Theoretical Analysis of Apology Speech Act Strategies within a Cross-Cultural Pragmatics Framework
Abstract
In the context of increasingly intensive cross-cultural communication, apology speech acts constitute a crucial social practice that is nevertheless highly susceptible to pragmatic misunderstanding. Differences in cultural norms, politeness expectations, and the management of social relations often cause apologies intended as reparative actions to instead generate tension or interpersonal distance. This study aims to explore apology speech act strategies within a cross-cultural pragmatics framework by emphasizing participants’ experiences, meanings, and reflections. Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach, data were collected through in- depth interviews, limited observation, and document analysis of cross-cultural interactions. The research participants consisted of individuals with intensive experience in cross-cultural communication, including foreign language learners and academic practitioners, in numbers that allowed for in-depth exploration of meaning. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns of experience and the social processes underlying apology practices. The findings reveal major themes that reflect tensions between intention and perception, negotiations of identity and power relations, and reflective learning through experiences of pragmatic failure. This study contributes theoretically by enriching cross-cultural pragmatics through a focus on speakers’ subjective experiences, and practically by informing pragmatic instruction, language education policy, and the enhancement of intercultural communicative awareness. The study also opens new avenues for qualitative research that places the experiences of non-dominant speakers at the center of pragmatic analysis.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Natsir, May Devi Triana, Sepania Handayani Sihite, Sriwi Anceli Naibaho, Claudia Lisya Lawolo
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