A pragmatic study of apology expressions in Gurune

Abstract

This thesis explores the study of apology in Gurune. The design for the study is ethnography type. 20 participants were used for the study from dialects namely Boone, Bolne, Talene, Nabt and Nankani. 4 participants from each dialect were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The study instrument used was Audio recorded Role plays to allow participants to socially interact and by doing that the participants assume and enact roles within stated circumstances. The participants’ age range was from 12 to 60 years. 12 situations were considered for the study. The data discovered that, the speakers use single, double or multiple strategies in expressing apology. The data again revealed that, social distance and power influence the choice of a particular politeness strategy in apology expression in Gurune. The study discovered that when the speakers of Gurune use responsibility strategy in expressing apology, they (offenders) threaten their faces by expressing self-deficiency, self blame and expression of embarrassment. On the other hand, Gurune chiefs save face by not apologizing to somebody of low class. Also, husbands mostly save their faces by either justifying by putting the blame on others or deny responsibility when apologizing to their wives. Friends sometimes minimize the severity of the offense by reminding the offended about the relationship that exists between them. They do these to avoid apology in other not to face threatened. The study also proved that, the speakers modify apology by using intensifiers, excaims and address terms. It was again confirmed that, apology expressions in Gurune show the belief of the Gurune people in the supremacy of God. The data proved that, Gurune speakers use proverbs in their apology expressions and this testifies to the fact that, there are evidence of Gurune culture in terms of apology giving. It was discovered that, the speakers save face by involving the use of their ancestors and their totemic ancestors to prove how deeply sorry they are. The data again showed that, Gurune people belief in brotherhood and sisterhood and for that matter in order to mitigate the offense and not to be face threatened, they remind the offended people how they relate.