Apologies in Japanese
Contents in Apology Lesson:
Lesson 1 contains ins and outs of apologies in Japanese
as you move through examples and exercises.
NOTE:
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Exercise 1-2:
Cross-Cultural Comparison of Apologies
- Try to notice
how many times apology expressions are given in each situation. Compare
that with apologizing in English.
- If there is an
excuse, notice the ways in which it is presented.
Exercise 3-4: Functions
of Apology Expressions
- Just because you
hear an apology expression doesn’t mean it is serving as an apology!
Listen for various functions of apology expressions.
Exercise 5-6: Apology Expressions
and Intensifiers
- There are various
expressions you can use to apologize.
- It is useful to
know how to intensify your apology, as you might say “very” or “really”
in English.
Exercise 7: Tone
of Apologies
- Your tone of voice
could make your apology sound sincere or non-apologetic. Listen to
practice to use the right tone!
Exercise 8-10: Simulation Exercises on
Offering Apologies
- Now let’s just
practice all that we have learned about apologies.
- You will be asked
to self-evaluate your apologies you have offered in these exercises.
Now Let’s Begin!
Exercise
1: Cross-cultural Comparison of Apologies
In this exercise, you will compare English and Japanese apologies
to find some similarities and differences. Later you will be asked
to reflect on your language use. Your responses will be
collected by e-mail. After you send in your response, you will
be able to see more feedback.
Exercise 2: Cross-cultural Comparison of Apologies
In this exercise, you will listen to another speech act interaction.
As you listen, compare apologies in Exercise 1 and those
in this exercise. You will be asked to make another hypothesis
or renew your hypothesis you had in Exercise 1 about what Japanese apologies
generally might be like. Your responses will be collected by e-mail. After
you send in your response, you will be able to see more feedback.
Exercise
3: Functions of apologies-1
Just because you hear an apology expression doesn’t mean it is
serving as an apology! Listen for various functions of apology
expressions.
Exercise 4: Functions of apologies-2
In Exercise 3, we learned various functions that apology expressions
can fulfill, but which expressions can serve which functions?
Being truly strategic means not only knowing that
different expression serve different functions but knowing which ones
to choose for which functions. This exercise will help you identify
some expressions you can use and cannot use in each situation.
Looking
at a chart, General
Functions and Examples of Four Apology Expressions may
be helpful in doing this exercises.
Do Exercise 4
Coffee Break
Let's listen to
an informal apology dialogue between friends in a school cafeteria. One
accidentally knocks over her close friend's coffee and spills some on her
shirt. The coffee is scalding her arm a bit.
Exercise 5: Apology
Expressions
Each apology expression has its own flavor. In other words,
they all carry different connotations that are appropriate in certain
situations but not in others. Being strategic means sorting this
out.
Language Notes: Itashi
masu/itashi mashita is more polite than shimasu/shimashita. Gozaimasen is more polite than arimasen.
Do Exercise 5
Exercise 6: Apology Intensifiers
Being strategic means knowing how to intensify your apology, as
you might say "very" or "really" in English in order to convey
your sincere apology.
This exercise will help you learn which intensifiers go with which
apology expressions. Choose all the apology expressions that can
most likely follow the intensifying expression. Note that there
may be more than one correct answer.
Previewing
the chart might
jog your memory about intensifers in Japanese.
Exercise 7:
Tone of apologies
Your tone of voice could
make your apology sound sincere or non-apologetic. Listen and practice
so that your apology will signal that you are truly apologetic in Japanese.
Exercise 8: Role play – 1
Read the situation below and complete the dialogue as if you were
speaking in real life.
Type your answer, then press "Click" to see an example. Later
you will be asked to reflect on your language use.
Exercise 9: Role play – 2
Read the situation below and complete the dialogue as if you were
speaking in real life. Type your answer, then press "Click" to see
an example. Later you will be asked to reflect on your language
use.
Exercise 10: Role play – 3
Here is one last chance to practice apologizing in Japanese.
Read the situation below and complete the dialogue as if you were speaking
in real life. Type your answer, then press "Click" to see an example. Later
reflect on your language use.
Extra Practice!
Listen to another apology interaction. As you listen, try to identify
who is talking and the relationship between them. What is the explanation
for the apology and how serious do you think is the infraction?
References
Enochs & Yoshitake (1996), Enochs & Yoshitake-Strain (1999),
Hayashi (1999), Ide (1998), Kumatoridani (1993), Kumatoridani (1999), Miyake(1994),
Moriyama (1999), Nakai (1999), Nakamura (1997), Nakata (1989), Nishimura
(1998), Nonaka (2000), Nonoyama (1993), Okamoto & Tamon (2000), Sameshima
(1998), Sumita (1992), Uehara (1993), Yanagiya (1992)
