Responsibility and Culpability in Apologies

Distinctive Uses of “Sorry” versus “I'm Sorry” in Apologizing

Dados Bibliográficos

ID11273604
AutoresMarilena Fatigante (0000-0002-8880-7567, Sapienza University of Rome, autor correspondente), Federica Biassoni (0000-0002-0375-2211, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore), Francesca Marazzini, Pierangela Diadori (University for Foreigners of Siena)
Ano2016
Volume53
Fascículo1-2
Páginas26-46
Data de publicação2016-01-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoDiscourse Processes (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0163-853X • E-ISSN: 1532-6950
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0163853x.2015.1056696
OpenAlexW1862903350
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas8
Referências citadas14

In this paper, we address the distinction, existing in certain particular apologetic environments, between the usages of Sorry and I’m sorry. These expressions are treated by Robinson (2004) as equivalent and listed as markers of explicit apologies. We first discuss the analogous uses of the two; then, we examine the distinctive environments in which they proportionally differ (Heritage & Raymond, this issue). Particularly, we focus on extensive apologetic sequences initiated by I’m sorry apologies. We found that these are characterized by several aspects (detailed explanations, intensifiers, recycling of the apology), which make affiliation - as regards both its exhibition from the speaker, and its attainment from the recipient- as a relevant aim, more than the clearance of the offense. We eventually propose an alternative meaning of the increase in agency that is encoded in the pronoun I (in the case of I’m sorry), which foreground the apologizer as a subject of the experience of culpability, beside the actor ascribing himself the responsibility for the offense

Criminology · Culpability · Linguistics · Nonverbal communication · Communication · Forgiveness and Related Behaviors · Interpreting and Communication in Healthcare · Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies · Philosophy · Psychology · Social Psychology