apologizing in english and japanese

8/6/2019 Apologizing in English and Japanese

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APOLOGIZINGAPOLOGIZING

IN ENGLISH AND JAPANESE :IN ENGLISH AND JAPANESE :

SOCIOSOCIO CULTURALCULTURAL

DIMENSIONSDIMENSIONS

( Yamamoto, Motoko)( Yamamoto, Motoko)

By Agnez PBy Agnez P


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I.I. IntroductionIntroduction

II.II. SummarySummary

III.III. CriticismCriticism

IV.IV. ConclusionConclusion


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IntroductionIntroduction

Apology is act for attaining the purpose of solving theApology is act for attaining the purpose of solving the

problem or the friction between speakers and hearersproblem or the friction between speakers and hearers

and restoring human relationand restoring human relation

Apology has the effect ofpaying off a debt,Apology has the effect ofpaying off a debt, thusthus

compensating the victim for the harmcompensating the victim for the harm done bydone by

the offencethe offence(Kumagai:2001)(Kumagai:2001)


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SummarySummary

A. The differences in responding apology in English andA. The differences in responding apology in English andJapaneseJapanese

EnglishEnglish

a. Some hearers do nota. Some hearers do not

acknowledge the apologyacknowledge the apology

b. English hearers usuallyb. English hearers usually

say lightly Its Okaysay lightly Its Okay

c. English tend to maintainc. English tend to maintainautonomy by offeringautonomy by offering

nothing to remedynothing to remedy

situationssituations

JapaneseJapanese

a. Japanese hearers tend toa. Japanese hearers tend to

acknowledge apologyacknowledge apology

b. Japanese hearers may ask theb. Japanese hearers may ask the

reason why speaker apologizesreason why speaker apologizes

c. Japanese puts more importancec. Japanese puts more importanceon expressing of regret andon expressing of regret and

more willing to offer andmore willing to offer and

receive apologyreceive apology


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ContCont

Example:Example:

EnglishEnglishAndrew with AIDS requests Joe to become his lawyerAndrew with AIDS requests Joe to become his lawyer

because he was dismissed for the unjust reason. However, Joebecause he was dismissed for the unjust reason. However, Joe

refuses for fear of infection ofAIDS.refuses for fear of infection ofAIDS.

(Andrew rises, thoroughly business(Andrew rises, thoroughly business--like.)like.)

Andrew : Thanks for your time.Andrew : Thanks for your time.

Joe : Beckett?Joe : Beckett? Im sorryIm sorry about ..whats happened toabout ..whats happened to

you.you.

Andrew : (a smile).Andrew : (a smile). Dont send flowers, Joe. Im not deadDont send flowers, Joe. Im not deadyet.yet. (Andrew exits)(Andrew exits)

(Philadelphia 1993)(Philadelphia 1993)


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ContCont

JapaneseJapanese

Kyoko :Kyoko : SumimasenSumimasen, sensei, okamai dekinakute, sensei, okamai dekinakute

Pardon mePardon me, Ms. Yazaki (teacher), for our poor, Ms. Yazaki (teacher), for our poor

service.service.

Yoko : Iinoyo sonna koto. Anata ga otoutoYoko : Iinoyo sonna koto. Anata ga otouto--san to imoutosan to imouto--sansan

no mendouno mendou wo miterun dattewo miterun datte ??

((Dont mention itDont mention it. You take care of your younger. You take care of your younger

brothers and sisters,brothers and sisters, don't youdon't you ?)?)(Shokuinshittsu 1997)(Shokuinshittsu 1997)


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B. The similarity in responding apology in English andB. The similarity in responding apology in English andJapanese, which are:Japanese, which are:

a. Both hearerspurposely ignore the apology anda. Both hearerspurposely ignore the apology and

changes the subjectchanges the subject

b. Both hearers do not forgive speakers andb. Both hearers do not forgive speakers and

explain the reason of their angerexplain the reason of their anger


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ContCont

EnglishEnglish

AnneAnne : Im sorry, Mrs. Cadbury, but I wasnt paying attention: Im sorry, Mrs. Cadbury, but I wasnt paying attention

Mrs. Cadbury :Mrs. Cadbury : You havent beenpaying attention for the pastYou havent beenpaying attention for the past

six monthssix months(Anne of Green Gables 1985)(Anne of Green Gables 1985)

JapaneseJapanese

JintaroJintaro : Ashita ?: Ashita ?

Tomorrow?Tomorrow?

Tadashi : Kyuna hanashi de sumimasenTadashi : Kyuna hanashi de sumimasen

Pardon me for sudden talk.Pardon me for sudden talk.Jintaro : (kirete)Jintaro : (kirete) Ikeru wake nee janai ka, bakayaro!Ikeru wake nee janai ka, bakayaro!

(going berserk)(going berserk) How the hell do you think I can go?How the hell do you think I can go?

Get away with you ?Get away with you ?(Aikotoba wa yuuki 2000)(Aikotoba wa yuuki 2000)


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This article discusses the remedial interactions ofThis article discusses the remedial interactions of

Japanese and English speakers based on anJapanese and English speakers based on ananalysis of data collected from scripts and TVanalysis of data collected from scripts and TV

dramas consist of 8 Japanese TV dramas and 25dramas consist of 8 Japanese TV dramas and 25

American/ English films include comedies, loveAmerican/ English films include comedies, lovestories, and adventuresstories, and adventures

The typical apologetic expressions analyzed such as:The typical apologetic expressions analyzed such as:

sorry, excuse, apologize, forgivesorry, excuse, apologize, forgive andandpardonpardon ininEnglish andEnglish and ggomennasai, sumimasen, waruineomennasai, sumimasen, waruine

andandshitsureishimashitashitsureishimashita in Japanesein Japanese


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CriticismCriticism

Methodology :Methodology : The subjects (scripts of movies/ dramas) are notThe subjects (scripts of movies/ dramas) are not

in equal numbersin equal numbers

The subjects (scripts of movies/ dramas) areThe subjects (scripts of movies/ dramas) aretaken only from some different backgroundtaken only from some different background

It is a bias samplingIt is a bias sampling The data is taken only from set up environmentsThe data is taken only from set up environments

It is based only on scripts which means fromIt is based only on scripts which means fromsubjective view of the script writerssubjective view of the script writers

There are no clear explanation about how theThere are no clear explanation about how theauthor getting the dataauthor getting the data

Result :Result :

The findings are confusingThe findings are confusing


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ConclusionConclusion

The presenter disagrees about the findings of thisThe presenter disagrees about the findings of this

article because they have some uncleararticle because they have some unclear

explanations that are needed to be discussedexplanations that are needed to be discussed

more and it needs more empirical studies tomore and it needs more empirical studies to

support the validity of this article. However,support the validity of this article. However,

the author has succeeded in term of usingthe author has succeeded in term of using

interesting style of language in the examplesinteresting style of language in the examplesthat make it interesting to be read.that make it interesting to be read.


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apologizing in english and japanese

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