This paper analyzes apologies in Late Modern English using the COHA corpus. The paper investigates patterns and functions of apology instances, shedding light on historical speech acts and power dynamics.
The Late Modern English period is generally referred to as the period of prescriptivism. Therefore, one can assume that various conversational patterns and speech acts like apologies often were predefined by the royalty and upper classes and meant to fulfil a clear purpose. This purpose usually serves to maintain power structures and hierarchies in society. For example, if a person from the working class misbehaved towards a person from the upper class, oftentimes they were more pressured to apologise and clarify their intentions and willingness to redress their actions than vice versa because the worker was dependent upon the upper-class member as they received their loan from them.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Theoretical Background: Defining the Term Apology and Previous Research on Apologies and Finding Speech Acts
- 3. Analysis
- 3.1 Data and Methodology
- 3.2 Results
- 4. Discussion/Conclusion
- 4.1 Methodological Issues in Finding, Classifying and Analysing Late Modern English Apology Instances
- 4.2 Interpretation of the Late Modern English Apology Instances
- 4.3 Limitations of this Study and Suggestions for Further Research
- 5. Works Cited
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper investigates the applicability of the Corpus of Historical American English (COHA) for identifying apology speech acts in Late Modern English. It aims to determine which types of apologies are identifiable using the COHA and how these instances align with Trosborg's (1987) model of apologies. The study seeks to understand the functions of apologies during this period.
- The feasibility of using the COHA to identify Late Modern English apologies.
- The types of apologies found within the COHA.
- The alignment of identified apologies with Trosborg's apology model.
- The social functions of apologies in Late Modern English.
- Methodological challenges in analyzing historical apology instances.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context of the study by highlighting the prescriptivist nature of Late Modern English and its impact on conversational patterns, particularly apologies. It emphasizes the limitations of existing corpora for pragmatic analysis of historical speech acts. The chapter introduces the research questions: how useful is the COHA for finding apologies in Late Modern English, and how do these apologies fit into Trosborg's model? A two-layered working hypothesis is presented, suggesting the possibility of finding apologies in the COHA, but acknowledging methodological limitations and anticipating an incomplete picture of apology types. The introduction sets the stage for a detailed investigation into the social functions of apologies in this specific historical context, anticipating a focus on strategies emphasizing responsibility and the restoration of social order within potentially hierarchical structures.
2. Theoretical Background: Defining the Term Apology and Previous Research on Apologies and Finding Speech Acts: This chapter provides a crucial theoretical foundation by defining apologies as speech acts, drawing upon Austin's (1962, 1969) and Searle's (2002) Speech Act Theory. It elaborates on the locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts, and clarifies the relevance of Searle's illocutionary points, especially expressives such as apologies. The chapter further discusses Searle's conditions for an utterance to be categorized as an apology (propositional content, preparatory, sincerity, and essential conditions). This theoretical groundwork is supplemented by an overview of the Cross-Cultural-Speech-Act-Realisation-Pattern (CCSARP) project by Blum-Kulka and Olshtain (1984), which offers valuable insights into the cross-cultural variability and preconditions of apologies, ultimately establishing a robust framework for the subsequent analysis of apology instances.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Late Modern English, apologies, speech acts, Corpus of Historical American English (COHA), pragmatics, Trosborg's apology model, historical corpus linguistics, social functions of language, power dynamics, prescriptivism.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Study of Apologies in Late Modern English
What is the main focus of this research paper?
This paper investigates the use of apologies in Late Modern English, specifically examining their identification and classification within the Corpus of Historical American English (COHA). It aims to understand how these apologies function within their historical context and how they align with existing theoretical models of apology.
What is the methodology used in this study?
The study employs corpus linguistics, specifically utilizing the COHA to identify and analyze instances of apologies in Late Modern English. The analysis draws on Speech Act Theory (Austin, Searle) and existing models of apology (e.g., Trosborg's model) to classify and interpret the findings.
What are the key theoretical frameworks used?
The research is grounded in Speech Act Theory, utilizing the concepts of locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts. It also draws upon Searle's conditions for apologies and incorporates insights from the Cross-Cultural-Speech-Act-Realisation-Pattern (CCSARP) project to understand the cross-cultural aspects of apologies.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the feasibility of using the COHA for identifying historical apologies, the types of apologies found, their alignment with Trosborg's model, their social functions in Late Modern English, and the methodological challenges in analyzing historical apology instances.
What are the main findings or conclusions of the study?
The paper's conclusions address the methodological challenges encountered in identifying and analyzing apologies within the COHA. It interprets the findings in light of Trosborg's model and explores the social functions of apologies in Late Modern English, considering factors like power dynamics and prescriptivism. The study also suggests limitations and directions for future research.
What are the limitations of this study?
The study acknowledges methodological limitations related to the inherent difficulties of identifying and classifying apologies in a historical corpus. It also anticipates that the COHA may not provide a completely comprehensive picture of all apology types used in Late Modern English.
What are the key words associated with this research?
Key words include: Late Modern English, apologies, speech acts, Corpus of Historical American English (COHA), pragmatics, Trosborg's apology model, historical corpus linguistics, social functions of language, power dynamics, prescriptivism.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into five chapters: an introduction, a theoretical background chapter, an analysis chapter (including data and methodology, and results), a discussion/conclusion chapter (addressing methodological issues, interpretation of findings, and suggestions for further research), and a works cited section.
- Citation du texte
- Lisa Thöne (Auteur), 2022, Late Modern English Apology Instances in the COHA, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1475445
