Academia Open
Vol 10 No 1 (2025): June (In Progress)
Language and Literature

Pragmatics Study of Speech Act of Apology Between Men and Women: Comparative Study
Kajian Pragmatik Tindak Tutur Permintaan Maaf Antara Pria dan Wanita: Studi Komparatif


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  • Nihad Kareem Rahi*
Nihad Kareem Rahi
Basra Educational Directorate \Al-Shaheed Salam Halub High School, Iraq *

(*) Corresponding Author
Picture in here are illustration from public domain image or provided by the author, as part of their works
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21070/acopen.10.2025.10673
Published February 18, 2025
Keywords
  • men and women,
  • apology,
  • apology strategies,
  • utterance.
How to Cite
Rahi, N. K. (2025). Pragmatics Study of Speech Act of Apology Between Men and Women: Comparative Study. Academia Open, 10(1), 10.21070/acopen.10.2025.10673. https://doi.org/10.21070/acopen.10.2025.10673

Copyright (c) 2025 Nihad Kareem Rahi

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

General Background: Apology strategies are essential in communication, influencing interpersonal relationships and social interactions. Understanding how men and women employ these strategies differently can provide insights into gender-based linguistic variations. Specific Background: Olshtain and Cohen (1983) identified five categories of apologetic techniques: Apology, Repair Offer, Account Explanation, Acceptance of Responsibility, and Forbearance Promise. While previous studies have explored apology strategies, limited research has examined their application in real-life contexts, particularly in Padang. Knowledge Gap: Despite extensive research on gender and language, there remains a lack of empirical studies comparing the specific techniques men and women use when apologizing and how these choices are shaped by social and cultural factors. Aims: This study aims to analyze the similarities and differences in the apology strategies of men and women, identifying patterns in their linguistic choices and behavioral tendencies. Results: Findings reveal that both genders employ all five apology strategies, with direct apologies being the most commonly used and forbearance promises being the least. Men favor explanation-based apologies, while women prefer offering repair. These differences stem from distinct communication styles—women emphasize emotions and solidarity, whereas men focus on logic and status. Novelty: Unlike prior studies, this research uses a purposive sampling method to analyze real-life expressions of regret in a natural setting. It highlights the impact of gendered communication styles on apology choices, offering new perspectives on pragmatic language use in social interactions. Implications: Understanding gender-based apology strategies can enhance cross-gender communication and reduce misunderstandings. These findings are valuable for interpersonal communication training, language teaching, and cross-cultural studies, contributing to the broader field of sociolinguistics and pragmatics.

Highlights:

  1. Analyze gender differences in apology strategies.
  2. Women prefer repair offers; men favor explanations.
  3. Enhances cross-gender communication and sociolinguistic understanding.

Keywords: men and women, apology, apology strategies, utterance.

 

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