Different Strategies in Apologetic Situations: A Contrastive Analysis of Functionally Equivalent Routine Formulas in Japanese and German

金沢大学人間社会研究域経済学経営学系By comparing some functionally equivalent routine formulas in Japaneseand German in corresponding situations, it is hypothesized that different strategies arereflected in formulation patterns of routine formulas in both languages. For example,different expressions are used by parents in Japanese and German if their childbumps into a post. The two expressions are often used in corresponding situations inboth Japan and Germany and can therefore be regarded as functionally equivalent,although the used strategies differ, i.e., the Japanese expression is based on sharing thedangerous situation between the parent and the child, whereas the German one focuseson providing an appropriate direction to the child. Comparing such functionallyequivalent routine formulas suggests that they reflect different strategies, includingpoliteness, in corresponding situations. This study tested this hypothesis by comparingfunctionally equivalent routine formulas uttered in corresponding apologetic situationsin the socialization process of controlling children’s social behavior in Japan andGermany. The results confirm the hypothesis and suggest that the difference in strategy influences the communicative behaviors of Japanese and German speakers. Concerning politeness, the results reveal the aspects considered polite in corresponding routineformulas of the two languages. Furthermore, the communicative normality of each language is also reflected in its respective routine formulas and focus of attention in interactions. This information may be applied toward more efficient foreign language teaching