The second similarity is the main function of apology in social interaction. To one degree or another， in both cultures making apologies aims to maintain or reestablish rapport between participants. Apology serves to reinforce a feeling of solidarity between speakers. A third common trait is in selecting apology strategies， especially the situation-specific strategies. For example， the belief that offers of repair are appropriate responses to damaged goods is common cross-culturally. Finally， the things that require an apology are quite universal， for example， they all apologize for possession offenses， inconvenience to others， time offenses， space offenses and etc.
3 Differences
Speech acts of apologizing differ cross-culturally along a number of dimensions. First of all， their frequency of occurrence and distribution are different. In American English， apologies occur in a wide variety of situations. For example， the formula “excuse me” are offered as territory invasion signals when addressing strangers （e.g.， prior to asking direction）， as announcements of temporary absence from ongoing interaction （e.g.， in order to answer the phone）， or upon virtual or real intrusion of another person’s physical space （e.g.， passing somebody in a narrow hallway）. Comments are often heard from non-native speakers that Americans are too ready to give apologies， but sometimes they lack sincerity. Chinese， however， don’t make so many ritualistic apologies. In their mind， coughing and sneezing don’t call for an apology， or does the interruption of the talk. That is because they think this kind of apologies is superfluous and they are more likely to apologize on formal occasions and follow rigid patterns， which can show their formality and seriousness.