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What are the differences between apology strategies in Italian and English visualisation

What are the differences between apology strategies in Italian and English

Complaining and Apologizing in Italian: A Learner's Handbook: What are the differences between apology strategies in Italian and English
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The detailed content for the specific article “Contrastive Pragmatics: Apologies & Thanks in English and Italian” could not be accessed directly through the provided links. However, based on summaries and related research findings available, the main differences between apology strategies in Italian and English can be outlined as follows:

  • Italian apologies tend to involve more elaborate and extended explanations combined with apologies, reflecting a tendency to use negative face-saving strategies. This means Italian speakers often provide lengthy reasons or justifications when apologizing to mitigate the offense.
  • English speakers, particularly in American English, tend to use more concise apologies often relying on positive face-saving strategies like praise or encouragement when refusing or mitigating an offense.
  • The choice of apology strategy is also influenced by cultural norms and the social context. Italians might use more formal or ritualistic apology formulas, while English speakers might prefer direct and less formal expressions.
  • In Italian, apology expressions are often context-dependent and involve the use of semantic formulas that indicate regret and request for forgiveness, often with a stronger emphasis on restoring social harmony.
  • English apologies can vary widely between informal and formal speech, with common expressions like “I’m sorry” and “My bad,” where informal apologies are more frequent and culturally acceptable especially in American English.

These differences reflect broader cultural and pragmatic preferences in how politeness and face-saving acts are managed in conversation in Italy and English-speaking countries respectively. Italian apologies are strategized around maintaining social relationships through detailed justifications, while English apologies may lean more towards brevity and directness depending on the situation. 1, 2, 3

If you want, more specific linguistic or pragmatic features of each language’s apology strategies could be gathered with additional focused searches.

References

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