INTER-LINGUSTIC ANALYSYS OF APOLOGIES IN MACEDONIAN AND ENGLISH

Abstract

Apologies are defined as expressive illocutionary speech acts, transactions to balance between the speakers after a certain damage has been done. In order to maintain the social equilibrium, apologies renew the feeling of solidarity, cooperation and trust. The affected image of the participants in the conversation stops them to function in the discourse as equal members, thus the apology would serve as admitting the mistake, regret after the damage has been made and sympathy for the offended. The speaker who has made a social
offence, has a range of strategies to perform the speech act of apologizing-from explanation and account, to offer of damage repair. Considering the differences between English and Macedonian, in order to point out and contrast the elements and strategies while performing the apology, we wanted to explore various patterns of this speech act. A range of socially accepted patterns were expected to prove that whatever the context is, there are systematic differences between the two languages, as well as certain general similarities in discourse. The project undertaken was to contribute to the intercultural pragmatics and communication. The survey examined six different contexts of misbalance and face-threatening situations, between participants with different/similar level of power-friends, acquaintances and strangers. Differences and similarities were pointed out, especially awareness of face-threatening, focusing on the external factors, as well as responsibility and attempt to lessen the offence.