Sociopragmatic and Pragmalinguistic Analysis of Speech Act of Apology by Saudi EFL Learners

Abstract

The current study aims to examine the nature of apology strategies by Saudi EFL learners. The strategies are discussed in response to the social external factors of power and distance. The sample of the study consists of 100 Saudi male EFL learners from Onaizah Colleges, Qassim province. Samples responded to discourse completion task (DCT) which consists of six structured scenarios. Results shows that learners are influenced by the factors of social power and distance power. IFIDs were the most utilized strategies by participants who have low social power followed by explanation or Account, while the least used strategies were concern for the hearer. Explanation and account were the most utilized strategies by participants with high social power. Pragmatic transfer is spotted in the findings in which respondents used culture specific terms which are not understandable by English native speakers ENSs.